'Thunderbirds begin hoop season in Billings

 

December 9, 2015



The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds girls and boys basketball programs are both under the direction of new head coaches and have been hard at it practicing in preparation for their season openers this weekend in Billings.

The girls are coached by Colette Hawley and open play this Friday against Lodge Grass while the boys are coached by Richard Ryan and open play Friday against St. Labre.

The Thunderbirds are in Billings taking part in the All American Indian Shootout. Saturday both squads will take on Lame Deer.

The boys finished second at the District 9C tournament a season ago advancing to the Northern C for the first time in several seasons.

This year’s roster returns many of those players. Seniors Best Shortman, Damon Castillo and Terrell Young return as do juniors Jace Shambo, Tyson Shambo, Frank RunsAbove and Elijah Blackcrow.

Tyson Shambo has been an All-Conference player his freshman and sophomore seasons and earned All-State recognition a year ago as well. He currently is on the mend recovering from injury but is expected to hit the court in early January.

RunsAbove was also All-Conference a year ago and has been a starter the past two seasons as well.

Sophomores are Chance Main and David Main. Freshman include Desmond Shambo, Kyle Young and Moke Cliff.

The Thunderbirds are expected to again compete at the top of the District 9C and battle it out for one of the three spots at the Northern C Divisional the end of February.

The girls have experienced a couple of tough seasons where wins were hard to come by. This year’s roster returns several girls with varsity experience and is a little more loaded with upperclassman than the past few years.

Senior Leora KickingWoman is joined by juniors Maxine PlainFeather, Tori Snell and Kiara Shambo.

Sophomores include Darrellyn Blackwolf and Miquela Perez, both of whom saw extensive action the past two seasons.

Freshman Aleena Walker, Jaclyn HisBadHorse, Latasha Kirkaldie, Heaven Sears, Tahlia Werk and Mulleeah Stiffarm roundout the roster.

The Thunderbirds begin conference play December 19 when they host the Chinook Sugarbeeters.

 
 

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