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

Chinook evens record at 6-6 with wins over Hays/L.P. and Big Sandy

The Harlem Wildcats had a huge weekend on the court taking down two teams ranked in the State B Top 10. Friday they opened up a big lead early over the No. 9 Malta M-ettes, but unlike their previous meeting, Harlem maintained its advantage to secure a 62-40 win.

Saturday the girls were in Wolf Point, looking to atone for a 52-50 loss to the No. 2 Wolves back in December. They did just that, scraping together a 53-50 win to move atop the District 2B standings.

The Chinook Sugarbeeters evened their season record at 6-6 after picking up a pair of District 9C wins over the Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds

The Turner Tornadoes handled the North Star Knights 68-53 on Friday and suffered a 57-39 setback to the Fort Benton Long horns on Saturday.

Hays/Lodge Pole was in Chester on Saturday an picked up a 44-28 victory over the Hawks.

The Harlem Wildcats have been ranked in the Class B Top 10 some time and after dropping a tough battle to the Shelby Coyotes last week they were looking to establish some momentum as a stepped back into District 2B play.

Friday night the girls were in Malta to take on the M-ettes. In the first meeting between the two teams, Harlem jumped out to an early lead and then held on late to earn a three-point victory.

This go around they again jumped out to an early lead, but this time they were able to maintain the momentum in the second half and Coast to a 62-40 win over the No. 9 M-ettes.

The Wildcats got nine points from freshman Taya Trottier and nine more from senior Skylee Dirden to go with four points from junior L'Tia Lawrence to take a 20-10 lead into the second quarter.

Trottier added six more before the half and junior Taeshon Schaeffer dropped in a long three to help Harlem take a 33-14 advantage into halftime.

The M-ettes ratcheted up their attack in the third quarter but Harlem matched their effort outscoring them 19-17 in the stanza to extend their lead to 52-31 with eight minutes left.

Harlem maintained the lead down the stretch and secured a convincing 62-40 win. Trottier led the team with 17 points while Lawrence and Dirden each finished with 14.

Saturday the team was in Wolf Point to take on the No. 2 Wolves and avenge their earlier loss.

In a game featuring two Top 10 Class B Teams it was the Wildcats that prevailed in the end picking up a 53-50 win to take control in the District 2B race and set them up for a good run in the postseason.

Harlem got huge efforts from Dirden and Lawrence as the pair combined for 47 of the teams 53 points in the win.

Dirden scored four in the opening quarter and Lawrence dropped in a pair from beyond the arc as Harlem took a 14-10 lead into the second quarter.

Lawrence added seven in the second quarter and Dirden four more for a 25-21 halftime lead.

Dirden caught fire in the second half scoring 14 in the third quarter and 20 in the half to propel the Wildcats to the big win over the previously unbeaten Wolves.

Dirden led all scorers with 28 points and Lawrence finished with 19.

The Chinook Sugarbeeters and Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds met in Hays on Friday night with each team looking to get back on the winning track.

The Thunderbirds won the first meeting back in December 43-34 and were looking for the season sweep. The Sugarbeeters were looking to even the season series at one game apiece.

'Beeter senior Kourtney Hanson converted an offensive rebound for a basket and a 10-3 Chinook lead early. The 'Beeters would carry the momentum into the second quarter with senior Lincy Johnson scoring off an offensive rebound and sophomore Delaney Kellam getting a basket for a 17-6 advantage midway through the second.

Hanson's basket early in the third quarter gave Chinook a ten point lead 27-17 but the Thunderbirds would claw their way back.

Thunderbird sophomore Sierra Chandler scored down low, junior Mulleah Stiffarm added a mid range jumper and senior Latasha Kirkaldie scored off an inbound play to cut the lead to 27-25. A running right hand by Hanson gave the 'Beeters back a six point advantage 31-25 as they held on for a 41-33 win over the Thunderbirds.

Hanson led the effort with 19 points for the 'Beeters while Stiffarm's 13 paced the Thunderbirds

Saturday the Sugarbeeters were at home looking to make it to 2-0 against Big Sandy Pioneers. After taking a 10-2 lead early, the 'Beeters suddenly found themselves down 11-10.

Hanson scored off a feed from senior Ashley MacLeod to even the score at 12-12. MacLeod would knock down a triple on the next possession and the 'Beeters never looked back, securing a 44-24 win over the Pioneers to even their record at 6-6.

Hanson again led the attack with 15 points. Senior Rachel Gunderson added 12 more and Macleod finished with five.

The Turner Tornadoes earned a slim 53-51 win back in December over the North Star Knights after having a big lead in the first half.

Friday night in Gildford the Tornadoes again held a six point lead early and were able to extend it with a strong second-half and secure a fifteen point win.

The Tornadoes led 12-9 after one quarter of action and doubled their advantage to six by halftime 27-21.

Senior Raegan Conlan knocked down a pair of three point bombs and scored eight in the third quarter. Junior Sarah Billmayer added six in the stanza and sophomore Shyan Krass seven in a 25 point Tornado third quarter to take a 52-34 lead into the fourth quarter.

Turner maintained their lead for the most part in securing a 68-53 win. Krass finished with 22 to lead the Tornadoes while Conlan tallied 17 and Billmayer 14 in the win.

Saturday at home Turner welcomed the No. 2 Fort Benton Longhorns to town and again played a strong game but in the end fell to the Longhorns 58-39.

The Tornadoes were led by Billmayer with 13 points. Krass added seven and sophomore Brooke Reed six.

Saturday night in Chester the Thunderbirds again had an opportunity to find the win column and they did just that.

The Thunderbirds started slow, scoring just two points in the first quarter and trailed 17-12 at the break but they would score 34 in the second half to secure a sixteen point win.

Freshman Tahtianna Morgan ten second half points and senior Latasha Kirkaldie 11 in helping the Thunderbirds come back. Morgan finished with 13 points to lead the Thunderbirds.

The teams will be back in action this weekend with just three weeks remaining in the regular season

Girls Basketball

Chinook 41 Hays/Lodge Pole 33

Chinook 10 15 4 12 — 41

Hays/Lodge Pole 4 11 10 8 — 33

Chinook: Megan Molyneaux 1 0-0 2, Ginger Hauer 1 2-2 4, Kourtney Hanson 8 3-6 19, Delaney Kellam 1 3-3 5, Ashley MacLeod 1 0-0 3, Lily Surber 0 0-0 0, Lincy Johnson 1 0-0 2, Rachel Gunderson 3 0-0 6, Allison Powell 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 16 8-11 41.

Hays/Lodge Pole: Tahtianna Whitecow-Morgan 1 1-2 3, Kassi Perez 0 1-2 1, Sierra Chandler 2 0-2 4, Justine Gray 1 1-2 3, Latasha Kirkaldie 3 1-1 7, Rayleigh Kirkaldie 1 0-0 2, Justice Werk 0 0-0 0, Jaedyn Chandler 0 0-0 0, Mulleeah Stiffarm 4 3-8 13, Tahlia Werk 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 12 7-17 33.

Three Point Field Goals: Chinook 1 (Ashley MacLeod 1), Hays/L.P. 2 (Mulleeah Stiffarm 2); Team Fouls: Chinook 16, Hays/L.P. 15; Fouled Out: Chinook (MacLeod)

Harlem 62 Malta 40

No. 6 Harlem 20 13 19 10 — 62

No. 9 Malta 10 4 17 9 — 40

Harlem: Kristyn Kittson 1 0-0 2, MacKenzie Doney 0 0-0 0, Skylee Dirden 6 1-2 14, Melonie Fetter 1 0-0 2, L’Tia Lawrence 7 0-0 14, Taya Trottier 8 0-0 17, Taeshon Scheaffer 2 0-0 5, Gabi Bell 0 0-0 0, Alaynee Hawley 0 0-0 0, Tamica Cole 0 0-0 0, Aria Owens 3 0-0 7, Shontelle Talks Different 0 1-2 1. Team Totals 28 2-4 62.

Malta: Carly Garfield 2 0-2 4, Justine Lamb 1 0-0 3, Kelbee Denham 4 0-2 10, Raina Mortenson 6 1-2 13, Kloie Marks 0 4-6 4, Sidney Meeks 0 0-0 0, Kyleigh Schipman 2 1-2 5. Team Totals 15 7-16 40.

Three Point Field Goals: Harlem 4 (Skylee Dirden 1, Taya Trottier 1, Taeshon Scheaffer 1, Aria Owens 1), Malta 3 (Kelbee Denham 2, Justine Lamb 1); Team Fouls: Harlem 13, Malta 4; Fouled Out: None

Turner 68 North Star 53

Turner 12 15 25 16 — 68

North Star 9 12 13 19 — 53

Turner: Raegan Conlan 7 0-0 17, Sarah Billmayer 5 2-4 14, Dakota Krass 0 0-0 0, Rylee Conlan 0 2-2 2, Melanie Watkins 3 2-4 9, Brandy Calvert 0 0-0 0, Laci Maloney 0 0-0 0, Brooke Reed 2 0-0 4, Shyan Krass 10 2-5 22, Lacey Hickel 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 27 8-15 68.

North Star: Laynie Sattoriva 0 0-0 0, Jade Wendeln 2 0-1 4, Kenidee Wolery 3 4-6 10, Paij Peterson 3 1-2 7, Tanicha Hudson 1 3-4 6, Olivia King 0 0-2 0, Shayla Bourlag 10 3-4 24, Saige Scheresky-O’Niel 0 0-0 0, Kaytlyn Domire 1 0-0 2, Rainee Watson 0 0-0 0, Erika Harvey 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 21 11-20 53.

Three Point Field Goals: Turner 6 (Raegan Conlan 3, Sarah Billmayer 2, Melanie Watkins 1), North Star 3 (Wendland 1, Hudson 1, Borlaug 1); Team Fouls: Turner 18, North Star 17; Fouled Out: Turner (Watkins), North Star (Wolery).

Chinook 44 Big Sandy 24

Big Sandy 2 10 4 8 — 24

Chinook 10 7 10 7 — 44

Big Sandy - Laynee Ophus 2 1-1 5, Stacey Allderdice 0 0-0 0, Kylee Sternberg 0 1-3 1, Amiya Griffith 0 0-0 0, Grace Finke 0 0-0 0, Madison Terry 0 0-0 0, Lainey Gregory 3 0-0 7, Jaylyn Cline 1 1-2 3, Amanda Cline 1 6-10 8, Seanna Demontiny 0 0-0 0, Caydence Pleninger 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 7 9-16 24.

Chinook: Megan Molyneaux 2 0-0 4, Ginger Hauer 0 0-0 0, Kourtney Hanson 7 1-2 15, Delaney Kellam 0 0-0 0, Ashley MacLeod 3 0-0 5, Lily Surber 0 2-2 2, Lincy Johnson 2 0-0 4, Rachel Gunderson 6 0-0 12, Allison Powell 1 0-2 2. Team Totals 20 3-6 44.

Three Point Field Goals: Big Sandy 1 (Lainey Gregory 1), Chinook 1 (Ashley MacLeod 1); Team Fouls: Big Sandy 14, Chinook 16; Fouled Out: Big Sandy (Amanda Cline, Jaylyn Cline).

Harlem 53 Wolf Point 50

No. 6 Harlem 14 11 18 10 — 53

No. 2 Wolf Point 10 11 17 12 — 50

Harlem: Kristyn Kittson 1 0-0 2, MacKenzie Doney 0 0-0 0, Skylee Dirden 10 7-12 28, Melonie Fetter 0 1-2 1, L’Tia Lawrence 7 1-2 19, Taya Trottier 1 0-0 3, Taeshon Scheaffer 0 0-0 0, Gabi Bell 0 0-0 0, Alaynee Hawley 0 0-0 0, Tamica Cole 0 0-0 0, Aria Owens 0 0-0 0, Shontelle Talks Different 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 18 9-16 53.

Wolf Point: Semorah Wells 1 1-2 4, Hamanyie Campbell 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Archdale 3 1-2 7, Mya Fourstar 2 3-4 7, Tori Nygard 0 0-2 0, Mary Bighorn 3 0-0 8, Abby Juve 0 0-0 0, Jaylee Azure 0 0-0 0, Imani Bighorn 10 4-6 24. Team Totals 19 9-10 50.

Three Point Field Goals: Harlem 5 (L’Tia Lawrence 4, Skylee Dirden 1), Wolf Point 3 (Mary Bighorn 2, Semorah Wells 1); ); Team Fouls: Harlem 0, Wolf Point 14; Fouled Out: None.

Fort Benton 57 Turner 39

Fort Benton 16 13 11 17 — 57

Turner 10 5 13 11 — 39

Turner: Raegan Conlan 1 1-2 3, Sarah Billmayer 5 0-0 13, Dakota Krass 0 0-0 0, Rylee Conlan 2 0-0 6, Melanie Watkins 2 0-2 4, Brandy Calvert 0 0-0 0, Laci Maloney 0 0-0 0, Brooke Reed 3 0-2 6, Shyan Krass 3 1-2 7, Lacey Hickel 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 16 2-8 39.

Fort Benton: Cassie Nack 2 0-0 4, McKenzie Clark 5 1-2 11, Ashlee Wang 0 0-0 0, Aspen Giese 6 3-4 17, Abby Clark 1 2-2 4, Sam Vielleux 0 0-0 0, Maci Molinario 5 2-4 12, Megan Clark 3 1-2 7, Cloe Kalanick 0 0-0 0, Hadley Cook 0 0-0 0, Leah Gannon 1 0-0 2, McKenna Hanford 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 23 9-14 57.

Three Point Field Goals: Fort Benton 2 (Aspen Giese 2), Turner 5 (Sarah Billmayer 2, Rylee Conlan 1); Team Fouls: Fort Benton 14, Turner 13; Fouled Out: None

Hays/Lodge Pole 44 Chester/J-I 28

Hays/Lodge Pole 2 10 12 20 — 44

Box Elder 8 9 4 7 — 28

Hays/Lodge Pole: Tahtianna Whitecow-Morgan 5 3-4 13, Nashone Shambo 0 3-4 3, Kassi Perez 0 0-0 0, Sierra Chandler 2 1-6 5, Lakota Pretty Paint 1 0-0 2, Judemea Gray 1 2-6 4, Latasha Kirkaldie 5 1-6 11, Justice Werk 1 0-0 2, Jaedyn Chandler 1 2-4 4, Shaunte Hawley 0 0-1 0. Team Totals 16 12-29 44.

Chester/J-I: Averie Mattson 1 0-4 2, Tatum Hull 0 0-0 0, Kyla Mansfield 0 0-0 0, Molly Nelson 0 1-2 1, Haddie Woods 3 0-0 6, Abby Fraser 1 5-6 7, Peyton Hawks 4 4-9 12, Emma Wickman 0 0-0 0, Aaliyah Standiford 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 9 10-21 28.

Three Point Field Goals: Hays/L.P. 22, Chester/J.I. 0; Team Fouls: Hays/L.P. 0, Chester/J.I. 20; Fouled Out: Chester/J.I. (Woods, Mattson, Fraser)

District 9C Girls Standings

Team Conf Overall TP

#1 Box Elder Bears 9-0 12-0 +90

#2 Fort Benton Longhorns 8-1 11-1 +70

Turner Tornadoes 6-3 8-4 +22

North Star Knights 4-5 7-5 -2

Chinook Sugarbeeters 4-5 6-6 -15

Turner senior Melanie Watkins gets an easy bucket during second half action in Gildford Friday as the Tornadoes topped the Knights 68-53.

Hays/L.P. Thunderbirds 4-5 4-8 -15

Chester/J-I Hawks 1-8 3-9 -71

Big Sandy Pioneers 0-9 2-10 -79

District 2B Girls Standings

Team Conf Overall

No. 6 Harlem 5-1 9-3

No. 2 Wolf Point 5-1 11-1

Malta 2-4 7-5

Glasgow 1-3 5-7

Poplar 1-5 8-5