Harlem 2nd at District 2B, Turner 3rd at District 9C headed to Northern B & C Divisional

The first weekend of the high school girls basketball postseason is in the books and the Harlem Lady Cats and Turner Tornadoes will continue their seasons while the Chinook Sugarbeeters and Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds saw theirs come to an end.

The Harlem Lady Cats were regular season champions in the District 2B, finishing with a 7-1 conference mark and a 15-3 overall record. By virtue of their regular season finish they were already guaranteed a spot in the Northern B Divisional this weekend in Malta.

The girls began their post season at the District 2B Tournament in Glasgow. The Lady Cats opened with a contest against the home standing Glasgow Scotties.

Glasgow earned the right to play the top seed by virtue of a 43-31 win over the Poplar Indians, Thursday night in a play-in game.

Harlem defeated the Scotties twice during the regular season, the latest being a two point contest at home the final weekend of the regular season.

The Lady Cats started by making defense their focal point and limited the Scotties to just seven first quarter points, but only scored six themselves.

The Scotties outscored the Lady Cats by one again in the second quarter, 15-14 to take a 22-20 lead into halftime.

Harlem would open things up offensively after the break, outscoring the Scotties 25-15 to lead by eight, 45-37, with the fourth quarter remaining.

Harlem finished strong, adding 21 more in the fourth quarter to take a 66-52 semifinal win over the Scotties. The Lady Cats shot just 24% from the field in the first half but found their mark in the second, hitting on 55.6% of their attempts to seal the win.

Junior L'Tia Lawrence led the way with 26 points. Freshman Taya Trottier added 17 and senior Skylee Dirden added 14 in the win.

The Lady Cats and the Wolf Point Wolves split their two regular season contests with each winning on the others home court. Saturday night the two teams met for the District 2B Championship and the No. 1 seed at the Northern B Divisional this week.

Harlem got the game started on the right foot, taking a slim 11-8 lead into the second quarter of action. Both teams struggled from the field throughout the contest, but the second quarter was especially difficult for the Lady Cats.

Harlem scored just six points in the frame and trailed 21-17 at the break. Harlem shot 26.9% from the field in the opening half and looked to improve on that number down the stretch.

Harlem added six more in the third quarter while the Wolves tacked on another 13 to open up a 34-23 advantage heading into the fourth.

Harlem finally found their mark, scoring 19 the final eight minutes but it was to little to late as they fell to the Wolves 54-42.

Harlem was led in the contest by Lawrence who finished with 13 points in the contest. Trottier added nine markers and grabbed seven rebounds on the night.

Harlem will now head to Malta this Thursday as the No. 2 Seed out of the District 2B and will open play against the No. 3 Seed out of the District 1B. That contest will tip off Thursday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with the Lady Cats taking on the Choteau Bulldogs.

The Turner Tornado girls basketball team is headed to the Northern C Divisional for the second year in a row after punching their ticket Friday night with a 45-34 win over the North Star Knights in the consolation final.

The Tornadoes got the tournament started with a 71-39 win over the Chinook Sugarbeeters. They then fell in a hard fought semifinal contest to the Fort Benton Longhorns 65-51 to find themselves in a loser out contest Friday morning.

Turner bounced back in a big way with a 76-50 win over the Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds to advance the consolation final Friday night against the North Star Knights.

Turner outlasted the Knights 45-34 and earned the right to continue their season at the Northern C Divisional in Great Falls.

In the opener against the Sugarbeeters, the Tornadoes held a slim 14-10 lead heading into the second quarter. They opened things up a bit in the second, getting seven points in the stanza from sophomore Shyan Krass and six points from senior Melonie Watkins to open up a 35-20 halftime advantage.

The Tornadoes doubled up the Sugarbeeters in the third quarter, 18-9. A three-point bomb from senior Raegan Conlan and six more from Watkins powered the offensive attack.

The Tornadoes scored 18 more in the fourth to secure the first round win. Krass led the Tornado effort with 23 points while Watkins and junior Sarah Billmayer each chipped in 14. Watkins also corralled nine rebounds for the Tornadoes.

Freshman Allison Powell led the 'Beeter attack with 11 points, senior Megan Molyneaux added eight and senior Kourtney Hanson seven.

Thursday night in the semifinal against the Longhorns the Tornadoes turned in a valiant effort. Fort Benton held a 17-13 advantage after one and extended the margin to nine at the break 34-25. Fort Benton would push the lead 54-37 heading into the fourth and close out the contest with a 65-51 win over Turner.

Krass led Turner with 24 points and 10 rebounds in the contest. Watkins added 10 and senior Rylee Conlan nine.

Friday morning against the Thunderbirds, Turner was looking to get off to a quick start and they did just that. Billmayer tossed in seven first quarter points to help Turner take a 15-10 lead early.

Krass owned the paint, scoring 10 points in the second and Raegan Conlan knocked down a triple to help Turner take a 36-22 lead at the break.

Both teams had their offense's rolling in the third as they combined for 44 points in the quarter, but the Thunderbirds saw Turner extend their lead to 59-43 with eight minutes remaining.

Turner closed out the contest with a 17-7 run down the stretch to earn the 76-50 win. Krass again led the offensive attack for the Tornadoes with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Billmayer finished with 16 points five rebounds and four assists for the Tornadoes.

Senior Rayleigh Kirkaldie led lead the attack for the Thunderbirds with 13 points. Junior Mulleeah Stiffarm added 10 points and 11 rebounds in the contest.

In the consolation final the Tornadoes found themselves in a defensive battle with the North

Star Knights and managed to secure a 10-6 lead after eight minutes of action getting a three-point bucket and five points from Billmayer.

That four point lead would turn into a two-point deficit, 19-17, by halftime as the Tornadoes managed just seven second quarter points.

They would turn the tables in the second half outscoring the Knights 13-8 in the third and 15-7 in the fourth to walk away with a 45-34 win and trip to the Northern C.

Krass recorded another double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds while Billmayer and Rylee Conlan each scored 12 as well.

The Northern C Divisional gets underway today at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. The Tornadoes will take the court against the Simms Tigers at 9:30 a.m. The Tigers are the No. 1 seed out of the 10C.

The Thunderbirds fell in their first round contest to the North Star Knights 48-43. Stiffarm scored 19 in the contest and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Thunderbirds.

Thursday morning the Thunderbirds picked up their first win at the District 9C Tournament in eight years with a 57-33 win over the Big Sandy Pioneers.

Senior Latasha Kirkaldie led the offensive attack with 13 points for the Thunderbirds. Freshman Jaedyn Chandler scored 11 and Stiffarm 10 in the win. Hays/Lodge Pole finished the season 6-15.

The Sugarbeeters picked up a win Thursday morning, defeating the Chester/Joplin-Inverness Hawks 50-31. Hanson led the way with 14 points and nine rebounds. Senior Lincy Johnson added 11 for the Sugarbeeters.

Friday morning the 'Beeters would see their season end with a 49-31 loss to the North Star Knights. Molyneaux again led the way with 11 points in the contest. Powell added six points in the finale.

The top two teams at the Northern B and Northern C Divisional tournaments this weekend will advance to the State Tournament. The State Girls Class B Tournament will be held in Belgrade at the Special Events Center, March 7-9.

The Class C State Girls Basketball Tournament will played February 28 - March 2 in Great Falls at the Four Seasons Arena.

Girls Basketball

District 9C Tournament, Havre

Box Elder 67 Big Sandy 20

Big Sandy 4 5 6 5 - 20

Box Elder 19 23 15 10 - 67

Big Sandy: Stacey Allderdice 1 0-0 2, Amiya Griffith 0 1-2 1, Grace Finke 0 0-0 0, Madison Terry 0 0-0 0, Lainey Gregory 2 0-0 5, Jaylyn Cline 4 2-3 10, Amanda Cline 0 2-2 2, Seanna Demontiny 0 0-0 0, Caydence Pleninger 0 0-0 0, Mattie Gasvoda 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 7 5-7 20.

Box Elder - Annalise Johnson 0 0-0 0, Sarah Parisian 5 0-1 11, Talyssa Oats-Horn 1 1-2 3, Eve The Boy 1 2-4 4, Maddie Wolf Chief 4 0-0 8, Angela Gopher 2 1-2 6, Kyla Momberg 6 1-1 14, Joelnell Momberg 6 0-1 15, Zayna Henderson 1 2-4 4, Britney Lafromboise 1 0-0 2. Team Totals 27 7-15 67.

Three Point Field Goals: Big Sandy 1 (Lainey Gregory), Box Elder 6 (Joelnell Momberg 3); Team Rebounds: Big Sandy 16 (Amanda Cline 6), Box Elder 37 (Kyla Momberg 8, Eve The Boy 7); Team Fouls: Big Sandy 11, Box Elder 13; Fouled Out: None.

North Star 48 Hays/L.P. 43

Hays/L.P. 13 12 7 11 - 43

North Star 19 13 5 11 - 48

Hays/Lodge Pole: Tahtianna Whitecow-Morgan 0 2-2 2, Kassi Perez 0 2-2 2, Sierra Chandler 0 0-0 0, Judemia Gray 0 0-0 0, Lakota Pretty Paint 0 0-0 0, Latasha Kirkaldie 0 4-6 4, Rayleigh Kirkaldie 3 6-7 14, Justice Werk 0 0-0 0, Jaedyn Chandler 1 0-0 2, Mulleeah Stiffarm 7 0-0 19. Team Totals 11 14-17 43.

North Star: Laynie Sattoriva 0 0-0 0, Jade Wendland 9 0-0 11, Kenidee Wolery 1 3-7 5, Paij Peterson 2 1-3 6, Tanicha Hudson 0 0-0 0, Olivia King 2 0-0 5, Shayla Borlaug 7 5-8 19, Saige Scheresky-O'Neil 0 0-0 0, Kaytlyn Domire 1 0-2 2, Rainee Watson 0 0-0 0, Ereka Harvey 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 18 9-20 48.

Three Point Field Goals: Hays/L.P. 7 (Muleeah Stiffarm 5, Rayleigh Kirkaldie 2), North Star 3 (Jade Wendland, Paij Peterson, Olivia King); Team Rebounds: Hays/L.P 42 (Mulleeah Stiffarm 12, Justine Grey 7), North Star 34 (Kenidee Wolery 10); Team Fouls: Hays/L.P. 18, North Star 17; Fouled Out: None.

Turner 71 Chinook 39

Chinook 10 10 7 12 - 39

Turner 14 21 18 18 - 71

Chinook: Jade Cercle 2 0-0 5, Megan Molyneaux 3 0-0 8, Ginger Hauer 1 0-0 2, Kourtney Hanson 2 3-4 7, Delaney Kellam 0 0-0 0, Jayden Miller 1 0-0 23, Tylie Richman 0 0-0 0, Ashley MacLeod 0 0-0 0, Lily Surber 0 0-2 0, Lincy Johnson 2 0-0 4, Rachel Gunderson 0 0-2 0, Allison Powell 5 1-1 11. Team Totals 16 4-9 39.

Turner: Raegan Conlan 2 2-2 7, Sarah Billmayer 6 2-4 14, Dakota Krass 1 0-0 2, Rylee Conlan 2 0-1 5, Melanie Watkins 6 2-2 14, Brandy Calvert 2 0-1 4, Laci Maloney 0 0-0 0, Brooke Reed 1 0-0 2, Shyan Krass 9 5-6 23, Lacey Hickel 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 24 11-16 71.

Three Point Field Goals: Chinook 3 (Megan Molyneaux 2, Jade Cercle), Turner 0; Team Rebounds: Chinook 31 (Kourtney Hanson 4, Megan Molyneaux 3, Ashley MacLeod 3, Lincy Johnson 3), Turner 33 (Melanie Watkins 9, Shyan Krass 5); Team Fouls: Chinook 15, Turner 10; Fouled Out: None.

Hays/L.P. 57 Big Sandy 33 (LO)

Big Sandy 6 11 8 8 - 33

Hays/L.P. 13 13 11 20 - 57

Big Sandy: Laynee Ophus 0 0-0 0, Stacey Allderdice 0 0-1 0, Amiya Griffith 1 1-4 3, Grace Finke 0 0-0 0, Madison Terry 0 2-3 2, Lainey Gregory 0 2-3 2, Jaylyn Cline 7 4-6 20, Amanda Cline 1 3-5 6, Seanna Demontiny 0 0-0 0, Caydence Pleninger 0 0-0 0, Mattie Gasvoda 0 0-2 0. Team Totals 9 12-24 33.

Hays/Lodge Pole: Tahtianna Whitecow-Morgan 1 1-3 3, Nashone Shambo 2 1-3 5, Kassi Perez 1 0-0 2, Sierra Chandler 3 1-5 7, Justine Gray 0 0-2 0, Latasha Kirkaldie 6 1-313, Rayleigh Kirkaldie 2 1-2 6, Justice Werk 0 0-0 0, Jaedyn Chandler 4 0-0 11, Mulleeah Stiffarm 4 1-4 10, Tahlia Werk 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 23 6-22 57.

Three Point Field Goals: Big Sandy 3 (Jaylyn Cline 2, Amanda Cline), Hays/L.P. 5 (Jaedyn Chandler 3, Justice Werk); Team Rebounds: Big Sandy 36 (Amanda Cline 12), Hays/L.P. 58 (Judemia Gray 9, Sierra Chandler 9, Latasha Kirkaldie 9); Team Fouls: Big Sandy 20, Hays/L.P. 21; Fouled Out: None.

Chinook 50 Chester/J-I 31 (LO)

Chester/J-I 7 3 14 7 - 31

Chinook 11 14 11 14 - 50

Chester/J-I: Averie Mattson 1 1-2 3, Tatum Hull 3 2-7 9, Molly Nelson 0 0-0 0, Haddie Woods 1 3-5 5, Abby Fraser 1 2-8 4, Peyton Hawks 1 1-2 3, Emma Wickman 1 5-7 7, Aaliyah Standiford 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 8 14-31 31.

Chinook: Jade Cercle 0 2-2 2, Megan Molyneaux 0 0-0 0, Ginger Hauer 0 5-7 5, Kourtney Hanson 4 6-11 14, Delaney Kellam 0 0-0 0, Ashley MacLeod 0 0-0 0, Lily Surber 0 1-2 1, Lincy Johnson 4 1-2 11, Rachel Gunderson 3 3-7 9, Allison Powell 3 2-2 8. Team Totals 14 20-33 50.

Three Point Field Goals: Chester/J-I 1 (Tatum Hull), Chinook 2 (Lincy Johnson 2); Team Rebounds: Chester/J-I 29 (Emma Wickum 7, Haddie Woods 5), Chinook 37 (Kourtney Hanson 9, Ginger Hauer 6); Team Fouls: Chester/J-I 23, Chinook 20; Fouled Out: Tatum Hull (CJI), Emma Wickum (CJI).

Fort Benton 65 Turner 51 (SF)

Turner 13 12 12 14 - 51

Fort Benton 17 17 20 11 - 65

Turner: Raegan Conlan 1 2-3 4, Sarah Billmayer 1 2-2 4, Dakota Krass 0 0-0 0, Rylee Conlan 3 1-2 9, Melanie Watkins 4 2-2 10, Brandy Calvert 0 0-2 0, Laci Maloney 0 0-0 0, Brooke Reed 0 0-0 0, Shyan Krass 11 2-6 24, Lacey Hickel 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 20 9-17 51.

Fort Benton - Cassie Nack 4 5-6 13, McKenzie Clark 7 1-4 17, Aspen Giese 3 8-9 14, Abby Clark 0 0-0 0, Maci Molinario 1 2-2 4, Megan Clark 3 2-2 8, Leah Gannon 1 4-4 7, McKenna Hanford 1 0-0 2. Team Totals 20 22-27 65.

Three Point Field Goals: Turner 2 (Rylee Conlan 2), Fort Benton 3 (McKenzie Clark 2, Leah Gannon); Team Rebounds: Turner 34 (Shyan Krass 10, Melanie Watkins 5), Fort Benton 37 (Aspen Giese 10, Maci Molinario 6); Team Fouls: Turner 20, Fort Benton 17; Fouled Out: Brandy Calvert (Turner), Abby Clark (FB).

Turner 76 Hays/L.P. 50 (LO)

Hays/L.P. 10 12 21 7 - 50

Turner 15 21 23 17 - 76

Hays/Lodge Pole: Tahtianna Whitecow-Morgan 2 0-0 4, Nashone Shambo 0 0-0 0, Kassi Perez 2 0-0 5, Sierra Chandler 2 1-2 5, Judemia Gray 0 0-0 0, Lakota Pretty Paint 0 0-0 0, Latasha Kirkaldie 2 3-5 7, Rayleigh Kirkaldie 4 4-7 13, Justice Werk 0 0-0 0, Jaedyn Chandler 2 2-4 6, Mulleeah Stiffarm 3 2-2 10. Team Totals 17 12-20 50.

Turner: Raegan Conlan 1 1-2 4, Sarah Billmayer 6 3-8 16, Dakota Krass 0 0-0 0, Rylee Conlan 2 1-2 7, Melanie Watkins 6 2-5 14, Brandy Calvert 3 1-1 7, Laci Maloney 0 0-0 0, Brooke Reed 1 2-2 4, Shyan Krass 10 4-4 24, Lacey Hickel 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 29 14-24 76.

Three Point Field Goals: Hays/L.P. 4 (Mulleeah Stiffarm 2, Rayleigh Kirkaldie, Kassi Perez), Turner 4 (Rylee Conlan 2, Reagan Conlan, Sarah Billmayer); Team Rebounds: Hays/L.P. 47 (Mulleeah Stiffarm 11, Tahtianna Morgan-Whitecow 9), Turner 43 (Shyan Krass 14, Melanie Watkins 7, Raegan Conlan 7); Team Fouls: Hays/L.P. 21, Turner 15; Fouled Out: Raegan Conlan (Turner).

North Star 49 Chinook 31 (LO)

North Star 8 14 13 14 - 49

Chinook 6 9 5 11 - 31

Chinook: Jade Cercle 0 0-0 0, Megan Molyneaux 4 2-4 11, Ginger Hauer 0 1-2 1, Kourtney Hanson 1 2-4 4, Tylie Richman 0 0-0 0, Delaney Kellam 0 1-2 1, Ashley MacLeod 0 0-0 0, Lily Surber 2 1-2 5, Lincy Johnson 0 0-0 0, Rachel Gunderson 1 1-5 3, Allison Powell 1 4-9 6. Team Totals 9 12-28 31.

North Star: Laynie Sattoriva 0 2-4 2, Jade Wendland 2 2-5 7, Kenidee Wolery 3 3-5 9, Paij Peterson 2 6-10 12, Tanicha Hudson 0 0-0 0, Olivia King 2 2-2 6, Shayla Borlaug 3 1-2 7, Saige Scheresky-O'Neil 0 0-0 0, Kaytlyn Domire 2 0-2 4, Rainee Watson 1 0-0 2, Erika Harvey 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 15 16-30 49.

Three Point Field Goals: Chinook 1 (Megan Molyneaux), North Star 4 (Paige Peterson 2, Jade Wendland, Shayla Bourlaug); Team Rebounds: Chinook 32 (Rachel Gunderson 10, Kourtney Hanson 5), North Star 38 (Shayla Bourlaug 6, Kenidee Wolery 6); Team Fouls: Chinook 20,North Star 26; Fouled Out: Ginger Hauer (CHI), Ashley MacLeod (CHI), Saige Scheresky-O'Neil (NS).

Turner 45 North Star 34 (3rd)

North Star 6 13 8 7 - 34

Turner 10 7 13 15 - 45

North Star: Laynie Sattoriva 0 0-0 0, Jade Wendland 4 2-2 10, Kenidee Wolery 4 3-3 11, Paij Peterson 2 3-4 7, Tanicha Hudson 0 0-0 0, Olivia King 0 0-0 0, Shayla Borlaug 2 1-4 6, Saige Scheresky-O'Neil 0 0-0 0, Kaytlyn Domire 0 0-0 0, Rainee Watson 0 0-0 0, Ereka Harvey 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 8 9-13 34.

Turner: Raegan Conlan 0 2-4 2, Sarah Billmayer 5 3-7 14, Dakota Krass 0 0-0 0, Rylee Conlan 4 2-4 12, Melanie Watkins 2 1-1 5, Brandy Calvert 0 0-0 0, Laci Maloney 0 0-0 0, Brooke Reed 0 0-0 0, Shyan Krass 4 4-8 12, Lacey Hickel 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 15 12-24 45.

Three Point Field Goals: North Star 1 (Shayla Bourlaug), Turner 3 (Rylee Conlan 2, Sarah Billmayer); Team Rebounds: North Star 31 (Paij Peterson 12), Turner 37 (Shyan Krass 11, Melanie Watkins 11);Team Fouls: North Star 20, Turner 10; Fouled Out: None.

District 2B Tournament, Glasgow

Harlem 66 Glasgow 52 (SF)

Glasgow 7 15 15 15 - 52

Harlem 6 14 25 21 - 66

Harlem: Kristyn Kittleson 1 0-0 2, Taya Trottier 6 5-7 17, Skylee Dirden 4 6-8 14, Melony Fetter 1 1-2 4, L'Tia Lawrence 8 8-10 26, Taeshon Scheaffer 1 1-2 3, Aria Owens 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 21 21-31 66.

Glasgow: Keely Fossum 6 3-4 18, Anika Peters 4 2-4 10, Tyann Graham 3 1-2 10, Cordelia Nickels 0 0-0 0, Tehya Campbell 0 0-0 0, Blaire Westby 1 1-2 3, Abrianna Nielsen 3 0-1 7, Laura Ross 1 0-0 2, Taylor Pederson 1 0-0 2. Team Totals 19 7-13 52.

Three Point Field Goals: Harlem 3 (L'Tia Lawrence 2, Melony Fetter), Glasgow 7 (Keely Fossum 3, Tyann Graham 3); Team Rebounds: Harlem 35 (L'Tia Lawrence 5, Taya Trottier 5), Glasgow 35 (Keely Fossum 5, Tehya Campbell 5, Taylor Pederson5); Team Fouls: Harlem 15, Glasgow 22; Fouled Out: None.

Wolf Point 54 Harlem 42 (1st)

Wolf Point 8 12 12 20 - 54

Harlem 11 6 6 19 - 42

Harlem: Kristyn Kittleson 0 0-0 0, Taya Trottier 2 5-6 9, Skylee Dirden 3 0-0 6, Melony Fetter 3 0-0 9, L'Tia Lawrence 5 1-2 13, Taeshon Scheaffer 1 0-0 2, Aria Owens 1 0-0 3. Team Totals 15 6-8 42.

Glasgow: Alyssa Archdale 0 0-0 0, Semarah Wells 2 0-3 4, Hamyanie Campbell 0 0-0 0, Mya Fourstar 3 4-4 11, Tori Nygard 0 0-0 0, Mary Bighorn 1 0-1 3, Abby Juve 2 1-4 5, Imani Bighorn 10 10-14 31. Team Totals 18 15-26 54.

Three Point Field Goals: Harlem 6 (Melony Fetter 3, L'Tia Lawrence 2, Aria Owens), Glasgow 3 (Mya Fourstar, Mary Bighorn, Imani Bighorn); Team Rebounds: Harlem 23 (Taya Trottier 7), Glasgow 48 (Imani Bighorn 13); Team Fouls: Harlem 18, Glasgow 7; Fouled Out: None.