Wildcats run past Cut Bank 78-59, Tornadoes take down Thunderbirds 66-58 in Season Openers

 

January 6, 2021

Wildcat junior Tyler Cichosz glides in for two of his game high 23 points Saturday night against the Cut Bank Wolves. Harlem won their season opener 78-59.

The Harlem Wildcats kicked off the 2021 Basketball season Saturday in Cut Bank against the District 1B Wolves. The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds began District 9C play on the road with a visit to the Turner Tornadoes Saturday evening as well. The Chinook Sugarbeeter kicked off their season Tuesday against the Harlem Wildcats. Results from that contest will be in next weeks paper.

Harlem Wildcats @ Cut Bank Wolves

Junior RJ Ramone delivered a nice bounce pass across the paint to senior Trent Main who found himself all alone under the basket for an easy deuce and a 15-14 Wildcat lead. Main added another bucket the following trip down the court to put Harlem up three but the Wolves closed out the quarter strong to take a 19-17 lead after eight minutes of action.

Junior Tyler Cichosz finished at the rim to complete a 7-0 run to start the second quarter to put Harlem on top 24-19. Moments later he put an end to a mini Cut Bank run with another score and a 26-23 Wildcat advantage.


Leading 28-17 with just a couple minutes remaining in the opening half the Wildcats finished with a flurry. Ramone spun around on the right side of the key for a score; Then junior Daniel Lawrence made a nice pass to Cichosz for a bucket and a foul. Cichosz converted at the line and the Wildcats were rolling.

Ramone later finished the break with an and-1 of his own and Cichosz converted one of two from the charity stripe to send the visiting Wildcats to intermission with a 40-29 advantage.

The Wildcats maintained the advantage to start the second half and led 46-34 midway through the third following a pair of free throws from Cichosz. The defense for both teams picked up after the break, but the Wildcats added to their cushion late in the stanza with a bucket and a foul by Ramone at the 1:45 mark to put Harlem on top 51-38.


Lawrence drove hard down the left side of the key spinning right into a hand-off to senior Cassius Johnson for an easy bucket. Johnson went 2-2 from the charity strip the next possession. Ramone then picked the Cut Bank ball handler's pocket and glided to the rim for a easy conversion as the Wildcats extended their lead to 18 at the end of three, 57-38.

Johnson began the fourth with a beautiful up and under to push the Wildcat lead to 21, 59-38. Moments later Ramone again found Johnson for an easy bucket and the track meet was on with the Wildcats up 61-45 with six minutes remaining.


Junior Amari Stanly knocked down a bucket, Lawrence made a nice steal and turned it into points with Cichosz at the other end as Harlem kept their foot on the gas, up 67-49 midway through the fourth quarter. Lawrence then made a spectacular pass across the paint to Main for a score, Ramone followed with a free throw line jumper and the Wildcats cruised to their first win of the season, over the Cut Bank Wolves.

Harlem was led on the night by Cichosz with 23 points, Ramone added 18 for the Wildcats in the win and Lawrence finished with 14. Johnson played well down low for the Wildcats finishing the night with 10 points.

Harlem 78 Cut Bank 59

Harlem 17 23 17 21 - 78

Cut Bank 19 10 9 21 - 59

Harlem - RJ Ramone 8 2-2 18, Daniel Lawrence 6 0-0 14, Tyler Cichosz 9 4-7 23, Cassius Johnson 3 4-4 10, Trent Main 4 0-0 8, Teagan LeValdo 1 0-0 3, Andrew Rasmussen 0 0-0 0, Amari Stanley 1 0-0 2. Team Totals 32 10-13 78.

Cut Bank - Tate Monroe 2 0-1 5, Damien Burke 0 0-0 0, Tayron Burdeau 5 1-4 13, Robert Reagan 3 4-4 12, Dawson Vasboe 1 1-2 3, Chevy Burdeau 0 0-0 0, Dayne Barbie 5 0-2 10, Jackson Black 1 0-0 2, Quinn Rides 1 0-0 3, Peyton St. Goddard 0 0-0 0, Will Sewell 5 0-1 11. Team Totals 23 6-14 59.

Three Point Field Goals - Harlem 4 (Daniel Lawrence 2, Tyler Cichosz 1, Teagan LeValdo 1), Cut Bank 7 (Tayron Burdeau 2, Robert Reagan 2, Tate Monroe 1, Quinn Rides 1, Will Sewell 1); Team Fouls - Harlem 13, Cut Bank 14; Fouled Out - None.

Hays/Lodge Pole @ Turner Tornadoes

Senior Austin Welsh gave the Tornadoes a four point advantage, 12-8 with a short jumper and then finished the break with a tough move to the basket for a 14-6 advantage late in the quarter. With time running down freshman Ryan Doyle scored for the Tornadoes to put Turner on top 16-8 at the end of one quarter of action.

Welsh found senior Shane Kimmel cutting to the basket to put Turner on top 20-8. Welsh scored again after a nice drive pushing the lead to 14, 22-8 leading to a Thunderbird timeout with 5:09 left in the half. Junior Trevor Kimmel found sophomore Charlie Calvert on a beautiful play as Turner kept the offense rolling. Welsh again attacked the basket from the top of the key and met little resistance on the way to the basket for a 26-10 Turner advantage.

Welsh later connected from long range to push the lead to 29-15. Junior Tyshawn Shambo answered back for the Thunderbirds with a little floater in the paint, looking to ignite the Hays/Lodge Pole offense.

Trevor Kimmel connected on a long three from the right corner for a 31-14 lead. Freshman William Hughes Jr. scored for the Thunderbirds but Welsh quickly knocked down another from beyond the arc for a 34-16 Turner lead with two minutes remaining in the half. Trevor was left alone underneath for an easy score as the Turner offense was firing on all cylinders.

Hays/Lodge Pole got a pair of free throws from sophomore Daniel Henry only to see sophomore Charlie Calvert score right back for the Tornadoes off an offensive rebound. Hays/Lodge Pole sophomore Brandon Castillo converted one of two from the charity stripe to keep the Thunderbirds within reach at 39-25. Shane scored a tough basket in the paint for the Tornadoes to keep the momentum in Turners favor as the first half came to an end with Turner on top of the Thunderbirds 41-27.

Trevor Kimmel was all alone to collect the offensive rebound to get the Tornadoes going early in the second half. Shambo answered right back for the Thunderbirds as their offensive attack started to develop some rhythm. Castillo cut the lead to 11, 45-34 but the Tornadoes again had an answer. Shane Kimmel capped a 7-0 Turner run with a pair from the charity stripe to put the Tornadoes on top 52-34 with just under four minutes remaining in the third quarter. Henry added a bucket late in the quarter to cut the Turner lead to 53-37 heading into the fourth quarter.

Shambo and Henry scored on back to back possessions as the Thunderbirds started the fourth quarter on fire, cutting the Turner lead to 52-42 in the first :53. Welsh scored the Tornadoes first fourth quarter points on a pair of free throws with 6:42 remaining, but Shambo answered with another trifecta to cut the deficit to single digits 54-45.

Following a couple of scoreless trips down the court for both teams, Henry was able to score at the rim for the Thunderbirds to bring them within eight 56-48. Welsh answered back for the Tornadoes with a pair from the charity stripe to push the lead back to 10.

With four minutes remaining, Shambo spun to his left while being fouled to score. Henry corralled the rebound on the free throw attempt and scored with 3:32 remaining to cut the lead to six 58-52. Both teams were in the bonus late and the free throw line carried extra weight. Welsh scored on a nice drive to the basket and Shane converted a pair from the charity stripe to push the lead back to 10 at 62-52.

Henry answered back for the Thunderbirds going coast to coast to keep the Thunderbirds close. Doyle knocked a free throw for the Tornadoes and with time running down, the Thunderbirds were needing to foul. Unable to score on the offensive end the Thunderbirds comeback fell short and the Tornadoes were the victors, claiming a season opening 66-58 win.

The Tornadoes were led on the night by Shane Kimmel's 25 points, Welsh added 22 for Turner and Trever Kimmel finished with nine. Shambo led all scorers with 37 points for the Thunderbirds. Henry added 12 for Hays/Lodge Pole in the loss.

Turner 66 Hays/Lodge Pole 58

Hays/L.P. 8 19 10 21 - 58

Turner 16 25 11 14 - 66

Hays/L.P. - Brandon Castillo 1 4-6 6, William Hughes Jr. 0 1-2 1, DeVonte Sullivan 1 0-0 2, Tyshawn Shambo 13 8-11 37, Daniel Henry 4 3-5 12, Avery Boe Jr. 0 0-2 0, Julius Ball 0 0-0 0. Team Totals 19 16-26 58.

Turner senior Austin Welsh completes the break for two of his 22 points against the Thunderbirds Saturday night.

Turner - Shay Humphreys 0 0-0 0, Austin Welsh 8 5-11 22, Shane Kimmel 8 8-14 25, Charlie Calvert 3 1-3 7, Trent Billmayer 0 0-0 0, Ryan Doyle 1 1-2 3, Trevor Kimmel 4 0-0 9. Team Totals 24 15-30 66.

Three Point Field Goals - Hays/L.P. - (--), Turner 3 (Austin Welsh 1, Shane Kimmel 1, Trevor Kimmel 1); Team Fouls - Hays/L.P. 25, Turner 22; Fouled Out - Hays/L.P. - Brandon Castillo, DeVonte Sullivan; Turner - Trevor Kimmel.

 
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024

Rendered 01/30/2024 20:40