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Chinook takes down Winnett/Grass Range 50-43 and defeats North Star a fourth times to finish season 22-3

The Chinook Sugarbeeters season came to an end this past weekend at the Northern C Divisional in Great Falls.

The Sugarbeeters went 2-2 inside the Four Seasons Arena defeating the Winnett/Grass Range Rams in the first round Wednesday morning. They then fell to the Heart Butte Warriors in a thriller that came down to the final seconds 64-60.

Friday morning in loser out action the 'Beeters defeated the North Star Knights for the fourth time this season 57-45 sending Chinook to the Consolation final against the Belt Huskies.

Chinook had trouble getting their shots to fall and were beaten on the glass for one of the few times this season. It wasn't for a lack of effort as the boys played hard until the final buzzer in a tough 45-37 loss to end their season.

The Sugarbeeters opened play Wednesday morning bright and early with a 9:30 a.m. start and face the Winnett/Grass Range Rams, the No. 3 Seed out of the District 8C.

Junior Isaac Bell opened the scoring with a bucket going to the basket and moments later found junior Cord Schneider cutting to the basket for two points and a 4-2 Chinook lead.

Chinook kept the good start going with an offensive rebound and score from junior Riley Kellam another bucket from Bell and a pair of free throws from Schneider for a 10-4 advantage.

The Rams scored the final six points of the quarter to even the contest at 10-10 after eight minutes of action.

The teams went aback and forth throughout the second with the 'Beeters getting a pair of baskets from Schneider and scores from Kellam and Bell. Junior Brendan Edwards found the scoring column and the half ended with Isaac Bell finding freshman Ethan Bell for a three point bucket to end the half with Chinook on top 23-21.

The game would remain close with Chinook holding a 34-31 advantage entering the fourth quarter. A basket by Kellam with 6:24 remaining gave Chinook a 36-31 lead and after a nice spin move to the basket from Schneider the 'Beeter lead swelled to seven, 38-31.

The Rams would close the gap but after Ethan Bell found brother Isaac for two, Chinook held a 44-41 advantage. The 'Beeters finished with scores from Schneider, Edwards and Isaac Bell for a 50-43 first round win.

Schneider paced the 'Beeter attack with 23 points in the win, connecting on 9-15 from the field, hitting 5-6 from the line and securing seven rebounds while also recording three steals. Bell added 14 points, three steals and four assists to the effort.

The win sent the 'Beeters into Thursday nights semifinals where they took on the undefeated Heart Butte Warriors who entered the tournament as the No. 1 Seed out of the District 10C. The Warriors knocked of the Belt Huskies 58-32 to advance to the semifinal.

The Warriors knocked down a long three to open the scoring but the Sugarbeeters answered in a big way. Schneider scored inside and then after a defensive stop found himself at the free throw line where he knocked two down for a 4-3 Chinook lead.

Bell then snagged an offensive rebound and scored to double up the Warriors. Another defensive stop led to a basket by Kellam for an 8-3 advantage. After a Kellam steal and pass to Bell for a deuce pushed the lead to 10-3 the Warriors called timeout with 2:50 left in the first.

Chinook came out of the timeout and Edwards scored inside for a 12-3 lead.

Heart Butte answered back with six straight points to cut the lead back to three. Schneider scored again inside only to be matched on the other end by the Warriors. With time running down and Chinook with possession the ball would eventually wind up in Schneider's hands where he beat the buzzer with his first three of the season for a 17-11 Chinook lead entering the second quarter.

The 'Beeters began the second with a bucket from Schneider and a couple of scores from Edwards as they opened up a ten point lead 23-13.

Schneider again would convert an offensive rebound into points helping the 'Beeters maintain a seven point lead.

The Warriors scored six in a row to trim the lead down to one and after a Bell bucket off a nice pass from Schneider Chinook maintained the advantage 28-27 at the break.

Schneider began the second half with a big block of a Warrior shat attempt, leading to an opportunity for Bell at the charity stripe. Bell converted both Free Throws to put Chinook up three, 30-27.

The Warriors answered back with a bucket but after an offensive board by Edwards and a nice look into Schneider the 'Beeters were again up thee.

The Warriors scored on consecutive trips down the court to retake the lead. Schneider crashed the boards for a bucket ending the run but the 'Beeters were still down 37-36.

Heart Butte pushed the lead to nine 48-37 before Isaac Bell knocked a triple down at the end of the third quarter and the scoreboard read 47-41 in favor of the Warriors as the teams prepared for the fourth quarter.

Edwards and Schneider were core inside for Chinook early in the final stanza but Chinook still trailed 53-45 with 6:25 remaining.

Bell knocked down a pair of free throws as the Sugarbeeters kept battling. On the ensuing Chinook possession and after a defensive stop Bell connected from downtown bringing Chinook within three 53-50.

The Warriors found a way to maintain a slim advantage down the stretch. Kellam scored down low to bring Chinook close, 60-58 and then stepped to the line late in the contest and connected on a pair of free throws to make the score 62-60 with :06.1 left in the game.

Heart Butte headed to the line as Chinook was forced to foul and knocked down two free throws to seal a 64-60 win.

Schneider led the 'Beeters with 21 points and nine rebounds and a pair of blocks. Bell added 20 points, nine rebounds and two assists. Kellam nearly had a double - double recording nine points and collecting nine rebounds while Edwards scored 10 and secured eight boards.

The loss meant Chinook would meet the North Star Knights in loser out action Friday morning. They old saying goes 'It's hard to beat a team three times in one season,' well the 'Beeters were now tasked with having to beat the Knights a fourth time to continue their season.

Isaac Bell opened the contest with a midrange jumper and Schneider took a nice pass from Kellam to the rim for two giving Chinook a quick4-0 lead.

After a bucket from the Knights Bell glided in for a layup, Kellam collected an offensive rebound and scored for a 8-2 lead. Bell then used a beautiful screen from junior James Christensen to get to the basket and the Sugarbeeters were rolling.

Schneider closed out the scoring in the first with a nice take down the right side of the key but a three point bomb from the Knights at the buzzer left Chinook with just a three point lead 14-11 heading into the second.

Kellam converted another offensive rebound into points giving Chinook a four point cushion 16-12. Isaac took a pass from Ethan for a layup, Schneider scored on back to back trips down the floor to help the 'Beeters maintain their advantage. Edwards closed out the half with a basket off a nice dish from Christensen to give Chinook a 26-18 lead at intermission.

Chinook came out firing to start the third quarter with Edwards finding Kellam underneath for a score. Bell followed with a floater in the paint and Edwards and Schneider each converted from the charity stripe giving the Sugarbeeters a 37-24 lead with eight minutes left in the contest.

Edwards and Bell each knocked down field goals and Bell went 2-2 at the line and Chinook had the lead at 15, 45-30 midway through the fourth.

The Knights, as expected made a bit of a run but Chinook was able to hold them off. Ethan went 3-4 at the line and Schneider and Edwards each scored inside to give Chinook a 57-45 win over the Knights and propel them into the Consolation Final against the Belt Huskies Friday night.

The game against the Huskies started out well enough for the Sugarbeeters and began with Bell scoring at the basket and knocking down a long triple for a quick 5-0 lead. Isaac then hit Kellam for a score and brother Ethan going to the basket to give Chinook a 9-2 lead.

From that point on though it seemed as if someone put a lid on the basket because Chinook would make just one more basket in the half.

Chinook finished the first half connecting on just five of twenty-one field goal attempts and struggled to rebound the ball as well trailing the Huskies in the category 19-11.

The Sugarbeeters continued to play hard for all 32 minutes. After the Huskies had taken a 20-14 lead two minutes into the third quarter, Edwards scored inside to get Chinook back within four 20-16.

Edwards later converted an offensive rebound for a score and the took a nice pass from Kellam for a basket after he fought for an offensive rebound.

Schneider hit both of his free throws at the 3:11 mark of the third to bring Chinook within two, 26-24. Schneider then answered a Belt three with another score but a pair of Husky baskets to end the quarter left Chinook down 33-26 to start the fourth quarter.

A basket from Schneider would bring Chinook back within five, 37-32 but managed to get no closer as Belt ended the Sugarbeeter season with a loss, 45-37.

The Sugarbeeters had three players in double figures led by Edwards with 12 points and seven rebounds, Schneider added 11, and Bell finished with 10.

Chinook connected on just 11-36 from the field and were 14-27 from the free throw line in their season finale.

The boys had to overcome a number of obstacles this season and never took the court with their full roster but that didn't stop them from compiling a 22-3 record including a perfect 18-0 mark against District 9C opponents.

Their three losses came by a combined 11 points and came at the hands of the Northern C Champion and undefeated Heart Butte Warriors, the Sunburst Refiners, who the Warriors defeated in the Divisional final and the Belt Huskies, who advanced to state after winning the challenge game Saturday.

This team has worked hard in the off season since they were little kids and they will be in the gym as often as possible from now until next November.

The Sugarbeeters have a lot of upside and hopefully next season they can have their whole team on the court, together.

Northern C Boys

Basketball Box Scores

First Round

Chinook 50 Winnett/Grass Range 43

W/GR 10 13 9 4 — 43

Chinook 10 11 10 12 — 50

W/GR: Zane Stahl 1-5 0-2 2 Derrik Zimmerman 1-2 0-0 3, Jacob Jessen 7-13 0-0 15, Charlie Keith 0-1 0-0 0, Calen Hess 3-5 0-2 6, Matthew Waller 1-1 0-0 2, Cameron Wollman 7-12 0-0 15. Team Totals 20-39 0-4 43.

Chinook: Isaac Bell 6-15 2-2 14, Ethan Bell 1-3 0-1 3, James Christensen 0-1 0-0 0, Reese Elliot 0-0 0-0 0, Riley Kellam 3-8 0-1 6, Brendan Edwards 2-3 0-2 4, Cord Schneider 9-15 5-6 23. Team Totals 21-45 7-12 50.

Three Point - Chinook 1-8 (Ethan Bell 1-2), W/GR 3-9 (Cameron Wollman 1, Derrik Zimmerman 1, Jacob Jessen 1); Rebounds - Chinook 24 (Cord Schneider 7, Brendan Edwards 7), W/GR 21 (Cameron Wollman 6); Assists - Chinook 6 (Isaac Bell 4), W/GR 7 (Zane Stahl 5); Total Fouls - Chinook 13, W/GR 9; Fouled Out - None.

Semifinal

Heart Butte 64 Chinook 60

Heart Butte 11 16 20 17 — 64

Chinook 17 11 13 19 — 60

Heart Butte: Blaise ArrowTopKnot 0-2 0-0 0, Blayne DeRoche 0-0 0-0 0, Shylon Spoonhunter 8-16 0-3 18, Riley Spoonhunter 16-25 2-5 35, Charlie Tailfeathers 2-5 2-2 7, Leo Kipp 0-0 0-0 0, Anthony Aimsback 2-7 0-0 4, Cody Aimsback 0-1 0-0 0, Isaiah ArrowTopKnot 0-3 0-0 0, Wendell Main III 0-1 0-0 0. Team Totals 28-60 4-10 64.

Chinook: Isaac Bell 6-13 6-7 20, Ethan Bell 0-1 0-0 0, James Christensen 0-1 0-1 0, Riley Kellam 3-9 3-6 9, Brendan Edwards 5-8 0-1 10, Cord Schneider 9-19 2-4 21. Team Totals 23-51 11-19 60.

Three Point - Chinook 3-7 (Isaac Bell2-6, Cord Schneider 1-1), Heart Butte 4-13 (Shylon Spoonhunter 2-3, Riley Spoonhunter 1-4, Charlie Tailfeathers 1-3); Rebounds - Chinook 41 (Cord Schneider 9, Riley Kellam 9, Isaac Bell 9, Brendan Edwards 8), Heart Butte 28 (Riley Spoonhunter 8); Assists - Chinook 7 (Cord Schneider 2, Riley Kellam 2, Isaac Bell 2), Heart Butte 3 (Shylon Spoonhunter 2); Total Fouls - Chinook 13, Heart Butte 17; Fouled Out - None.

Loser Out

Chinook 57 North Star 45

North Star 9 9 6 21 — 45

Chinook 14 12 11 20 — 57

North Star: Austin Hanson 0-0 0-0 0, Dylan Miller 5-11 7-8 17, Dane Miller 1-4 0-1 2, Caden Rettig 1-5 0-0 3, Brody Wendeln 1-3 0-0 2, Payne Ditmar 2-6 0-0 5, Hayden Massar 0-0 0-0 0, Devon Miller 5-12 1-2 11, Jon Sonju 1-1 0-0 2, Thomas Nerat 0-2 2-2 2, Daniel Nerat 0-0 1-2 1. Team Totals 16-44 11-15 45.

Chinook: Isaac Bell 6-12 4-5 16, Ethan Bell 0-0 5-9 5, Damon Hannum 0-0 0-0 0, James Christensen 0-2 2-6 2, Reese Elliot 0-0 0-0 0, Ethan MacLeod 0-0 0-0 0, Sam Dumas 0-0 0-0 0, Riley Kellam 3-3 2-4 8, Brendan Edwards 4-10 2-10 10, Cord Schneider 7-13 2-2 16, Tamer Jamieson 0-0 0-0 0.. Team Totals 20-40 17-36 57.

Three Point - Chinook 0-5, North Star 2-14 (Caden Rettig 12, Payne Ditmar 1); Rebounds - Chinook 30 (Brendan Edwards 10), North Star 29 (Dylan Miller 9); Assists - Chinook 3 (Cord Schneider 2), North Star 5 (Dylan Miller 2); Total Fouls - Chinook 16, North Star 25; Fouled Out - North Star (Dylan Miller).

Consolation Final

Belt 45 Chinook 37

Chinook junior Brendan Edwards scores against the Heart Butte Warriors Thursday night.

Belt 9 7 17 12 — 45

Chinook 9 5 12 11 — 37

Belt: Keegan Stroop 3-10 3-5 9, Brendan Wing 5-9 3-4 13, Brayden Haugrose 1-1 0-0 3, Trey Hennes 5-7 0-0 10, Hunter Vogl 1-5 2-4 4, Antonio Heaton 0-2 0-1 0, Trey Heitzman 1-4 0-2 2, Kaimen Evans 1-1 2-2 4. Team Totals 17-39 10-18 45.

Chinook: Isaac Bell 1-5 7-10 10, Ethan Bell 1-2 0-0 2, James Christensen 0-1 0-0 0, Riley Kellam 1-6 0-0 2, Brendan Edwards 6-10 0-5 12, Cord Schneider 2-12 7-12 11. Team Totals 11-36 14-27 37.

Three Point - Chinook 1-3 (Isaac Bell 1-2), Belt 2-14 (Caden Rettig 12, Payne Ditmar 1); Rebounds - Chinook 30 (Brendan Edwards 10), Belt 29 (Dylan Miller 9); Assists - Chinook 3 (Cord Schneider 2), Belt 5 (Dylan Miller 2); Total Fouls - Chinook 16, Belt 25; Fouled Out - None.