Thunderbirds finish 4th in return to the Northern C Divisional

 

March 4, 2020

Thunderbird junior Ella Messerly scores a lay-up in the Thunderbirds opening 40-24 win over the Denton/Geyser/Stanford Bearcats Wednesday night in Great Falls.

The 2019-20 basketball season is over for the Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds and the Turner Tornadoes following play at the Northern C Divisional. The two teams were in Great Falls turning in their best effort and looking to put the finishing touches on an outstanding season.

The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbird girls basketball team has turned in a season to remember thus far and a return trip back to the Northern C Divisional for the first time since 1988 is simply icing on the cake.

The Thunderbirds are in the mist of an incredible rebuilding process that began three years ago with Head Coach Corey Morgan and Assistant Coach Gemma Mount getting their players to commit to an offseason schedule that had them putting in plenty of time in the gym, weight room and playing in as many summer tournaments as possible.

The Thunderbird varsity girls basketball team, fans and coaches are starting to see the payoff from all that hard work in the off season.

The Thunderbirds were ecstatic to earn hardware at the District 9C Tournament but were looking forward to a strong showing in Great Falls. In the end the Thunderbirds had the privilege of playing five games, going 3-2 and playing in the consolation final Saturday night.

The Thunderbirds began the tournament with what was essentially a play-in game against the No. 3 Seed Denton/Geyser/Stanford Bearcats of the District 8C. After falling behind 14-7 in a slow start for both teams the Thunderbirds started to find their footing on the Four Seasons Arena court and controlled the action the remainder of the contest.

Hays/Lodge Pole trailed just 18-17 at the break but outscored the Bearcats 11-2 in the third quarter and 12-4 in the fourth to win going away 40-24. Freshman Nashone Shambo led the way with 11 points while junior Ella Messerly added eight in the contest. Senior Mulleeah Stiffarm contributed seven points and eight rebounds.

In quarterfinal action against the Augusta Elk the outcome was never in doubt as Hays/Lodge Pole race out to a 22-1 first quarter lead and scored 29 of the games first 30 points as they coasted to 62-51 win. The Elk scored 27 fourth quarter points to make the score look a lot closer than the game actually was.

Stiffarm paced the Thunderbird offensive attack with a game high 17 points in the win. Messerly added 12 more for the Thunderbirds in the contest as they advanced to the semifinal round to take on the Roy/Winifred Outlaws.

Hays/Lodge Pole fell in both regular season meetings with the Outlaws and Friday nights contest resembled those outcomes in a 59-22 setback for the Thunderbirds.

Saturday morning would pit the Thunderbirds against the Bearcats once again, however this time the Hays/Lodge Pole would avoid the slow start and take control from the opening tip. The Thunderbirds led 19-0 after eight minutes and 31-7 by intermission. They would win the second half 28-19 to secure a 59-26 win and a spot in Saturday nights consolation final against the Fort Benton Longhorns. Messerly led the Thunderbird attack with 16 points in the contest.

In the consolation final the Longhorns were to much for the Thunderbirds as they ended their season with a 77-27 loss.

For team that was winless just a few seasons ago to reach the Northern C Divisional Consolation Final is a remarkable feat that should be recognized for the hard work required to achieve that feat.

The Turner Tornadoes were back playing on the hardwood of the Four Seasons Arena four the third consecutive season. After making it all the way to the consolation final a season ago the Tornadoes found their bracket to be much more challenging this go around.

Turner began with a first round contest against eventual Northern C champion Roy/Winifred where they played a solid game before falling 50-35. From there the Tornadoes responded with a lopsided 50-31 win over the Augusta Elk to keep their season alive.

In the Tornadoes contest with the Augusta Elk Friday morning the Tornadoes were looking to take a bit of frustration from the night before out on their opponent and they were able to do just that.

Turner had their defensive intensity ratcheted up to ten, holding the Elk scoreless in the opening frame to lead 12-0 after eight minutes of action.

The Tornadoes would build on that lead before the half, extending their advantage to 26-9 by intermission. A solid third quarter had pushed the margin to 41-16 before the Elk got a few back in the fourth as Turner took a 50-31 win to stay alive in the tournament.

Junior Shyan Krass led the Tornadoes offensively with 19 points 14 rebounds and a pair of blocks while senior Sarah Billmayer added 14 points, five rebounds and five steals to the Tornado stat line.

In the Tornadoes following loser out contest they took on the Fort Benton Longhorns in the teams fourth meeting of the season. Turner had yet to best the Longhorns in previous meetings and Saturday mornings contest would follow similar suit. The Longhorns outlasted the Tornadoes 52-37 to end their season.

Northern C Girls Divisional

Four Seasons Arena - Great Falls, MT

Hays/Lodge Pole 40 Denton/Geyser/Stanford 24

Den/Gey/Stan 9 9 2 4 - 24

Hays/Lodge Pole 5 12 11 12 - 40

Den/Gey/Stan - Mese Econom 0-5 0-0 0, Fayelee Dugan 0-2 0-0 0, Adie Woodhall 1-12 0-0 2, Sydney Von Bergen 5-15 1-7 11, Allie Skelton 0-0 0-0 0, Jessica Ayers 1-8 2-4 4, Keonna Cunningham 0-5 2-2 2, Kara Reed 0-1 0-0 0, Reese Von Bergen 0-0 0-0 0, Birtu Econom 0-0 0-0 0, Mariah Schott 2-7 0-0 5. Team Totals 9-55 5-13 24.

Hays/L.P. - Hays/L.P. - Nashone Shambo 2-7 5-5 11, Ella Messerly 2-9 3-3 8, Judemia Gray 2-5 2-4 6, Kassie Perez 0-1 0-0 0, Sierra Chandler 1-2 1-1 3, Aubrey Chandler 0-0 0-0 0, Tahtianna Morgan0-5 1-2 1, Justice Werk 0-0 0-0 0, Jaedyn Chandler 2-7 0-1 4, Mulleeah Stiffarm 3-14 1-4 7. Team Totals 12-50 13-20 40.

Three Point Field Goals - D/G/S 1-22 (Mariah Schott 1), Hays/L.P. 3-20 (Nashone Shambo 2, Ella Messerly 1); Team Rebounds: D/G/S 43 (Sydey Von Bergen 8), Hays/LP 47 (Mulleeah Stiffarm 8, Tahtianna Whitecow 8); Team Fouls - D/G/S 17, Hays/L.P. 13; Fouled Out - D/G/S - Mariah Schott.

Hays/Lodge Pole 62 Augusta 51

Augusta 1 12 11 27 - 51

Hays/Lodge Pole 22 16 8 16 - 62

Augusta - Gracie Hill 0-0 0-0 0, Bradi Hill 3-4 0-0 6, Abigail Barrett 0-0 0-0 0, Macyn Mahlum 0-0 0-0 0, Rylee Shalz 2-5 2-4 8, Payton Levine 3-11 7-10 15, Kodee Shalz 0-0 0-0 0, Carol Anne Herring 0-1 0-0 0, Olivia Isakson 5-9 6-11 16, Dayna Mills 0-2 0-0 0, Jae Allen 2-6 2-4 6, Lily Smock 0-0 0-0 0. Team Totals 15-39 17-29 51.

Hays/L.P. - Nashone Shambo 1-9 0-0 2, Ella Messerly 4-11 2-2 12, Judemia Gray 4-7 0-1 8, Kassie Perez 3-6 0-1 6, Sierra Chandler 2-5 2-2 6, Aubrey Chandler 0-0 0-0 0, Tahtianna Morgan 2-6 0-0 4, Justice Werk 0-3 0-0 0, Jaedyn Chandler 3-10 0-0 7, Mulleeah Stiffarm 5-10 6-8 17, Janine Has The Eagle 0-0 0-0 0. Team Totals 24-67 10-14 62.

Three Point Field Goals - Augusta 4-10 (Rylee Shalz 2, Payton Levine 2), Hays/L.P. 4-21(Ella Messerly 2, Jaedyn Chandler 1, Mulleeah Stiffarm 1); Total Rebounds - Augusta 37 (Olivia Isakson 12), Hays/LP 38 (Kassie Perez 8); Team Fouls - Augusta 16, Hays/L.P. 22; Fouled Out - Augusta (Olivia Isakson), Hays/LP (Judemiah Gray).

Roy/Winifred 59 Hays/Lodge Pole 22

Roy/Winifred 21 16 9 13 - 59

Hays/Lodge Pole 4 10 2 6 - 22

Roy/Winifred - Cassie Smith 2-3 0-0 6, Olivia Geer 3-6 0-0 9, Trinity Edwards 1-3 0-0 2, Ella Shultz 0-0 0-0 0, Megan Bergum 0-0 0-0 0, Laynee Elness 2-8 1-2 6, Madelin Heggem 1-2 1-3 3, Greta Mortin 0-0 0-0 0, Cadence Tilleman 1-1 0-0 2, Helaina Fowler 0-0 0-0 0, Jada Southworth 1-2 2-2 4, Dyauni Boyce 6-12 3-3 16, Isabella Heggam 4-8 1-2 9. Team Totals 22-48 8-12 59.

Hays/L.P. - Nashone Shambo 1-4 1-2 4, Ella Messerly 1-8 0-0 2, Judemia Gray 0-6 1-2 1, Kassie Perez 1-6 0-0 2, Sierra Chandler 0-3 0-0 0, Aubrey Chandler 0-0 0-0 0, Tahtianna Morgan 3-6 2-4 9, Justice Werk 0-0 0-0 0, Jaedyn Chandler 1-3 0-0 2, Mulleeah Stiffarm 1-9 0-0 2, Janine Has The Eagle 0-1 0-0 0. Team Totals 8-46 4-8 22.

Three Point Field Goals - R/W 7-14 (Olivia Geer 4, Cassie Smith 2, Laynee Elness 1), Hays/L.P. 2-12 (Nashone Shambo 1, Tahtianna Whitecow 1); Total Rebounds: R/W 36 (Madelin Heggem 9), Hays/LP 26 (Judemiah Gray 9); Team Fouls - R/W 9, Hays/L.P. 9; Fouled Out - None.

Hays/Lodge Pole 59 Denton/Geyser/Stanford 26

Den/Gey/Stan 0 7 11 8 - 26

Hays/Lodge Pole 19 12 17 11 - 59

Den/Gey/Stan - Mese Econom 0-6 0-2 0, Fayelee Dugan 1-3 0-1 2, Adie Woodhall 3-7 0-0 6, Sydney Von Bergen 0-3 0-0 0, Allie Skelton 0-4 4-6 4, Jessica Ayers 0-5 0-4 0, Keonna Cunningham 0-1 0-0 0, Kara Reed 1-4 3-6 5, Reese Von Bergen 0-3 3-4 3, Birtu Econom 1-3 0-0 2, Mariah Schott 2-6 0-3 4. Team Totals 9-55 5-13 24.

Hays/L.P. - Nashone Shambo 1-5 2-2 5, Ella Messerly 4-10 7-8 16, Judemia Gray 1-3 2-2 4, Kassie Perez 4-5 0-1 9, Sierra Chandler 2-8 1-1 5, Aubrey

Chandler 0-0 0-0 0, Tahtianna Morgan 2-4 1-3 5, Justice Werk 1-2 2-3 4, Jaedyn Chandler 1-7 0-0 2, Mulleeah Stiffarm 2-7 4-5 8, Janine Has The Eagle 0-0 0-0 0. Team Totals 18-52 19-27 59.

Three Point Field Goals - D/G/S 0-11 (0), Hays/L.P. 4-16 (Nashone Shambo 1, Ella Messerly 1, Kassi Perez 1, Jaedyn Chandler 1); Team Rebounds: D/G/S 42 (Mariah Schott 1), Hays/LP 39 (Sierra Chandler 7); Team Fouls - D/G/S 24, Hays/L.P. 21; Fouled Out - Hays/LP (Kassi Perez).

Fort Benton 77 Hays/Lodge Pole 27

Fort Benton 15 26 16 20 - 77

Hays/Lodge Pole 6 9 9 3 - 27

Fort Benton - Cassie Nack 3-6 0-0 6, MacKenzie Clark 7-11 3-7 17, Ashlee Wang 3-3 0-0 6, Aspen Giese 4-9 2-3 12, Abby Clark 2-6 2-2 6, Samantha Vielleaux 2-4 0-0 4, Maci Molinario 2-6 0-0 4, Megan Clark 5-9 0-0 11, Cloe Kalanick 0-2 0-0 0, Emerson Giese 3-4 0-0 6, McKenna Hanford 1-3 0-0 3, Hailey Wang 1-2 0-0 2. Team Totals 33-65 7-12 77.

Hays/L.P. - Nashone Shambo 0-5 0-0 0, Ella Messerly 1-5 5-5 7, Judemia Gray 0-3 0-1 0, Kassie Perez 1-2 0-2 2, Sierra Chandler 0-3 0-2 0, Aubrey

Chandler 0-0 0-0 0, Tahtianna Morgan 3-7 1-1 7, Justice Werk 0-0 0-0 0, Jaedyn Chandler 3-5 0-0 7, Mulleeah Stiffarm 2-8 0-0 4, Janine Has The Eagle 0-2 0-0 0. Team Totals 10-40 6-11 27.

Three Point Field Goals - Fort Benton 4-13 (Aspen Giese 2, Megan Clark 1, McKenna Hanford 1), Hays/L.P. 1-13 (Jaedyn Chandler 1); Team Rebounds: Fort Benton 43 (Aspen Giese 8), Hays/LP 22 (Tahtianna Whitecow 5); Team Fouls - Fort Benton 10, Hays/L.P. 11; Fouled Out - None.

Roy/Winifred 50 Turner 35

Roy/Winifred 10 15 13 12 - 50

Turner 9 5 7 14 - 35

Roy/Winifred - Cassie Smith 1-6 0-0 3, Olivia Geer 6-15 0-0 16, Trinity Edwards 1-3 0-0 2, Ella Shultz 0-0 0-0 0, Megan Bergum 0-0 0-0 0, Laynee Elness 5-6 1-3 13, Madelin Heggem 1-6 1-4 3, Dyauni Boyce 2-6 5-5 9, Isabella Heggam 1-4 2-2 4. Team Totals 17-46 9-14 50.

Turner - Dakota Krass 0-2 0-0 0, Emma Billmayer 2-5 0-0 5, Sarah Billmayer 5-13 3-4 15, Gracie Honey 0-0 0-0 0, Brandy Calvert 2-4 0-0 4, Laci Maloney 1-5 0-0 2, Brooke Reed 2-7 0-0 4, Shyan Krass 2-11 0-0 5. Team Totals 14-47 3-4 35.

Three Point Field Goals - Roy/Winifred 7-17 (Olivia Geer 4, Cassie Smith 1, Laynee Elness 2), Turner 4-16 (Sarah Billmayer 2, Emma Billmayer 1, Shyan Krass 1); Total Rebounds: Roy/Winifred 35 (Trinity Edwards 11), Turner 29 (Shyan Krass 14); Team Fouls - Roy/Winifred 8, Turner 10; Fouled Out - None.

Turner 50 Augusta 31

Augusta 0 9 7 15 - 31

Turner 12 14 15 9 - 50

Augusta - Gracie Hill 0-1 0-0 0, Bradi Hill 2-9 3-5 7, Abigail Barrett 1-2 0-0 3, Macyn Mahlum 0-0 0-0 0, Rylee Shalz 1-4 0-0 3, Payton Levine 1-12 2-2 4, Kodee Shalz 1-2 0-0 2, Carol Anne Herring 0-0 0-0 0, Olivia Isakson 2-8 2-2 7, Dayna Mills 1-3 1-2 3, Jae Allen 1-3 0-0 2, Lily Smock 0-1 0-0 0. Team Totals 10-45 8-11 31.

Turner - Dakota Krass 0-5 0-0 0, Emma Billmayer 0-4 4-9 4, Sarah Billmayer 6-19 2-3 14, Gracie Honey 1-2 0-1 2, Brandy Calvert 1-5 0-0 2, Laci Maloney 1-5 0-1 2, Brooke Reed 2-3 3-4 7, Shyan Krass 8-14 1-3 19, Hanna Richman 0-0 0-0 0, Paycee Leo 0-0 0-0 0, Katie Kimmel 0-0 0-0 0. Team Totals 19-57 10-21 50.

Three Point Field Goals - Augusta 3-13 (Abigail Barrett 1, Rylee Shalz 1, Olivia Isakson 1), Turner 2-13 (Shyan Krass 2); Total Rebounds: Augusta 25 (Bradi Hill 8), Turner 40 (Shyan Krass 14); Team Fouls - Augusta 20, Turner 13; Fouled Out - None.

Fort Benton 52 Turner 37

Fort Benton 11 16 12 13 - 52

Turner 9 8 12 8 - 37

Sophomore Tahtianna Whitecow drives past the D/G/S defender during opening round action at the Northern C Divisional.

Fort Benton - Cassie Nack 1-3 0-0 2, MacKenzie Clark 4-12 3-4 12, Ashlee Wang 0-1 0-0 0, Aspen Giese 2-9 0-0 6, Abby Clark 2-3 1-2 5, Samantha Vielleaux 0-0 0-0 0, Maci Molinario 0-0 0-0 0, Megan Clark 4-9 0-0 9, Cloe Kalanick 0-1 0-0 0, Emerson Giese 4-8 2-3 12, McKenna Hanford 2-6 0-0 6. Team Totals 19-52 6-9 52.

Turner - Dakota Krass 1-5 0-1 2, Emma Billmayer 1-2 0-0 2, Sarah Billmayer 7-18 2-5 16, Gracie Honey 0-0 0-0 0, Brandy Calvert 1-5 1-2 3, Laci Maloney 0-1 0-0 0, Brooke Reed 0-4 1-3 1, Shyan Krass 5-9 3-3 135. Team Totals 15-44 7-14 37.

Three Point Field Goals - Fort Benton 8-20 (Aspen Giese 2, Emerson Giese 2, McKenna Hanford 2, Megan Clark 1, McKenzie Clark 1), Turner 0-6 (0); Total Rebounds: Fort Benton 34 (Aspen Giese 7, Megan Clark 7), Turner 31 (Shyan Krass 13); Team Fouls - Fort Benton 13, Turner 16; Fouled Out - None.

 
 

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