The Chinook Sugarbeeter Boys and Girls Basketball program along with the Wrestling team are set to compete in the winter sports season after it was delayed for three weeks by Covid-19. The boys and girls basketball teams will complete a 16 game schedule in just six weeks while the wrestling team will have a full slate on their schedule. The Basketball post season schedule remains unchanged from its original time frame but wrestling moved their post season back three weeks.

Chinook Sugarbeeter Girls Basketball

Mike Jones returns to the bench to lead the Chinook Sugarbeeter girls basketball program, Now in his second year at the helm he looks to build upon the results from year one.

In an unusual situation Jones returns his entire squad from a season ago and bolsters his team by adding a very talented freshman class. Seniors back with the program are Lily Surber, Jade Cecrle and Jayden Miller. Juniors returning include Allison Powell and Anna Morrow. Sophomores looking to play a bigger roll include Bree Swanson, Anna Terry and Torin Cecrle. Freshman looking to make an impact right away are Hallie Neibauer, Britton Elliot, Mya Berreth, Teagan Richman, Charlie McKee, Jenna Liddle and Cheyenne Wiegand.

"Our first couple weeks are going great. Having enough this year to fill an entire roster is a great thing. Our girls are used to some of the weird covid restrictions, but it's great to be able to be out there working," said Jones. "Our intensity level is great this year, we are really pushing each other and starting to gel as a team. We are a really young team still even though we are bringing back 8 girls with varsity experience from last year. Our team though is one that is going to bring energy and intensity to every game. We have a mindset that we are going to get better each and every game."

The Northern C is tough, but so is the District 9C, "We play in one of the toughest divisions and districts in the league. We always talk about getting better every day and competing at a high level. We also have some post season goals as a team; want to win our home games, play on championship night of Districts and make Divisionals," Jones concluded.

Chinook Sugarbeeter Boys Basketball

Mike Seymour returns to the bench for his 10th season at the helm of the Sugarbeeter Boys Basketball program and is one of the most successful coaches in school history.

Senior All-State, All-Conference performers, Ethan Bell and Reese Elliot are back to make another run in the post season. Along with seniors Benton Elliot, Damon Hannum, Ethan MacLeod the 'Beeters are solid at the top. Juniors Braden Eoff, Toby Niederegger and Oskar Pula round out a very strong group of eight.

Sophomores looking to play a bigger roll in the teams success are Flint Annis, Brenden Fetter, Lane Hasler, Braxton Inman and Levi Jensen. Incoming freshman include, Jackson Nordboe and Wylee Simenson.

The 'Beeters have experience through the State tournament and that bodes well for the team this season, "Our team identity holds a lot of experience offensively and defensively as we have four returning starters from last year's team that went 18-7," said Seymour. Practice has been a bit up and down thus far, "Our intensity level has been off the charts at some practices, while at others it has been below average. We are working on the aspect of bringing everything we have to every practice and we are needing and seeking leadership from our seniors."

Skills and conditioning drills and trying to relate those skills and drills to game like situations have been the primary focus of practice early on, "We have been working to improve our defensive intensity and also working to improve our offensive zone attack. We expect our team to play hard and work to improve through daily practice. It's also important that we play our best every game so we are playing our best basketball come tournament time. Our schedule is a tough schedule as we will play 16 games in 6 weeks," concluded Seymour.

The 'Beeters will get the season started at Home on Tuesday, January 5 against the Harlem Wildcats. Their first road test will come on Friday, January 8 in Hays against the Thunderbirds. They will recognize their seniors in between varsity games on Friday, January 15 against Chester/Joplin-Inverness. Other home games include Big Sandy on January 9, Fort Benton January 23, Hays/Lodge Pole January 29, Box Elder February 2, Turner February 6 and North Star February 12.

Road contests are scheduled for January 12 at Box Elder, January 16 at Turner, January 22 at North Star (Gildford), January 30 at Big Sandy, February 5 against Chester/Joplin-Inverness in Chester, February 9 in Harlem and February 13 in Fort Benton.

The District 9C Girls and Boys Basketball Tournament will once again he held in Havre at the Blue Pony High School Gymnasium, February 17-20. The Northern C Boys and Girls Divisional will be in Great Falls at the Four Seasons Arena, February 24-27 and the first ever combined State C Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament will be held at the Brick Breedan Fieldhouse in Bozeman, March 10-13.

Chinook Sugarbeeter Wrestling

Perry Miller, Adam Tilleman and Ben Stroh return to guide the 'Beeter wrestlers in the ever changing Class B/C ranks of Montana High School Wrestling. Junior Wyatt Dunbar returns after earning a 5th place finish at the State B/C Tournament a season ago. Senior Rebecca Stroh, a past state placer also returns as does senior Garrett Pruttis. Junior Drake Berreth, junior Lincoln Reich, sophomore Lane Snider, sophomore Tyler Schoen and freshman Ryley Hofeldt will look to score points for the 'Beeters this season.

"The kids have been working really hard, doing the best they can to make the most of the hand they have been dealt. We have been thrilled by the effort they have come to practice with but like any other year it all starts with the basics," said Miller. "The kids have been really getting after the fundamentals early on and now that they have a few weeks under their belt we as coaches have been addressing technique a bit more."

The first competition can't come soon enough, "They've been busting each others butt now for so long, they just want to get on the mat and face someone else, anyone else. Everyone in the room from the coaching staff to the greenhorn is excited to get started in Chester on the 7th and then to turn around and get to compete in our own gym right away will be really nice.," Miller stated.

The goal remains the same, "Just get better each time we step on the mat, keep working hard and we'll be just fine come tournament time. There is a long road in front of us and hopefully we can get there," concluded Miller.

The 'Beeters will host mixers on January 8 and January 22. They will travel to wrestle in Circle January 15, Glasgow, January 16, Fort Benton January 19, Harlem January 23, Big Sandy January 28, Malta January 30, Forsyth February 5, Cascade February 6 and Glasgow February 12.

2020-21 Chinook Sugarbeeter High School Girls Basketball Team

The delay to the start of the season has allowed the wrestling post season to be moved back as well. As it stands The Eastern C Divisional is set to take place in Colstrip February 26-27 with the State B/C Tournament taking place the following week at a yet to be determined location.