Thunderbirds top Box Elder 70-64, 1st in 9C Hays/Lodge Pole improves to 9-1, Chinook to 7-3

The midway point of the high school basketball season has the Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds in control of the District 9C

The Thunderbirds picked up two more impressive wins over the weekend, including a huge 70-64 win over the Box Elder Bears. Hays/Lodge Pole also defeated the Roy/Winifred Outlaws on Friday but no box score was received.

The Chinook Sugarbeeters split their weekend games, falling to the North Star Knights 43-40 Friday night and slipping past the Fort Benton Longhorns 47-37 on Saturday.

The game of the week in the District 9C was most definitely in Box Elder as the Bears hosted the Thunderbirds with the districts top spot on the line.

Senior Tyson Shambo scored 10 points in the opening quarter and senior Frank RunsAbove knocked down a long three in a 17-17 tie after eight minutes.

Tyson Shambo scored eight more in the second and the Thunderbirds got a triple from junior Jace Shambo to eek out a narrow 35-34 lead heading into the halftime locker room.

In a game pitting two of the top teams in all of Class C it was only fitting that neither team was able to separate from the other.

Tyson Shambo knocked down a three ball of his own in the third quarter in helping the Thunderbirds expand their lead by one to 49-47 with eight minutes remaining in the contest.

Tyson Shambo continued to will the Thunderbirds to victory knocking down a fourth quarter triple and converting all four of his attempts from the charity stripe.

RunsAbove helped the Thunderbird cause as well chipping in six points down the stretch as the Thunderbirds secured the hard fought 70-64 win.

Tyson Shambo finished with 33 points in the contest including two from downtown and a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line. RunsAbove added 15 for Thunderbirds in the huge win.

Hays Lodge Pole improves to 9-1 overall and a perfect 6-0 on District 9C play.

The Sugarbeeters had plenty of opportunities against the North Star Knights Friday evening.

Chinook led 12-7 after eight minutes and maintained a 20-19 lead by intermission.

North Star took advantage of their opportunities in the third quarter to take a 31-28 advantage into the fourth quarter.

The Sugarbeeter found their kryptonite at the free throw line as they were unable to convert down the stretch before falling 43-40 to the Knights.

Chinook was led by the efforts of sophomore Cord Schneider with 20 points, sophomore Isaac Bell added 12 markers in the loss.

Saturday the 'Beeters rebounded with a 47-37 win over Fort Benton.

Cord Schneider scored 12 points in the win for Chinook. Sophomore Brendan Edwards knocked down a pair of triples and scored eight points as did sophomore Riley Kellam.

Chinook improves to 7-3 with the win overall and 4-3 in District 9C play.