10-0 Sugarbeeters win battle of 9C unbeatens, top Fort Benton 49-47

The high school basketball season has reached it's midway point, teams have finished up the first half of the conference schedule and tournament time is right around the corner.

The Chinook Sugarbeeters ran their record to 10-0. Friday they were on the road, defeating the North Star Knights soundly, 81-22. Saturday the Sugarbeeters were at home to take on the Fort Benton Longhorns with District 9C supremacy on the line. After taking a lead early, they were able to come from behind to win a thrilling 49-47 contest.

The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds are still battling a bit of the injury bug but still managed to pull out a hard fought 48-46 win at home over the Roy/Winifred Outlaws Friday evening. Saturday the Thunderbirds were in Box Elder to take on the Bears and needed a big fourth quarter to cage the Bears 73-65

The Turner Tornadoes picked up their first conference win of the season on Thursday, taking down the Box Elder Bears 77-53. Friday night the visiting Big Sandy Pioneers got the best of them as Turner fell 57-51 at home.

The Harlem Wildcats began the week at home a with contest against the No. 8 ranked Shelby Coyotes. The boys played well but fell 62-48. Saturday the Wildcats faced the Poplar Indians in a District 2B game, falling 80-50.

The Sugarbeeters are the only undefeated team in the District 9C after a huge weekend on the court. The 'Beeters began the week 8-0 and were looking to add a few more wins to their total Friday and Saturday.

When the state power polls were released on Tuesday, the Sugarbeeters were among the teams listed, entering the poll for the first time at No. 9. Chinook and Belt (No. 5) were the only two Northern C teams listed in the top 10.

Looking to improve upon the ranking the Sugarbeeters began the weekend in Rudyard for a conference tilt with the North Star Knights.

The 'Beeters raced out to a 26-8 advantage after eight minutes getting a pair of three's and eight points from sophomore Ethan Bell to set the pace. Chinook extended their advantage to 51-18 by the break and then allowed the Knights just four second half points to secure a lopsided 81-22 win. Ethan led the way with 17 markers, senior Isaac Bell added 15 while junior Hunter Neibauer and seniors Brendan Edwards and Cord Schneider each added 11.

Saturday the the Floyd Bowen gymnasium was home for the battle of District 9C unbeaten's as the 9-0 Fort Benton Longhorns were in town to take on the 9-0 Sugarbeeters. The winner would certainly be in the drivers seat for the Districts No. 1 seed next month.

Senior Cord Schneider came to play Saturday night and got the Sugarbeeters their first points of the contest on a offensive rebound. The Longhorns would answer right back, and after a steal and score from Schneider put Chinook up 4-2, the Longhorns ran off six straight to lead 8-6.

The 'Beeters responded in a big way. Isaac drained a long three to cut the lead to one and then gave the 'Beeters back the need with a nice move to the basket.

Neibauer then turned another steal into a good take to the rim and another 'Beeter score to push the lead to 11-8. Senior Riley Kellam got the ball on the baseline and attacked the basket for a 13-8 advantage leading to a Longhorn timeout.

Schneider then made a great move in the paint after taking a nifty pass from Isaac for another score. Schneider would convert again at the rim to give the 'Beeters a 19-10 lead late in the first quarter.

Neibauer then picked the pocket of the Longhorn ball handler and dished to Schneider for an easy bucket.

With momentum clearly with the 'Beeters, Schneider made a huge block turning the crowd into a frenzy. Seconds later Isaac ended up with the ball and beat the Longhorn defender to the rim for a one handed slam and a 23-12 'Beeter lead.

Neibauer's quick hands poked the ball away again and he went coast to coast for another layup. On the next possession Neibauer hit sophomore Reece Elliot underneath for another score and 28-14 'Beeter lead.

The 'Beeters would suddenly find a cover over the basket as shots that were falling early on seemed to find the rim late in the first half.

Fort Benton closed the quarter on a 10-0 run to cut the 'Beeter lead to 28-24 late in the second quarter. Chinook ended the Longhorn run with an offensive rebound and score from Edwards to give Chinook a 30-24 halftime lead.

Schneider began the third quarter with a beautiful move to the basket for a 32-24 Chinook lead. The Longhorns again would answer.

Following an old fashioned three point play and a three point bucket, Fort Benton was right back, trailing 32-29. Moments later the Longhorns evened the score at 34-34 and then took the lead 37-34 after another Longhorn triple from the right side of the arc.

Schneider got the 'Beeters two points back off another offensive rebound put back, 37-36 and moments later, 39-38 after another strong move at the basket.

Fort Benton connected again from deep to push their advantage to 42-38. Senior Trajan Hannum answered for the 'Beeters on the very next possession, knocking in a triple from deep in the right corner, trimming the Longhorn lead to 42-41.

Schneider then recorded yet another steal and found Hannum for an easy score and a 'Beeter 43-42 lead. Isaac would push the lead to 44-42 with a free throw following a clear path foul against the Longhorns.

The Longhorns evened the score with a pair of pressure free throws with just under three minutes left in the contest.

Neihbauer gave the 'Beeters back the lead 46-44, this time for good, with a short jumper at the 2:15 mark of the fourth quarter. Edwards added another score off an offensive rebound to give Chinook a four point cushion, 49-45 with :44.3 remaining in the contest.

The teams would trade timeouts back and fourth with five being called in the final :04.3 seconds as the Longhorns tried to set up one final play. An errant shot at the buzzer sealed a 49-47 'Beeter win.

Schneider led the 'Beeter effort with 14 points on the night while also adding eight rebounds, four steals and three blocks to his performance. Isaac added 12 points for the 'Beeters. Edwards six points and six rebounds. Neibauer chipped in six points and four steals.

The Turner Tornadoes were in Box Elder on Thursday to take on the Bears while seeking their first conference win of the season.

The Tornadoes were back at full strength for the first time in several weeks as senior Cody Welsh was cleared for action.

Welsh waisted little time in making his presence felt, knocking down a pair of triples and scoring 12 points in the opening stanza. The offensive outburst helped the Tornadoes take a 22-9 lead after eight minutes of action.

Looking to keep the momentum going, Welsh buried another from beyond the arc and added nine more in the second quarter.

Sophomore Austin Welsh showed his range with a pair of triples and sophomore Shane Kimmel connected from long range as well sending the Tornadoes into halftime with a 40-19 lead over the Bears.

Kimmel knocked another down from distance and scored nine in the third quarter to go along with eight more from Cody Welsh.

With Turner holding a 59-38 entering the fourth they were well on their way to picking up their first conference win. Welsh knocked down his fourth three pointer of the contest and senior Tracer Heilig added his second triple to propel the Tornadoes to a 77-53 win.

Cody Welsh finished with 36 points in the contest to lead all scorers. Kimmel added 15, Austin Welsh chipped in 13 and Heilig scored 10. The Tornadoes recorded 12 three point baskets in the win.

Friday the Tornadoes welcomed the Big Sandy Pioneers to town while also looking to add another win to their resume.

The Pioneers opened up a 20-11 lead early and held a 32-22 advantage at the break. The Tornadoes would battle back but fall short in a 57-51 loss to Big Sandy.

Welsh would again lead the team with a 20 point effort in the contest. Tracer Heilig added eight as did Spencer See for the Tornadoes.

The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds have dealt with a few injuries as well but managed to pull out a pair of hard fought wins over the weekend.

Friday the Thunderbirds played host to the Roy/Winifred Outlaws in a contest that was back and fourth from start to finish.

The Outlaws held a 12-10 lead after one quarter of action and a even slimmer 26-25 advantage at the break.

The Thunderbirds would retake the lead in the third quarter, taking a 37-34 advantage into the fourth quarter before earning a 48-46 win.

Senior Jeremy Pretty Paint led the way with 20 points in the contest.

Saturday in Box Elder the Thunderbirds trailed 52-51 with eight minutes left in the contest when the offense took over. Hays/Lodge Pole outscored the Bears 22-9 down the stretch to secure a 73-65 win.

Senior Kyle Young Jr. led the offensive effort in his return to the team with 21 points. Senior Kenneth Blackcrow Jr. added 16 and senior Moke Cliff 13 for the Thunderbirds.

Boys Basketball

Turner 77 Box Elder 53

Turner 22 18 19 18 — 77

Box Elder 9 10 19 15 — 53

Turner: Austin Welsh 5 0-0 13, Jack Harmon 0 0-1 0, Kurt Calvert 0 0-2 0, Charlie Calvert 0 0-0 0, Cody Welsh 14 4-4 36, Shane Kimmel 5 3-6 15, Trevor Kimmel 0 0-0 0, Shay Humphreys 0 0-0 0, Spencer See 1 0-2 3, Chantry Jorgenson 0 0-0 0, Tracer Heilig 3 2-2 10. Team Totals 28 9-20 77.

Box Elder: Jayden Jones 4 1-2 9, Zander Parisian 2 0-0 4, Kadyn Duran 0 1-2 1, Chris Burns 1 4-4 6, Nacona Limberhand 4 1-3 12, Malique Rosette 1 0-0 3, Quentin Limberhand 6 0-0 12, Kobe Sutherland 3 0-0 6. Team Totals 21 7-11 53.

Three Point Field Goals: Turner 12 (Cody Welsh 4, Austin Welsh 3, Kimmel 2, Heilig 2, See 1), Box Elder 2 (Limberhand 1, Rosette 1); Team Fouls: Turner 16, Box Elder 21; Fouled Out: None

Chinook 81 North Star 22

Chinook 26 25 17 13 — 81

North Star 8 10 2 2 — 22

Chinook: Isaac Bell 6 0-1 15, Ethan Bell 5 2-3 15, Hunter Neibauer 5 0-0 11, James Christensen 0 1-2 1, Trajan Hannum 0 2-6 2, Reece Elliot 2 0-0 4, Ethan MacLeod 0 2-2 2, Riley Kellam 4 1-2 9, Brendan Edwards 4 3-6 11, Cord Schneider 4 3-3 11. Team Totals 30 14-23 81.

North Star: Austin Hansen 4 0-0 8, Bailey Spicher 3 0-0 7, Brody Wendland 1 0-2 3, Caden Rettig 0 0-1 0, Garrett Spicher 0 0-2 0, Payne Ditmar 0 0-0 0, Hayden Massar 2 0-0 4, Gavin Spicher 0 0-0 0, Rhett Wolery 0 0-0 0, Ethan Federspial 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 10 0-5 22.

Three Point Field Goals: Chinook 7 (Isaac Bell 3, Ethan Bell 3, Hunter Neibauer 1), North Star 2 (Spicher 1, Wendland 1); Team Fouls: Chinook 14, North Star 15; Fouled Out: None

Shelby 62 Harlem 48

Shelby 14 11 18 19 — 62

Harlem 8 13 15 12 — 48

Shelby: Tucker Tustain 1 0-0 3,Tanner Watson 5 1-1 12, Tanner Parsons 9 3-4 22, Taylor Parsons 0 0-0 0, Ryan VanTine 3 5-6 11, Logan Leck 4 6-7 14. Team Totals 22 15-18 62.

Harlem: RJ Ramone 2 1-2 7, Tyler Cichosz 6 2-2 15 Daniel Lawrence 2 0-0 2, Lane Allen 5 2-2 14, Trenton Main 0 2-2 2, Truth Brockie 2 0-0 4, Cassius Johnson 0 0-0 0, Teagan LeValdo 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 17 7-8 48.

Three Point Field Goals: Shelby 3 (Tustian 1, Watson 1, Parsons 1), Harlem 7 (Ramone 2, Lawrence 2, Allen 2, Cichosz 1); Team Fouls: Shelby 10, Harlem 19; Fouled Out: None

Hays/Lodge Pole 48 Roy/Winifred 46

Roy/Winifred 12 14 8 12 — 46

Hays/Lodge Pole 10 15 12 11 — 48

Roy/Winifred: Bryer Schultz 1 0-2 2, Brody Greer 5 3-4 13, Justin Stulc 1 1-2 3, Carter Pendergrass 0 0-0 0, Ryan Russell 3 1-1 9, Tyler Fordyce 7 1-3 17, Blake Dornsbach 1 0-2 2. Team Totals 18 6-13 46.

Hays/Lodge Pole: Gilbert Snow 2 1-2 5, Jeffrey Stiffarm Jr. 1 3-4 5, Jeremy Pretty Paint 7 6-7 20, Kenneth Blackcrow Jr. 2 0-0 4, Desmond Shambo 0 4-8 4, Siris Grandchamp 0 0-0 0, Moke Cliff 2 0-2 5, Deshon Shambo 0 0-0 0, Wyman Bringinggood 2 0-0 5, James Brockie 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 16 14-23 48.

Three Point Field Goals: Roy/Win 4 (Russell 2, Fordyce 2), Hays/L.P. 2 (Cliff 1, Bringinggood 1); Team Fouls: Roy/Win 20, Hays/L.P. 17; Fouled Out: Roy/Winifred (Brody Greer, Ryan Russell), Hays/L.P. (Gilbert Snow).

Big Sandy 57 Turner 51

Big Sandy 20 12 11 14 — 57

Turner 11 11 9 20 — 51

Big Sandy - Brock Proulx 11 2-2 25, Ryan Roth 8 0-0 21, Kody Strutz 1 0-0 3, Crawford Terry 0 0-0 0, Parker Proulx 1 0-1 2, Jeremiah Genereux 0 0-0 0, Kade Strutz 3 0-0 6. Team Totals 24 2-3 57.

Turner: Austin Welsh 3 1-2 7, Jack Harmon 1 0-0 3, Kurt Calvert 0 0-0 0, Cody Welsh 9 1-2 20, Shane Kimmel 2 0-4 5, Spencer See 4 0-1 8, Tracer Heilig 3 1-2 8. Team Totals 22 3-11 51.

Three Point Field Goals: Big Sandy 7 (Roth 5, Brock Proulx 1, Strutz 1), Turner 4 (Harmon 1, Cody Welsh 1, Kimmel 1, Heilig 1); Team Fouls: Big Sandy 17, Turner 13; Fouled Out: None

Chinook 49 Fort Benton 47

Fort Benton 12 12 13 10 — 47

Chinook 19 11 6 13 — 49

Fort Benton: Damon Bird 4 5-5 13, Jace Thompson 1 0-0 2, Stephen Gannon 0 0-0 0, Ethan Pfice 0 0-0 0, Garrett Diekhans 7 1-3 15, Nick Marias 0 0-0 0, Hayden Deikhans 4 1-2 13, Max Lane 1 0-0 2, Logan Gills 1 0-0 2, Billy Ullery 0 0-0 0, Jace Pimperton 0 0-0 0 Team Totals 18 7-10 47.

Chinook: Isaac Bell 4 2-4 11, Ethan Bell 1 0-0 2, Hunter Neibauer 3 0-0 6, James Christensen 0 0-0 0, Trajan Hannum 2 0-1 5, Reece Elliot 1 0-0 2, Riley Kellam 1 0-0 2, Brendan Edwards 0 0-0 0, Cord Schneider 7 0-0 14. Team Totals 22 3-10 49.

Three Point Field Goals: Fort Benton 4 (Hayden Deikhans 4), Chinook 2 (Isaac Bell 1, Trajan Hannum 1); Team Fouls: Fort Benton 13, Chinook 17; Fouled Out: None

Poplar 80 Harlem 50

Poplar 18 30 21 11 — 80

Harlem 16 11 16 7 — 50

Poplar: Jay Feuerherm 0 0-2 0, Kenny Smoker 3 7-80 13, Wynn Main 9 2-6 20, Logan Young 0 0-0 0, Wilfred Lambert 4 6-7 19, Chris Colgan 3 0-1 6, Darryl Joe 8 1-3 17, Hudson Atkinson 0 0-0 0, Dusette Gourneau 1 0-0 3, Hunter Burshia 1 0-0 2. Team Totals 29 16-27 80.

Harlem: Lane Allen 3 1-2 10, Tyler Cichosz 4 0-1 9, Daniel Lawrence 2 5-6 10, Trenton Main 0 0-0 0, Truth Brockie 1 0-0 2, Cassius Johnson 1 0-0 2, Sonny Gray 0 0-0 0, RJ Ramone 6 5-7 17, Hunter Gray 0 0-0 0, Teagan LeValdo 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 0 0-0 0.

Three Point Field Goals: Poplar 2 (Lambert 1, Gourneau 1), Harlem 3 (Cichosz 1, Lawrence 1, Allen 1); Team Fouls: Poplar 14, Harlem 21; Fouled Out: Harlem (Allen)

Hays/Lodge Pole 73 Box Elder 65

Hays/Lodge Pole 21 13 17 22 — 73

Box Elder 21 15 18 9 — 65

Hays/Lodge Pole: Gilbert Snow 1 1-2 3, Jeffrey Stiffarm Jr. 2 0-0 4, Jeremy Pretty Paint 3 1-3 7, Kenneth Blackcrow Jr. 7 1-3 16, Desmond Shambo 1 2-4 11, Siris Grandchamp 0 0-0 0, Kyle Young Jr. 4 11-15 21, Moke Cliff 5 0-0 130, Deshon Shambo 0 0-0 0, Wyman Bringinggood 2 0-3 4, James Brockie 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 25 16-30 73.

Box Elder: Jayden Jones 2 2-2 7, Zander Parisian 5 2-3 14, Kadyn Duran 6 1-4 15, Chris Burns 3 2-4 9, Nacona Limberhand 2 3-8 7, Malique Rosette 2 0-0 4, Quentin Limberhand 2 1-4 5, Kobe Sutherland 1 0-2 2. Team Totals 23 11-27 65.

Three Point Field Goals: Hays/L.P. 6 (Cliff 3, Young 2, Blackcrow 1), Box Elder 6 (Parisian 2, Duran 2, Jones 1, Burns 1); Team Fouls: Hays/L.P. 23, Box Elder 26; Fouled Out: Box Elder ( N. Limberhand)

District 9C Boys Standings

Team Conf Overall TP

#6 Chinook Sugarbeeters 7-0 10-0 +62

Fort Benton Longhorns 6-1 9-1 +52

Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds 5-2 7-3 +28

Big Sandy Pioneers 4-3 7-3 0

Box Elder Bears 2-5 3-7 -34

North Star Knights 2-5 4-6 -22

Chester/Joplin-Inverness Hawks 1-6 1-9 -46

Turner Tornadoes 1-6 2-8 -40