The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

It was a tough weekend on the hardwood for Blaine County high school girls basketball teams as the Harlem Wildcats, Turner Tornadoes, Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds and Chinook Sugarbeeters went a combined 2-6 as the season reached its halfway point.

The Turner Tornadoes rebounded from a tough loss the night before to bounce the Big Sandy Pioneers 68-34 Friday night and improve to 5-2 in District 9C play and 7-3 overall.

The Harlem Wildcats began the week, ranked No. 3 and met a very tough Shelby Coyotes team Friday night, falling 40-37. Saturday the girls were looking to rebound with a huge conference test against the Poplar Indians and did just that torching the nets on their way to a 73-33 win to improve to 3-1 in District 2B play and 7-3 overall.

The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds were bested by a very talented Roy/Winifred Outlaw team, Friday night 59-23. Saturday the girls were on the road to take on the top ranked Box Elder Bears where they were defeated 74-25.

The Chinook Sugarbeeters were in Rudyard Friday, falling to the North Star Knights 58-29. Saturday they were at home to take on the No. 2 Fort Benton Longhorns and were defeated by a score of 64-15.

Thursday in Box Elder Turner was looking for a solid showing against the top ranked Bears and for the most part they did just that.

Junior Sarah Billmayer scored 11 first quarter points to help Turner stay close, but the girls trailed 21-15 entering the second quarter.

The Bears depth showed in the second quarter as they were able to open up a 50-28 halftime lead.

Turner scored 31 second half points while allowing 38 to the Bears in a 88-59 setback.

Billmayer finished the game with 13 points while sophomore Shyan Krass led the team with 16 markers. Senior Rylee Conlan added 10 and senior Melanie Watkins chipped in eight for the Tornadoes.

Friday the Turner girls started fast and never looked back. They had the offense operating at full throttle, from long range, in transition and underneath the basket.

Junior Sarah Billmayer found her mark twice from beyond the arc and scored ten first quarter points. Senior raegan Colan also connected from long range and sophomore Shyan Krass controlled the paint for eight points.

Turner led 21-4 heading into the second quarter. Big Sandy found a bit of a rhythm, scoring 13 in the frame. Turner answered with seven more from Krass and sophomore Brooke Reed added five, including a long three.

The Tornadoes held a 38-17 advantage as they began the second half.

The took their foot off the gas a bit in the third quarter but picked up their intensity on defense, limiting the visitors to just two points in the third, while scoring 13 to head to the fourth with a 51-20 advantage.

The teams would trade baskets down the stretch. Turner got eight more from reed in the stanza and earned a comfortable 68-34 win over the Pioneers.

Turner was led offensively by Krass's 20 point effort. Billmayer added 14 and Reed chipped in 13 for the Tornadoes.

Friday in Harlem the Shelby Coyotes were in town for a game between Northern B contenders.

In a defensive first quarter, Harlem manged eight points while limiting Shelby to just five. Junior L'Tia Lawrence found the basket twice in the opening stanza but points were a premium this night.

Harlem had a tough time from the field the entire contest but struggled for much of the first half to put the ball in the hoop and trailed 16-14 at the half.

The Wildcats would do a bit better in the third quarter scoring nine, but the defense allowed 13 and Harlem found themselves down 29-23 with eight minutes left.

Lawrence knocked down a long three as did sophomore Taeshon Schaeffer but they were unable fight all the way back and fell 40-37.

Freshman Taya Trottier led the effort with 11 markers on the night while Lawrence finished with 10 and senior Skylee Dirden eight.

"We started slow, dug our selves a hole and things that just didn't break our way," said Head Coach Marlin Lawrence. "When we got down, we tried to get it all back at once. We started flat and couldn't make a basket. We just have to learn from it, refocus and concentrate on our next opponent, take one game at a time."

Saturday the girls were looking to get back to their winning ways when the welcomed the Poplar Indians to town.

Dirden came out firing, connecting twice from long range and tossing in 12 first quarter points. Lawrence added eight more and Harlem was off and rolling.

The Wildcats led 24-6 at the end of the first and 45-17 by intermission. They outscored the Indians 28-16 in the second half to pick up a 73-33 win and improve to 3-1 in District 2B play and 7-3 overall.

Lawrence led the way with 23 points while Dirden added 20. Harlem will be on the road for a pair of huge District 2B contest. The No. 6 Wildcats will be in Malta on Friday to take on the No. 9 M-ettes. Saturday they will be in Wolf Point to face the No. 2 ranked Wolves.

The Turner Tordadoes will be on the road Friday to take on the North Star Knights and will return home Saturday to face the Fort Benton Longhorns.

The Chinook Sugarbeeters and Hay/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds will meet in Hays on Friday night. Saturday the 'Beeters will be at home to take on the Big Sandy Pioneers and the Thunderbirds will be in Chester to face the Hawks in a District 9C contest.

Girls Basketball

Box Elder 88 Turner 59

Turner 15 13 13 18 - 59

Box Elder 21 29 21 17 - 88

Turner: Raegan Conlan 0 1-2 1, Sarah Billmayer 5 2-4 13, Dakota Krass 0 0-0 0, Rylee Conlan 4 0-1 10, Melanie Watkins 2 4-4 8, Brandy Calvert 2 0-0 4, Laci Maloney 1 0-0 3, Brooke Reed 1 2-4 4, Shyan Krass 4 8-8 16, Lacey Hickel 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 19 17-23 59.

Box Elder: Annalise Johnson 0 0-0 0, Sarah Parisian 0 0-0 0, Eve The Boy 4 1-1 10, Maddie Wolf Chief 4 0-0 9, Lillian Gopher 5 3-5 14, Kyla Momberg 3 0-0 6, Maia Henderson 2 0-0 5, Britney LaFromboise 1 0-0 2, Joelnell Momberg 13 5-7 37. Team Totals 34 9-13 88.

Three Point Field Goals: Turner 4 (Rylee Conlan 2, Billmayer 1, Maloney 1), Box Elder 11 (Momberg 6, Gopher 1, Wolf Chief 1, Henderson1, The Boy 1, Parisian 1); Team Fouls: Turner 12, Box Elder 21; Fouled Out: Box Elder - Gopher

North Star 58 Chinook 29

Chinook 2 10 5 12 - 29

North Star 14 19 12 13 - 58

Chinook: Megan Molyneaux 0 1-4 1, Ginger Hauer 5 3-6 13, Kourtney Hanson 2 3-7 7, Delaney Kellam 0 2-4 2, Ashley MacLeod 0 0-0 0, Lily Surber 1 0-0 2, Lincy Johnson 0 0-0 0, Rachel Gunderson 0 0-0 0, Allison Powell 1 2-3 4. Team Totals 9 11-24 29.

North Star: Laynie Sattoriva 3 0-1 7, Jade Wendeln 7 0-0 14, Kenidee Wolery 3 0-2 6, Paij Peterson 4 4-4 14, Tanicha Hudson 0 0-0 0, Olivia King 0 0-0 0, Shayla Bourlag 4 0-0 10, Saige Scheresky-O'Niel 0 0-0 0, Kaytlyn Domire 1 0-0 2, Rainee Watson 0 1-4 1, Erika Harvey 1 2-4 4. Team Totals 23 7-15 58.

Three Point Field Goals: Chinook 0, North Star 5 (Peterson 2, Borlaug 2, Sattoriva 1); Team Fouls: Chinook 16, North Star 20; Fouled Out: None

Shelby 40 Harlem 37

Shelby 5 11 13 11 - 40

Harlem 8 6 9 14 - 37

Shelby: Maddison Underdal 7 2-5 16, Skyler Martin 0 4-6 4, Bailey Johnson 0 0-0 13, Brogan McAllister 2 3-4 7, Brielle Aklestad 0 0-1 0, Brooke Luly 0 0-0 0, Avery Hoover 0 0-0 0, Kendall Anderson 0 0-0 0, Alexis McCracken 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 14 11-18 40.

Harlem: Kristyn Kittson 1 0-0 2, Skylee Dirden 3 1-2 8, Melonie Fetter 0 1-2 1, L'Tia Lawrence 4 1-2 10, Taya Trottier 5 1-3 11, Taeshon Scheaffer 2 0-0 5, Aria Owens 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 15 4-9 37.

Three Point Field Goals: Shelby 1 (Johnson 1), Harlem 3 (Dirden 1, Lawrence 1, Schaeffer 1); Team Fouls: Shelby 7, Harlem 16; Fouled Out: None

Roy/Winifred 59 Hays/Lodge Pole 23

Roy/Winifred 18 15 12 14 - 59

Hays/Lodge Pole 5 10 7 1 - 23

Roy/Winifred: Dyauni Boyce 10 3-4 24, Olivia Geer 5 0-1 12, Madeline Heggem 0 0-0 0, Cassie Smith 2 0-4 4, Trinity Edwards 5 3-5 13, Megan Bergum 2 3-4 7, Cadence Tillman 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 24 9-18 59.

Hays/Lodge Pole: Tahtianna Whitecow-Morgan 1 1-2 3, J. Gray 0 0-2 0, Kassi Perez 0 1-2 1, Sierra Chandler 0 2-2 2, Latasha Kirkaldie 0 0-2 0, Rayleigh Kirkaldie 3 0-0 7, Justice Werk 0 0-0 0, Jaedyn Chandler 0 0-2 0, Mulleeah Stiffarm 3 1-2 10. Team Totals 7 5-14 23.

Three Point Field Goals: Roy/Win 2 (Olivia Geer 2), Hays/L.P. 1 (Rayleigh Kirkaldie 1); Team Fouls: Roy/Win 11, Hays/L.P. 14; Fouled Out: None

Turner 68 Big Sandy 34

Big Sandy 4 13 2 14 - 34

Turner 21 17 13 17 - 68

Big Sandy - Laynee Ophus 3 0-3 6, Stacey Allderdice 0 0-0 0, Amiya Griffith 0 0-0 0, Grace Finke 0 0-0 0, Madison Terry 1 0-0 2, Lainey Gregory 0 4-4 4, Jaylyn Cline 7 2-2 17, Amanda Cline 0 1-4 1, Seanna Demontiny 1 0-0 2, Caydence Pleninger 1 0-0 2. Team Totals 13 7-13 34.

Turner: Raegan Conlan 3 2-3 9, Sarah Billmayer 6 0-0 14, Dakota Krass 1 0-0 2, Rylee Conlan 0 0-0 0, Melanie Watkins 1 0-0 2, Brandy Calvert 1 0-0 2, Laci Maloney 2 0-0 4, Brooke Reed 6 0-0 13, Shyan Krass 9 2-4 20, Lacey Hickel 1 0-0 2. Team Totals 30 4-7 68.

Three Point Field Goals: Big Sandy 1 (Jaylyn Cline 1), Turner 4 (Billmayer 2, Raegan Conlan 1, Reed 1); Team Fouls: Big Sandy 4, Turner 15; Fouled Out: Big Sandy ( Amanda Cline).

Fort Benton 64 Chinook 15

Fort Benton 27 17 13 7 - 64

Chinook 2 6 5 2 - 15

Fort Benton: Cassie Nack 2 0-0 4, McKenzie Clark 5 1-4 11, Ashlee Wang 2 0-0 5, Aspen Giese 2 1-2 7, Abby Clark 3 0-0 6, Sam Vielleux 0 0-0 0, Maci Molinario 6 2-2 14, Megan Clark 2 0-0 4, Cloe Kalanick 0 0-0 0, Hadley Cook 0 0-0 0, Leah Gannon 4 2-4 10, McKenna Hanford 1 0-0 3. Team Totals 0 0-0 0.

Chinook: Megan Molyneaux 0 0-0 0, Ginger Hauer 2 0-1 4, Kourtney Hanson 1 0-0 2, Delaney Kellam 3 0-0 7, Ashley MacLeod 0 0-0 0, Lily Surber 0 0-0 0, Lincy Johnson 0 0-0 0, Rachel Gunderson 0 0-0 0, Allison Powell 1 0-2 2. Team Totals 7 0-3 15.

Three Point Field Goals: Fort Benton 4 (Aspen Giese 2, Ashlee Wang 1, McKenna Hanford 1), Chinook 1 (Kellam 1); Team Fouls: Fort Benton 9, Chinook 12; Fouled Out: Chinook (Ashley MacLeod)

Harlem 73 Poplar 33

Poplar 6 11 12 4 - 33

Harlem 24 21 15 13 - 73

Poplar: Jacora Youngman 0 0-0 0, Riley Macdonald 4 2-2 12, Sasha Youngman 2 0-0 4, Hailey Berg 0 0-0 0, Mercedee Dionne 2 1-4 5, Lilyann Taflan 2 0-0 4, Chloe Belton 2 0-0 4, Keandra Marteil 2 0-0 4. Team Totals 14 3-6 33.

Harlem: Kristyn Kittson 1 0-2 2, MacKenzie Doney 0 0-0 0, Skylee Dirden 6 5-11 20, Melonie Fetter 3 0-1 6, L'Tia Lawrence 9 4-7 23, Taya Trottier 6 0-2 12, Taeshon Scheaffer 0 0-2 0, Alaynee Hawley 0 0-0 0, Tamica Cole 0 1-2 1, Aria Owens 3 0-0 6, Shontelle Talks Different 1 2-2 4. Team Totals 29 12-29 73.

Three Point Field Goals: Poplar 2 (MacDonald 2), Harlem 0 (Dirden 2, Lawrence 1); Team Fouls: Poplar 18, Harlem 10; Fouled Out: None

Box Elder 74 Hays/Lodge Pole 25

Hays/Lodge Pole 9 11 3 2 - 25

Box Elder 24 26 16 8 - 74

Hays/Lodge Pole: Tahtianna Whitecow-Morgan 0 0-0 0, Kassi Perez 0 0-0 0, Sierra Chandler 0 0-0 2, Lakota Pretty Paint 0 0-0 0, J. Gray 0 0-0 2, Latasha Kirkaldie 0 0-0 9, Justice Werk 0 0-0 0, Jaedyn Chandler 0 0-0 2, Mulleeah Stiffarm 0 0-0 12, Tahlia Werk 0 0-0 0. Team Totals N/A 25.

Box Elder: Maia Henderson 0 0-0 3, Annalise Johnson 0 0-0 3, Sarah Parisian 0 0-0 3, Talyssa Oats 0 0-0 3, Eve The Boy 0 0-0 3, Maddie Wolf Chief 0 0-0 13, Lillian Gopher 0 0-0 10, Kyla Momberg 0 0-0 6, Zayna Henderson 0 0-0 6, Angela Gopher 0 0-0 2, Joelnell Momberg 0 0-0 23. Team Totals N/A 74.

Three Point Field Goals: Hays/L.P. N/A, Box Elder N/A; Team Fouls: Hays/L.P. N/A, Box Elder N/A; Fouled Out: N/A

Harlem senior MacKenzie Doney looks for a passing lane during the Wildcats 73-33 win over Poplar.

District 9C Girls Standings

Team Conf Overall TP

#1 Box Elder Bears 7-0 10-0 +70

#2 Fort Benton Longhorns 6-1 9-1 +50

Turner Tornadoes 5-2 7-3 +22

North Star Knights 4-3 7-3 +18

Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds 3-4 3-7 -17

Chinook Sugarbeeters 2-5 4-6 -33

Chester/Joplin-Inverness Hawks 1-6 3-7 -51

Big Sandy Pioneers 0-7 2-8 -59