We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Junior Kelsey Mathon gets past her Longhorn defender Saturday night in Chinook.
Senior Brooke Nicholson connects from long range Friday in Gildford.
Junior Brooke Elliot gets two points inside against North Star. Elliot scored a team high 12 points in the 'Beeter 38-34 win.
Sophomore Abby Ellison scores two of her game high 14 points in the 'Beeters 50-29 win over Fort Benton.
The Chinook Sugarbeeters capped an outstanding regular season with a pair of wins over the weekend.
Friday the 'Beeters edged the North Star Knights 38-34 in a conference showdown in Gildford between the two rivals. Saturday the girls played their final home contest of the season and raced by the Fort Benton Longhorns 50-29 to complete the season sweep.
Senior Brooke Nicholson scored the opening points of the game, connecting from beyond the arc for an early 3-0 lead.
The Knights answered with six straight points before junior Kelsey Mathon banked in a three pointer to tie things at 6-6.
Junior Brook Elliot converted an old fashioned three point play and Mathon knocked down a pair of free throws to give Chinook a 11-6 lead.
The Knights however scored nine straight points to take a 15-11 lead two minutes into the second quarter.
Elliot and Nicholson scored twice to even the score at 15-15 only to see North Star go on a 6-0 run to lead 21-15.
Elliot scored off an offensive rebound and sophomore Abby Ellison drained a long three as Chinook closed to 20-21 at the half.
Down 26-28 entering the fourth quarter the 'Beeters took control as Nicholson scored a bucket, junior Taylor Neibauer added two points, Elliot scored inside and Ellison drained another three point bomb giving Chinook a 35-28 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Chinook held on and won the contest 38-34.
Elliot led the team with 12 points and eight rebounds while Nicholson finished with 11. Mathon added seven as did Ellison.
The Longhorns have earned the districts No. 3 seed but when they have faced the Sugarbeeters they have looked nothing like a team seeded that high.
The 'Beeters dominated the Longhorns in a thirty point win three weeks ago and turned in another impressive effort in the season finale.
Chinook led just 8-6 at the end of one and 18-15 at the break but just like the first game the 'Beeters pulled away in the third and fourth quarters to earn the 50-29 win.
Ellison led the team with 14 points, Nicholson added 13, Elliot 11 and Mathon nine in the win.
With the wins Chinook finishes the regular season with a 12-2 conference mark and 16-2 overall record and secured the districts No. 2 seed heading into the post season.
The District 9C Tournament will take place at the Havre High School gymnasium this week with the girls tournament beginning Thursday and concluding Saturday evening.
The Sugarbeeters have advanced to the Northern C the past five seasons and have one three championships over that time.
The opportunity to be playing again Saturday night is something the team is prepared for. The 'Beeters only losses have come to the top ranked Box Elder Bears and they have been able to find wins in the few games they have been challenged otherwise.
The top three finishers at the District 9C tournament will advance to the Northern C Divisional in Great Falls February 24-27 at the Four Seasons in Great Falls.
Chinook will open tournament play Thursday afternoon when they take on the No. 7 Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds.
All District 9C games will be broadcast on KRYK FM 101.3 FM.
