The Chinook Sugarbeeter Volleyball team completed their march through the District 6C-East this past Friday in Gildford by capturing the District 6C East Championship.

The 'Beeters had finished the regular season with a perfect 10-0 mark in conference play and were looking to add a District Title when play began Thursday morning.

The 'Beeters first opponent would be determined by the winner of the first match of the day between the No. 4 Seed Big Sandy Pioneers and the Number 5 Seed Chester/Joplin-Inverness Hawks.

The Hawks defeated the Pioneers in a hard fought four sets and were ready to play when they took on the 'Beeters in Match No. 3.

Chinook easily took the first set, taking a big lead early and coasting to a 25-14 first set win. Set number two was more of the same as Chinook again built an early lead en route to a 25-15 win over the Hawks.

The 'Beeters looked to close out the Hawks in set number three but the No. 5 Seed had different plans. The Hawks battled their way back to even with set wins of 25-20 in sets three and four.

The 'Beeters then closed out the match with a comfortable 15-6 fifth set win to advance to the semi-final match against the North Star Knights.

Senior Kourtney Hanson led the attack with 23 Kills, senior Lincy Johnson dug up 50 balls and sophomore setter Ginger Hauer recorded 30 Assists.

The 'Beeters would then face the North Star Knights in the first of what would eventually be three consecutive matches. Chinook took the opening set of the semi-final match 25-20 only to see the Knights return the favor in set number two 25-18.

Chinook would again go up in the match, 2-1 following a third set win of 25-20. Just like before, the Knights would respond with a set win of their own, this time 25-19 to even the match and force a deciding fifth set.

The Sugarbeeters were able to outlast the Knights. After a big block from Hanson gave the 'Beeters a 9-5 lead the Knights rallied to even the match at 12-12 but a kill from Molyneaux gave the 'Beeters back the lead 13-12 providing Chinook the momentum to win the set 15-12 and the match 3-2.

Hanson paced the offensive effort with 26 kills and six blocks. Hauer again set the hitters up with 30 Assists. Johnson continued to play well from her Libero position, digging up 30 balls for the defense.

The two teams would meet again Friday evening in the first Championship match of the day.

The Knights were the team to get the early lead in the match, taking the first set 25-17. Turning the tables from the semi-final match set number two had the 'Beeters responding with their own answer, a 25-23 to even the match at a set a piece.

The Knights again gained the advantage in set number three, securing a 25-20 set win to go up 2-1 in the match. Refusing to go away, the 'Beeters battled back in set number four 25-19 to even the match at two sets each forcing another fifth set, the 'Beeters third of the tournament.

North Star forced a second Championship match defeating the Sugarbeeters 15-12 in the fifth set to win the first championship match 3-2.

Hanson powered home 25 Kills in the match while Hauer recorded 29 Assists. Molyneaux dug up 28 balls and sophomore Delaney Kellam recorded six blocks in the contest.

Championship Match number two would crown the District 6C-East Tournament Champion and the Sugarbeeters wanted to send a message right away to the Knights that they were going to be tough to beat.

Chinook took the opening set of the match 25-17, the most lopsided set of the previous 10 between the teams earlier in the tournament. Chinook claimed the second set 25-20 and closed out the Knights in set number 3 25-18 to sweep the Knights and claim the tournament championship.

Hanson led the offensive attack with 17 kills, Kellam again led the team in blocks with five. Hauer recorded 30 Assists and Molyneaux dug up 15 balls.

The 'Beeters will now turn their attention to the Northern C Tournament which gets underway this Thursday and runs through Saturday and is being played at Belt High School.

Chinook will open the tournament at Noon on Thursday against the Fort Benton Longhorns, a team they are familiar with, splitting their regular season matches.

The Longhorns finished second at the District 7C Tournament. Also in the field this week will be the Belt Huskies the winner of the District 7C. The Simms Tigers, the winner of the District 6C-West, the Power Pirates (6C-West No. 2), Dutton/Brady Diamondbacks, (6C-West No. 3), The North Star Knights and the Box Elder Bears.

The top two teams at the Northern C will advance to the Class C State Tournament in Bozeman the following week. The State Tournament is held on the campus of Montana State University in the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

District 6C-East Tournament

North Star High School, Gildford MT

Box Elder 3 Hays/L.P. 0

Hays/L.P. 10 7 12 0

Box Elder 25 25 25 3

Hays/L.P. - Kills 7 (Tahtianna Whitecow-Morgan 4); Assists 7 (Latasha Kirkaldie 4); Digs 86 (Whitecow-Morgan 22); Blocks 5 (Kirkaldie 3); Aces 1 (Kirkaldie 1)

Chinook 3 Chester/J.I. 2

Chester/J.I. 14 15 25 25 6

Chinook 25 25 20 20 15

Chinook - Kills 45 (Kourtney Hanson 23); Assists 40 (Ginger Hauer 30); Digs 141 (Lincy Johnson 50); Blocks 8 (Hanson 5); Aces 1 (Johnson 1).

Chester/J.I. 3 Hays/L.P. 0

Chester/J.I. 25 25 25 3

Hays/L.P. 13 15 13 0

Hays/L.P. - Kills 4 (Four with 1); Assists 4 (Tahlia Werk 3); Digs 25 (Kassi Perez 7); Blocks 5 (Sierra Chandler 2); Aces 1 (Chandler 1)

Chinook 3 North Star 2 (SF)

North Star 20 25 20 25 12

Chinook 25 18 25 19 15

Chinook - Kills (52) Kourtney Hanson 26; Assists (38) Ginger Hauer 30; Digs (64) Lincy Johnson 30; Blocks (8) Hanson 6; Aces (2) Johnson 2.

1st Championship

North Star 3 Chinook 2

Chinook 17 25 20 25 12

North Star 25 23 25 19 15

Chinook - Kills 49 (Kourtney Hansen 25); Assists 48 (Ginger Hauer 29); Digs 99 (Megan Molyneaux 28); Blocks 11 (Delaney Kellam 6); Aces 11 (Kourtney Hanson 3, Megan Molyneaux 3)

2nd Championship

North Star 3 Chinook 2

North Star 17 20 18

Chinook 25 25 25

Chinook - Kills 37 (Kourtney Hanson 17); Assists 37 (Ginger Hauer 30); Digs 54 (Megan Molyneaux 15); Blocks 8 (Delaney Kellam 5); Aces 5 (Rachel Gunderson 3).

District 2B Tournament

Poplar High School, Poplar MT

Harlem 3 Poplar 0

Harlem 25 25 25

Poplar 20 16 18

Harlem - Kills 24 (Aspen Baker-9); Assists 21 (Skylee Dirden-10); Digs 40 (Taeshon Scheaffer-15); Blocks 5 (Mackenzie Doney-4); Aces 11 (Mackenzie Doney and Aria Owens-3 each)

Wolf Point 3 Harlem 0 (SF)

The 'Beeters celebrate the winning point in Championship Match number two over the North Star Knights Friday night in Gildford.

Harlem 15 7 18

Wolf Point 25 25 25

Harlem - Kills 11 (A. Baker and L. Skidmore-3 each); Assists 9 (Taeshon Sheaffer-5); Digs 38 (Nevaeh Spotted Eagle-38); Blocks 6 (Skylee Dirden-4); Aces 4 (Skylee Dirden-2).

Malta 3 Harlem 1 (4th)

Malta 25 25 20 25

Harlem 23 14 25 9

Harlem - Kills 22 (Aspen Baker-5); Assists 17 (Taeshon Scheaffer-10); Digs 77 (Taeshon Scheaffer-14); Blocks 3 (Haylee Johnson-3); Aces 5 (Skylee Dirden-3)