The Chinook sugarbeeters were in action for two games this weekend at the Chester pre-season tournament and the Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds joined the Harlem Wildcats in Havre for a pair of games at the Native American Classic.

The Sugarbeeters cruised to a 63-40 season opening win over the Sunburst Refiners on Friday and then torpedoed the Power Pirates 67-20 on Saturday to start the season 2-0.

The Wildcats came back from a nine point halftime deficit to top the Heart Butte Warriors 70-54 on Thursday. In the final game of the Classic Saturday night, Harlem held a two point advantage over the Lodge Grass Indians but their size and experience showed in the second half as Lodge Grass exploded for 59 second half points to defeat the Wildcats 92-58.

The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds won their season opener by defeating the Browning JV 65-54. The Thunderbirds weren't as fortunate in game number two as they fell to the Poplar Indians 66-49.

The Sugarbeeters began the 2018-19 campaign with a contest against Northern C power Sunburst Friday afternoon. The two teams have played some classic games the past few seasons at the Northern C Divisional as well as a thrilling opener a season ago.

This time around the Sugarbeeters were too much for the Refiners. Chinook led 15-12 after eight minutes on the strength of a three point bomb from senior Trajan Hannum and four points each from seniors Brendan Edwards and Cord Schneider.

Senior Isaac Bell connected from down town in the second and scored seven points. Hannum dropped in one more from beyond the arc and Chinook took a 35-26 lead into halftime.

The 'Beeters still seemed a bit out of sorts in the third quarter. Hannum connected on his third triple of the game to give Chinook a 44-36 advantage heading into the fourth.

The 'Beeters came together down the stretch and started to find a rhythm as they outscored the Refiners 19-4 over the final eight minutes for a 63-40 season opening win.

Bell led the offensive attack with 16 markers in the win while Edwards and Schneider each contributed 12. Schneider also collected 12 rebounds for the 'Beeters and recorded four steals and Bell dished out five assists as well as three steals in the win. Edwards led the team with three blocks in the contest.

The 'Beeter offense and defense were hitting on all cylinders right from the opening tip in their contest with the Power Pirates.

Schneider scored 16 first quarter points while sophomore Ethan Bell added six in powering the Sugarbeeters to a 36-6 lead entering the second.

Ethan connected on a three point bomb and scored five helping Chinook take a 49-13 advantage into intermission.

The Sugarbeeters got some work done in the second half and cruised to a 67-20 win to start 2-0 on the season.

Schneider led the way offensively with 20 points, Ethan Bell finished with 14 and Isaac Bell added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Sugarbeeters in the win.

The Harlem Wildcats began play at the Native American Classic with a contest against the Heart Butte Warriors. The Wildcats trailed early 13-10. Freshman R.J. Ramone connected twice from long range to keep the Wildcats close.

The Warriors extended their advantage to 31-22 at the break but the Wildcats would respond in a big way after half time.

Rome scored 12 points in the third quarter, including his fourth triple of the game to help Harlem begin their move on the comeback trail and would trail the Warriors 44-43 with eight minutes remaining.

Ramone would find his mark on three more attempts from beyond the arc and score 11 more in the fourth quarter as the Wildcats finished strong in earning a 70-54 win to even their season record at 1-1.

Romone finished with seven three pointers in the contest after hitting eight a week ago in Harlem's season opener. His 36 points in the win give him 73 in his first two high school games. "Averaging 36.5 points after your first two high school games, the community has been waiting a long time for someone to do that," stated head coach Geno LeValdo.

The Wildcats played well in game number two Saturday night against the Lodge Grass Indians and after taking a 37-35 lead into the locker room at the break they seemed to run out of gas and their experience and size began to show in the second half.

Lodge Grass outscored the Wildcats 57-21 over the final two quarter to earn a 92-58 win and drop Harlem to 1-2 on the season.

Ramone was held in check from the field but made his mark at the charity stripe connecting on 13-14 to finish with 15 points in the contest.

The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds opened their 2018-19 campaign Thursday against the Browning Indians at the Native American Classic. Browning took control early and led 11-6 entering the second.

The Thunderbirds stayed even throughout much of the second quarter and trailed at halftime 28-24.

Halftime adjustments made by Head Coach Derrick Shambo seemed to pay off as the Thunderbirds outscored the Indians 21-14 in the third and 20-16 in the fourth to secure a season opening 65-54 win.

Senior Gilbert Snow led the attack with 14 points in the win. Senior Kenneth Blackcrow added nine for the Thunderbirds.

Saturday morning the boys took on the Poplar Indians and after a 15-15 first quarter the Thunderbirds started to lose ground, falling 66-49 in the contest.

Snow and Pretty Paint led the Thunderbirds offensively with 11 markers each as the Thunderbirds fell to 1-1 on the season.

All four Blaine County Schools will be in action this week.