Sugarbeeters top Thunderbirds in 9C Opener, Harlem beats Malta

The Chinook Sugarbeeters and Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds met Friday night in Chinook in the District 9C opener for both teams. The Sugarbeeters won a thrilling contest 56-44.

The Harlem Wildcats entertained the Malta Mustangs in the District 2B opener for both squads with the Wildcats coming out on top 63-55.

The Turner Tornadoes played valiantly in their District 9C opener against the North Star Knights but fell in the end 56-44.

Saturday had the Sugarbeeters in Big Sandy where a fast start led to a 66-27 win over the Pioneers. Hays/Lodge Pole picked up their first conference win in Chester, taking down the Hawks 71-41.

Harlem welcomed the Wolf Point Wolves to town Saturday but were over matched in a 87-50 loss to the Wolves. Turner left it all on the court in a hard fought double overtime loss to the Fort Benton Longhorns 71-67.

Senior Kyle Young Junior came ready to play for the Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds Friday night against the Sugarbeeters.

Young knocked down a midrange jumper to begin the contest added a lay up, knocked down a triple and scored at the basket to give the Thunderbirds a 9-0 lead over the Sugarbeeters just minutes into the contest.

After a time out by the Sugarbeeters at the 5:24 mark of the first quarter senior Riley Kellam got Chinook on the board , scoring off a nice pass from senior Cord Schneider.

Senior Isaac Bell followed by converting an offensive rebound into points while drawing a foul in the process. Bell converted the free throw and the Sugarbeeters suddenly had the momentum.

Senior Trajan Hannum converted a steal into another three point play. Bell then made a great pass into Hannum for another score before connecting with sophomore Ethan Bell for two more and a 12-11 'Beeter lead.

Bell then collected another assist finding junior Hunter Neibauer at the basket for a 16-13 'Beeter advantage.

Moments later Bell found himself on the receiving end of a beautiful pass from Hannum, finishing the fast break and extending the 'Beeter lead to 19-13.

Young connected on two attempts from the charity stripe to keep the Thunderbirds close but Ethan Bell responded with a basket of his own and Schneider scored again off another offensive rebound for a 23-18 Chinook lead.

After a defensive stop the 'Beeters were back on the attack when Schneider hit Bell for a finger roll and two more points..

Kellam scored again off a nice feed from Hannum and Chinook had its biggest lead of the contest at 27-19.

The Thunderbirds would keep battling and it seems every time these two teams get together no lead is ever safe and Friday night would be no different.

Senior Desmond Shambo knocked down a pair of free throws for the Thunderbirds and freshman Deshon Shambo scored at the basket to cut the lead to 28-22.

The 'Beeters got a basket from Schneider off another assist from Bell to start the third. Young immediately responded for the Thunderbirds with a basket of his own and after a nice take from Snow for a bucket the Thunderbirds were within five 31-26.

Sophomore Reece Elliot is starting to get more comfortable on the low block and after backing down his defender scored at the rim for two points and a 33-26 lead.

Schneider and Kellam took turns assisting each other on back to back baskets and after a free throw from Bell Chinook suddenly had a ten point lead 38-28.

Senior Jeffrey Stiffarm knocked down a triple to keep the Thunderbirds close. Young scored again and after an offensive rebound and put back from senior Jams Brockie the 'Beeter lead had shrunk to just three 39-36.

Neibauer would get the 'Beeters back on track with a bucket at the 5:49 mark of the fourth quarter. Freshman Toby Niederegger then made a great entry pass into Elliot for another score and after Hannum found Elliot in the paint again Chinook had pushed the lead back to eight, 46-38 with time winding down.

Stiffarm and the Thunderbirds kept fighting as he dropped in another from beyond the arc to stay within six but after four free throws from Schneider and Bell and a bucket by Ethan Bell Chinook had earned a hard fought 56-44 win.

Bell led the 'Beeter offense with 12 points, Elliot finished with 11 and Schneider 9. For the Thunderbirds Young finished with 11 points, Stiffarm added nine and Snow eight.

Saturday the Sugarbeeters were in Big Sandy to take on the Pioneers.

Chinook wasted little time getting the offense rolling racing out to a 20-0 lead on the strength of 10 first quarter points from Schneider. Neibauer added six in the opening stanza as Chinook lead 24-2 at the end of one. The Sugarbeeters pushed the advantage to 40-10 by intermission as they coasted to a 66-27 win over Big Sandy to improve to 2-0 in District 9C play and 4-0 overall.

Elliot and Neibauer each scored 14 in the contest and Niederegger added eight in the Sugarbeeter win.

The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds didn't get off to a quick start their home opener against the Chester/Joplin Inverness Hawks but they eventually got the offense rolling. Senior Moke Cliff connected from long range in the first and Desmond Shambo connected twice from beyond the arc in the second to lead the Thunderbirds to a 35-27 advantage by halftime.

Stiffarm dropped in a three point bomb in the third to spark the offense to a 48-33 lead heading into the final stanza.

The Thunderbirds closed out the Hawks with a 23-8 advantage in the fourth quarter to win going away 71-41.

Desmond Shambo led the way with 15 points while Jeffrey Pretty Paint added 12 for the Thunderbirds.

The Harlem Wildcats got the best of the Malta Mustangs in their District 2B opener jumping out to a 21-10 lead after eight minutes.

Harlem led 33-19 at the break and held on down the stretch to earn a 63-50 win over the Mustangs.

Freshman RJ Ramone led the way with 27 points in the contest.

The Turner Tornadoes dropped their District 9C opener to the North Star Knight s falling 56-44. Senior Cody Welsh led the offensive attack with 14 markers while Shane Kimmel added 11 for the Tornadoes.

Saturday in Fort Benton the Tornadoes were resilient in their efforts.

They led the Longhorns 12-8 after eight minutes of action and 26-22 at the break. The two teams would go toe to toe down the stretch and find themselves even at the end of regulation 50-50.

The Longhorns would eventually earn a 71-67 win over the Tornadoes in double overtime. Welsh led the Turner effort with 27 points while Kimmel added 19.