DISTRICT FINAL … Montpelier’s Wesley Hartsock puts up a runner in the lane during the Locos’ district final win over Miller City.
PHOTOS BY REBEKAH DELL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
MONTPELIER SOPHOMORE … CJ Fidler battles through contact in the second half. Fidler had a game-high 28 points for Montpelier. VIEW 130 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: Elliot Schneider
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
BRYAN (March 7, 2026) – In a Division VII district final matchup between the Montpelier Locomotives and the Miller City Wildcats, Montpelier rode a dominant scoring performance from the duo of CJ Fidler and Hayden Sharps to a decisive 71-56 victory.
The pair did most of their damage in the paint, consistently breaking down Miller City’s zone defense.
The Locomotives showed patience on the offensive end all night, repeatedly making the extra pass and willingly passing up good looks to create great ones.
The opening quarter began on even footing as Fidler and Miller City’s Henry Rump traded baskets to get the game underway.
Fidler then found a rhythm early, scoring on back-to-back possessions, but Rump answered with another basket to keep the Wildcats within reach.
Those two scores from Rump would be all Miller City could muster in the first quarter. Montpelier closed the frame on a 10-0 run, creating separation before the break.
Wesley Hartsock knocked down a pair of free throws, while Sharps added two baskets of his own to get on the board. The surge gave the Locomotives a commanding 16-4 lead heading into the second quarter.
Back-to-back baskets from Sharps pushed Montpelier’s lead to 20-4 early in the second quarter, as it appeared the Locomotives might run away with the game.
Miller City, however, began to find its footing. Grady Troyer and Alex Ruck each got on the board early in the quarter, while Wesley Tobe and Max Long added baskets as well.
The surge cut the deficit to 22-11 midway through the period and forced a Montpelier timeout, as the Wildcats showed they weren’t ready to back down.
The remainder of the second quarter turned into a back-and-forth battle, with neither side able to put together a decisive run. Sharps and Fidler continued to lead the way for Montpelier, each finding multiple ways to score and keep the Locomotives in control.
The half closed with a pair of three-pointers from Miller City’s Jonny Pester and Troyer, but Montpelier still carried a 34-22 lead into the break, thanks in large part to its dominant defensive effort in the opening quarter.
Miller City opened the third quarter with some momentum, getting a quick basket from Tobe followed by a three-pointer from Ruck.
Gavyn Bass quickly answered for Montpelier with an offensive putback and the ensuing and-one to halt the Wildcats’ push. From there, Fidler took over. He poured in 12 points in the quarter, beginning with a three-pointer before splitting a pair of free throws.
He then knocked down another three and capped the stretch with a fast-break rim grazer that forced a Miller City timeout.
The scoring burst pushed the Locomotives’ lead to 48-27, fueled largely by Fidler’s dominant run. Out of the timeout, Miller City answered with a run of its own, sparked by contributions from several players.
The surge began with a three from Rump, followed by a pair of free throws from Ruck and another three-pointer from Troyer, trimming the deficit to 48-35 late in the third quarter.
Ruck added two more baskets as the Wildcats continued to chip away, but Fidler closed the period in emphatic fashion, going coast-to-coast for a layup in a matter of seconds. The basket sent Montpelier into the final quarter with a 53-39 advantage.
The fourth quarter began with Troyer and Fidler trading baskets. Troyer then knocked down another three for the Wildcats, but every time Miller City threatened to make a run, Sharps had an answer.
He scored 11 points in the quarter, helping Montpelier maintain control.
Rump added a layup for the Wildcats, but Sharps immediately responded with back-to-back buckets inside, displaying crafty footwork and the ability to finish through contact.
Later in the quarter, Rump connected on a three, only for Sharps to answer once again, repeatedly halting any momentum Miller City tried to build.
In the end, the Wildcats could not overcome their slow start in the first quarter, which ultimately proved to be the difference.
Fidler and Sharps led the way all night for the Locomotives, combining for 52 points in the 71-56 victory. Hartsock added 12 points in a key supporting role for Montpelier.
MONTPELIER (71) – Stewart 0; Richmond 0; Sommer 0; K. Smeltzer 0; Riggenbach 0; Walz 0; Fidler 28; Sharps 24; Hartsock 12; Bass 3; M. Smeltzer 2; Stahler 2; Totals: 26-2-13 – 71
MILLER CITY (56) – Ja. Pester 0; Pfau 0; Troyer 17; Ruck 16; Rump 12; Tobe 4; Jo. Pester 3; C. Palte 2; Reyna 0; W. Palte 0; Michel 0; Ellerbrock 0; Niese 0; Long 2; Totals: 14-8-4 – 56
MHS 16 18 19 18 – 71
MCHS 4 18 17 17 – 56
Update: Montpelier goes on to defeat Arlington 56-48 in the D7 Regional Semifinal