Sugarbeeters Continue their undefeated Season, beating Fairfield & Cut Bank

The Sugarbeeters run their record to 16-0 following a tight win over Fairfield on Thursday night and a comfortable win in Cut Bank on Saturday.

The Eagles got on the scoreboards first with a fast break just a minute into the game. Junior Hannah Schoen got a nice bucket inside from junior Alexus Seymour to cut the lead to two with six minutes remaining in the first quarter. Senior Halle Neibauer knocked down two free throws to even the score, 4-4. The Eagles soon after knocked down a corner three to reclaim the lead at 7-4 with five minutes to go in the first quarter. Junior Addison Olsen made a clean pass off of an inbound play to Seymour for three to cut Fairfield's lead to 9-7 midway through the first quarter. Seymour finished at the rim to score an AND1 to give Chinook back the lead 10-9. Schoen made a strong play, picking up a loose ball in the paint and spinning to finish with a nice little dump in to put Chinook up 13-12 with 2:12 remaining in the first quarter. Sophomore Brooke Fetter tied up the game at 16-16 when she made a nice ally-oop to Seymour with :44 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Neibauer then knocked down a pair of freethrows to take an 18-16 lead to end the first quarter.

Chinook scored 14 points in the second quarter, with Neibauer leading the way with seven points with one behind the arc. Schoen added four and Seymour added a three ball to send the teams into the fourth quarter with Chinook up 32-25. Chinook scored six points in the third quarter, four of which came from Neibauer, and junior Gracie Skoyen added two. Fairfield won the quarter 7-6, but Chinook still held on to the lead heading into the final quarter, 38-32.

Neibauer drew the AND1 twenty seconds into the final stanza, increasing the 'Beeters' lead to nine. Fairfield then knocked down a corner three to close the gap, but the 'Beeters quickly answered back with Schoen finding Olsen down low for two. Neibauer and Seymour finished up the game with a pair of threes, giving the 'Beeters the hard fought victory over the Eagles with a final score of 49-42.

On Saturday night, the girls made the trip west to Cut Bank to take on the Wolves, where they added to their undefeated record by demolishing the Wolves 67-15.

Neibauer got the 'Beeters rolling in the first quarter with eight points and going 2-2 from the line. Senior Jenna Liddle and Seymour each added four of their own to the 'Beeter tally. Schoen contributed 2 to give the 'Beeters an 18-0 lead at the end of one quarter. The 'Beeters kept their foot on the gas as they added 19 more points to their total while only allowing the Wolves six. Seymour led the quarter with seven points, and Neibauer added five to give the 'Beeters a 37-6 lead going into the break. Coming out of the locker room after halftime, the 'Beeters slowed down the tempo a bit, scoring 12 points in the frame against the Wolves' 8 points, maintaining a ferocious lead, 49-14. The 'Beeters finished strong, scoring 18 points in the final quarter with six players finding the scoring column. Sophomores Neva Lowe and Kirby Hofeldt, Falon Cercle and Fetter along with Skoyen and Freshman Sydney Liddle each added to the tally, allowing every 'Beeter to get on the board. The 'Beeters walked away with a 67-15 victory over the Wolves.

The 'Beeters were led on the night by Neibauer, who tossed in 18 points, followed by Seymour with 15. The 'Beeters will head to Conrad on Friday, February 9 to take on the Conrad Cowgirls and will return home for the final contest of the season to take on old 9C foe, the Chester Joplin Inverness Hawks, and honor the 2024 seniors. The following week the 'Beeters will head to Conrad for District 1B action, February 14-17.