MISSOULA — It didn't take long for Tuesday afternoon's boys soccer match between Sentinel and Hellgate to turn into a physical affair.

Hard tackles, plenty of whistles and some light chirping between the sides set the backdrop for a classic Missoula crosstown duel between two of the best squads in Western AA. The intensity is all but guaranteed going into every edition of the rivalry.

The heightened emotions and stakes of the game, Hellgate coach Jay Anderson said, present a golden opportunity to find the types of environments teams will see in the postseason. The weather will be different once the playoffs roll around — Tuesday's game was played under a sweltering sun without a cloud in the sky — but the energy will be quite comparable.

"I would love to play Sentinel six times a year b

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