'Beeters, Thunderbirds sweep weekend foes Hays/Lodge Pole improves to 7-1, Chinook to 6-2
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Keri Hanson
Hays/Lodge Pole junior David Main and his Thunderbird teammates have been on a roll this season steamrolling nearly every opponent en-route to a 7-1 record.
The Chinook Sugarbeeters and Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds got 2017 off to an electric start as the two teams combine to go 5-0 in their first week of action since the Holiday break.
The Thunderbirds won all three of their contest, easily dispatching the Chester-Joplin-Inverness Hawks 87-28 to begin the week. The then took care of the Turner Tornadoes 93-43 and the Fort Benton Longhorns 73-46 to improve to 7-1 on the season.
The Sugarbeeters won both their contest using strong second half efforts to overcome slow starts in defeating the Harlem Wildcats 48-36 and the Turner Tornadoes64-41 to improve to 6-2 at the midway point of the season.
The Tornadoes fell in both their contest while the Wildcats were defeated by Malta and Glasgow during the week.
The Thunderbirds have been on a roll since falling to State C runner-up Arlee at the Native American Classic to begin the season. They have never been challenged averaging nearly 90 points and producing 40-50 victory margins.
The result was familiar Tuesday when the Thunderbirds dismantled Chester J-I 87-28. No stats were provided for the contest.
Friday the Thunderbirds challenged the Turner Tornadoes in a District 9C clash. The Thunderbirds had the offense in high gear from the out set leading 27-8 after one quarter of action and 59-32 by intermission.
The Thunderbirds racked up 31 second quarter points but it should be mention the Turner boys scored 24 in the stanza as well.
Hays/Lodge Pole coasted to victory with senior Tyson Shambo leading the way with 21 points. Turner was paced by junior Eddie Harmon's 15.
Against Fort Benton the Thunderbirds were challenged a bit more but still cruised to a 73-46 win.
Junior Chance Main controlled the paint for 22 points. Senior Frank RunsAbove added 12 for the Thunderbirds in the win.
The Chinook Sugarbeeters saw the Harlem Wildcats take a early 14-7 lead after eight minutes of action and a 26-19 advantage at the break.
Harlem freshman Brad Chichosz had a huge first half for the Wildcats scoring his teams final eight points including a 30 footer at the buzzer.
The second half was all Chinook, led by the long distance shooting of sophomore Brendan Edwards and the inside play of senior Wade Schneider.
Schneider began the third with six of the teams first eight points to bring Chinook within one at 28-27. Edwards soon after tied the game at 30-30 with dagger from beyond the arc.
Edwards then connected twice more to start the fourth quarter and with a offensive rebound and score by sophomore Isaac Bell mixed in, the Sugarbeeters suddenly held a 38-30 advantage.
Keri Hanson
Chinook freshman Hunter Neibauer has been a welcome addition to the 'Beeter roster this winter and has played a major roll in the teams early season success.
Sophomore Cord Schneider took a nice pass from Bell to push the advantage to 40-31 as the Sugarbeeters cruised to a 38-36 win.
Edwards paced the way with 12 points. Cord Schneider add 12 as well while Wade Schneider scored 10.
Chinook led Turner 17-12 after one quarter of action and 29-23 at the intermission.
Turner kept themselves close by knocking down shot after shot from beyond the arc, including a long triple from sophomore Tracer Heilig. Turner sophomore Cody Welsh opened the third quarter with a triple of his own pulling Turner within three 29-26.
The Sugarbeeters rolled from that point on as Bell scored 16 points down the stretch to help Chinook stretch the lead back put before securing a 64-41 win.
Bell led the 'Beeter offensive attack with 23 points. Senior Wade Schneider was a force in the middle with 17 markers. Welsh tossed in 15 points for Turner and Harmon added 14.
