BC Basketball behind clothing drive to help friends in Browning
Any time Butte Central and Browning meet on the basketball court, fans, players and coaches can expect a battle. For years the teams were conference foes and often had to play each other in the divisional tournament in order to get to the state tournament. Many times their paths would cross there as well, particularly since Coach Brodie Kelly took over the program in the mid-2000s. In 2007, the Indians got an incredible performance from DJ Fish in the state championship game and beat the Maroons by 20 for the trophy. In 2020, the Maroons blasted past Browning in the state semifinals in the Covid-19 shortened tournament in a game that effectively gave Coach Kelly his first State Championship as a coach. These are just 2 of at least a half-dozen games in between that were equally as intense and exciting, if not more so. It is fair to say that Butte Central and Browning have developed and intense rivalry. It is also fair to say that the two schools have developed a strong friendship.
Butte Central and Browning are about as far apart on the socioeconomic scale as they are in distance. Butte Central is a private Catholic school with many students coming from families who are financially secure. Browning is a public school on the Blackfeet Reservation, many of whose students are being raised by grandparents or in foster care. Some Browning students are homeless. The Maroons want to do their part to help and are welcoming all of Butte to join them.
For several seasons, Butte Central Basketball and their supporters have put together a small, yearly clothing drive to help out the Browning players. Remember DJ Fish? Well, he's now the Browning Head Coach and when he was contacted he put BC in contact with the Browning Parent-Community Outreach Program which is led by Irene Augare. Augare highlighted the need for many of Browning's students and the limited ability of the community to help. Butte Central is taking small steps to fill that need.
The Maroon basketball team is again behind a clothing drive to support the efforts of the Outreach Program and they are inviting their fans and supporters to join them. If anyone would like to contribute, donations of clothing can be dropped off at the Maroon Activities Center. Donated items will be delivered to the Browning team at the Tipoff Tournament in Frenchtown this weekend. If you would like to make a financial contribution, please send them directly to:
BPS - Parent Community Outreach Program
c/o Irene Augare
129 1st Ave. SE
P.O. Box 610
Browning, MT 59417
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