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Five state basketball tournaments tip off on Thursday in early March and the local teams are out to bring state hardware back to the viewing area. Three boys tourneys are already in the books leaving just Class AA - where CMR is out to defend their title - and one of the state's best all-time players expects to go out with a bang.

HUESTIS: "It's a different thing in big games, it's a different mental aspect and you have to be mentally tough with the crowd around you and things like that and the pressure and having all these guys that have been there before, it makes a huge difference just because they're used to it, it's not going to affect them as much so I mean, it's a big game, the State Tournament but we have to go into it in our heads like it's a regular game and just go out and do business."

A first place trophy might come home to CMR - but it could actually be the *Lady Rustlers* that have the best shot at that title. Coach Chad Olson's team has been on a tear since a big road win at top ranked Bozeman and his Lady Rustlers are a team on a mission.

OLSON: "I think they've been focused since last June, they work hard, they've worked hard every day this year and we want this to be our best practice today and then we're looking for Thursday to be our best game and then we'll go from there."

BAGLEY: "Even the teams we lost to, beating them in the 2nd round meant a lot and showed that our hard work does pay off so it should be good if we have to face them again in the State Tournament."

The Lady Rustlers could face two straight Helena opponents - they open with the Lady Bengals and could meet the Lady Bruins in Friday's semifinal - the Helena Capital boys team enters the tourney with a full head of steam after clobbering Big Sky earlier this month.

As for the rest of the girls tournaments - expect local teams to make some noise across the State. Havre High pulled a Havre High - winning a challenge game to enter the Class A Tournament - where they've pulled off some of the biggest upsets over the past few seasons - the Lady Ponies look for history to repeat itself when they take on two time defending champ Anconda - albeit without Lady Copperheads star Torry Hill.

DARRAH: "You still gotta know there's other kids that stepped up on their team, so you still gotta expect the best from them but you just gotta go out there and play with your heart and see what you get."

GILMAN: "We're gonna have to keep focused and just play together and just be the team that I know we are."

Fairfield has owned the last two Girls B Tournaments but 2010 could be all about Malta. The M-ettes have surprised everyone, including their coach by going 23-0, despite losing 6 seniors from last year's team. The one constant is All-State guard Bobbi Knudsen - who took over the leadership role and has her team 3 wins away from avenging last year's runner up finish.

KNUDSEN: "I definitely took it, I mean it(leadership) wasn't something I didn't wanna have, but I don't look it as a pressure situation I guess, more like I'm glad that it came to me."

23-0, what's been the secret to Malta's success this far?

KNUDSEN: "No one's looking for their own points, it's all about teamwork, everyone will pass up a shot so someone can get a better one and that helps a lot."

The M-ettes may have their hands full as a possible semi-final bout with other tourney fave Missoula Loyola looms - but Knudsen says she doesn't want to taste that losing feeling again. Fairfield and Choteau will also represent the Northern B - the Lady Eagles face Bigfork while the Lady Bulldogs tip off against Columbus.

The Class C tourney is right in the backyard of the local teams as Four Seasons Arena plays host - Northern C teams have garnered first and second the past two State Tournaments - which favors Roy-Winifred and Belt - the Lady Huskies are coming off a loss to the Lady Outlaws - and their first game won't be any easier - as they await top ranked Harlo-Ryegate.

MCCAFFERTY: "They're all great teams there and we're going to have to beat them all anyways, but we're excited to play them, we know they're really good and if we beat them then we'll be good to go."

GRAHAM: "It's actually easy to have a good week of practice after a loss, that loss really re-focused us and we had a great week last week and this week so yeah it actually turned out to be not too bad of a thing."

The Lady Engineers are 24-0 entering the State Tourney, as are 2nd ranked Fairview, the first seed out of the East - Saco-Whitewater won a challenge game on Monday to round out the bracket.

There you have it, 5 State Basketball Tournaments at 4 different venues across the State - KRTV will track our local teams throughout the weekend, both on air and online - and don't forget to follow us on Twitter - @richiemelby and @gregsmith - for live updates throughout the tournaments.