Bitterroot Health Athletes of the Week: Mason Arlington and Aurie Duncan
As the high school sports season rolls through postseason play in the Bitterroot Valley, the Ravalli Republic has partnered with Bitterroot Health to honor a Bitterroot Valley boys and girls high school athlete of the week throughout the 2024-25 high school sports season. While there were plenty of qualified candidates from across the valley, this weeks' winner for the boys is Florence-Carlton football player Mason Arlington. For the girls, the winner is Hamilton volleyball player Aurie Duncan.
Arlington, a senior, has led the Falcons' offense for two years. Taking over the starting quarterback position as a junior, Arlington was named an All-Conference quarterback while leading his team to its third-straight state title. This year, Arlington has thrown for 2,157 yards, 27 touchdowns and just eight interceptions in 10 games. Florence won its round-one matchup against Fairfield/Augusta last Saturday, and they'll face the Jefferson Panthers in Florence this week.
Arlington encountered adversity against the Fairfield Eagles, throwing an early interception that was returned for a touchdown. Fairfield led 14-6 late in the first quarter. Arlington responded with an electric performance, though, completing six passing touchdowns while throwing for 238 yards. Florence ended up dominating the Eagles, winning 56-20.
Duncan, a junior, has been one of the key players in the Broncs' volleyball program turn-around. A 6-foot-1-inch setter, she helped lead the Broncs to a 20-5 record in 2023 as a sophomore, including an 8-1 record in conference play. This season, while the team's record is slightly worse (16-12-1, 6-9 in conference play), the team still has a chance to make the state tournament.
Hamilton enters the western A divisional as the No. 3 seed from the southwest. They'll take on the No. 2 seed from the northwest, Polson, to open the tournament Nov. 7. If the Broncs pull out a victory, they will almost assuredly take on No. 1 southwest seed Frenchtown. Hamilton has yet to beat the Broncs from up north, so a win could mark the beginning of another surprising run. The divisional tournament is taking place at Corvallis High from Nov. 7-9.
Carson Cashion is a sports writer for 406 MT Sports, primarily covering the Bitterroot Valley. Follow him on X or contact him at .
