Strong Second Half Propels Wildcats to 75-64 Win Over Chinook Friday Night

The Harlem Wildcats had a busy week on the hardwood. First they were in Rocky Boy on Tuesday for a non-conference tilt with the Stars. The Wildcats turned in a much better performance from their first meeting in Harlem but still fell 91-60. Friday the team was in Chinook looking to upend the Sugarbeeters after falling at home back in early January. The Wildcat offense got rolling as the game went along leading to a 75-64 win. Saturday they were back in front of the home fans in a contest against the top seeded Wolf Point Wolves. The Wildcats battled but fell 75-60.

The game of the week for the Wildcats was in Chinook Friday night. Junior Moses Lawrence got the scoring started right away for the Wildcats finishing off a fast break just seconds in for a quick 2-0 lead. Freshman Cody McCabe collected an offensive rebound for a 5-0 lead just 90 seconds in. McCabe converted another rebound into points leading to a timeout and a 9-1 Wildcat lead.

Senior Brenden Fetter connected twice from the charity stripe to get Chinook back on track. Senior Levi Jensen beat his defender for a reverse lead cutting the deficit to 9-5. Fetter later cut the Wildcat lead to two, 10-8 with a floater in the paint and then gave the 'Beeters an 11-10 lead with a corner three point bomb.

The Wildcats answered when senior Tommy Champagne made a perfect pass into Lawrence for an easy score. Freshman Mathew Billmayer sent a dime to Champagne in the corner for a three to push the Wildcat lead back to five, 16-11. The game was definitely back and forth early on, Fetter connected again from downtown to even things at 18-18. He then found sophomore Carson Nissen in the corner for a three. Nissen followed with another three off a feed from Jensen and suddenly it was Chinook with the six point lead, 24-18.

Sophomore Diondre First Raised hit a long two-point bucket for the Wildcats and McCabe turned a steal into a spin going to the basket and another bucket, tying the game at 28-28. Billmayer later found a wide oped Lawrence inside for a score and a 32-30 Wildcat lead. With less than a minute remaining in the half Fetter gave Chinook back the lead with and underhand scoop in the paint, 35-33. The Wildcats finished the first half on a high note when First Raised connected from beyond the arc to put Harlem up 36-35 at the break.

The second half was different story all together. The Wildcats took control early on and never looked back. Senior Marley Stewart battled for the offensive board and kicked it out to Champagne for a three. Lawrence added another bucket off another rebound and Billmayer converted on a fast break to give the Wildcats a 52-45 lead midway through the third quarter. Chinook cut it to four but another three ball from Messerly pushed the lead to seven, 57-50 at the end of three quarters.

The Wildcats controlled the action the remainder of the contest and took a 73-58 lead with 2:26 remaining after another offensive rebound and score from Lawrence. The Wildcats secured a 75-64 win to earn the season split with the 'Beeters. McCabe led the way for the Wildcats with 23 points, Lawrence finished with 19 and Champagne chipped in 11. The 'Beeters were led by Fetter with a game high 36 points.

McCabe also turned in a stellar effort in Tuesdays loss to Rocky Boy, lighting up the scoreboard for 28 points. In the contest with the Wolves on Saturday. Billmayer led the attack with 16 points.

Harlem will close out the regular season with a couple of road games. Thursday they will head to Box Elder to take on the Bears and Saturday they will be in Glasgow for a huge conference game against the Scotties.