Departing Helena prep stars had a strong presence at what some called "All-Star Weekend in Montana," as Treasure State squads were a perfect five-for-five in games against out-of-state foes.

Helena High's Grant Fink had a team-high 26 points and 11 rebounds to lead Montana to a 102-90 win in the second game of the Montana All-Star boys basketball game against the Wyoming All-Stars.

Fink will join his brother Garrett - who is a junior at the University of Montana-Western - on the Bulldogs basketball team, where former Bengals coach Steve Keller is now head coach.

The Badlands Bowl, which pits Montana's All-Star football team against the North Dakota All-Star team was also played this past weekend. The Montana club scored on a pair of interception returns for touchdowns in an impressive 54-14 win.

Helena was represented by five players on the team. Jared Hunt and Casey Lamping, who will be on the Carroll College roster this fall, and Shaun Sampson, Brian Bignell and Reil Cornelius, who are all on the Montana State University football roster.

The Montana girls were also in action against Wyoming and like the boys they won both of their games. No local athletes were on the team.

Wolf Point's Sam Levine, who is on the UM-Western rodeo team, took seventh place in the tie down roping at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyo. this past week.

Levine posted a run of 10.7 seconds Saturday to finish with 48.9 seconds on four head.

"I made the best run I could make; I did the best I could do," Levine said in a release from Casper. "That was the best run I had all week. I'll dang sure take that in the short go."

The 45th Annual East Helena Valley Rodeo is only two weeks away, with the In-County Rodeo festivities kicking off July 10. This year's rodeo will be dedicated to longtime member Ed McGowan, who died in May.

The East Helena Rodeo is known as the biggest and best Northern Rodeo Association rodeo in Montana, based on the number of contestants that compete and the total prize money awarded.

There are approximately 35 NRA rodeos each year. In 2007 the East Helena Rodeo was voted by the NRA contestants, as the "Rodeo of the Year," an award it has now received four times.

The Last Chance Stampede follows just two weeks after the East Helena Valley Rodeo and tickets go on sale on July 1.

Reporter Tom Stuber: 447-4070 or irsports@helenair.com