Thunderbirds Start with 63-21 rout of Dodson, expect Big Things in District 9C
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The 2021-22 Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbird Girls Basketball Team
The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbird girls basketball team has been steadily building their program for the past four years and this year could be a breakout season for the team.
Head Coach Corey Morgan has molded this group into a cohesive team that could represent the District 9C at the Northern C Divisional in Great Falls come February.
The Thunderbirds 2021-22 roster includes three seniors, Jaedyn Chandler, Judemia Gray and Tahtianna Morgan that have all been solid contributors since they first stepped onto the court as freshman for the Thunderbirds.
Three juniors are on the roster including Aubrey Chandler, Janine Has The Eagle and Nashone Shambo.
Sophomores include Alliya Pretty Paint, Amy Cochran and Cassidy Shambo. Freshman include Angela Blackcrow and Nina Fox who return after playing as eighth graders a season ago. Other freshman out are Danielle Messerly, Gabrial Walker and Shailee Shambo.
The start of practice until now has been a steadily evolving process as Head Coach Corey Morgan explains, "Practice has been improving day by day. Trying to balance the offense and defensive days. Conditioning of course is a top priority right now. I think no matter how much you prepare or plan nothing ever seems like it's going the way it should. I think that's why I love sports because your able to raise the standards by not being satisfied."
As is often the case, the upperclassmen are who a coach will look to for leadership, but this group of seniors is special to Morgan, " I was fortunate enough to coach these seniors all four years and they are a good group of seniors, so I'll be looking for them to lead by example. I am also looking at our younger girls to also step as they develop throughout the season."
Coach Morgan is a competitor on the sideline and regardless of who his team is playing, he's coaching to win, "Of course expectations should always be high, so we are shooting for Saturday Night of Districts. I consider us a mix of both (young and old), we have three seniors who have a lot of experience but we also have some freshman and sophomores who have put in some good minutes and off season work."
While his teams sights are set on the Northern C Divisional, he is looking at the bigger picture, " I'm hoping we just keep flowing and raising the expectations every game. Be realistic and continue to be competitive.
The Thunderbirds began their season in Dodson this past Friday taking on the Coyotes in a non conference clash. Hays/Lodge Pole took control early on and coasted to a 63-21 rout of the Coyotes to start the season 1-0.
Chandler drained two from beyond the arc and scored eight points to help the Thunderbirds take a 13- lead into the second. Chandler added another triple before the half and Fox connected on three three-point buckets as Hays/Lodge Pole scored 24 more before the half to lead 37-15 at the break.
Hays/Lodge Pole added 13 more in each of the third and fourth quarters to win going away 63-21.
Chandler finished with four triples and 18 points in the win while Fox scored 15 including three from downtown. Shambo added 10 points to the Thunderbird tally as well.
Hays/Lodge Pole freshman Nina Fox glides in for an easy layup during the Thunderbirds season opening 63-21 win over Dodson Friday night. Fox scored 15 points in her first Varsity action of her career against the Coyotes.
This week the Thunderbirds will be in Billings to take part in the Native American Shootout at the RimRock Auto Arena at Metra Park. The Thunderbirds will first play Heart Butte Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. Saturday Hays/Lodge Pole will take on Plenty Coup at 12:00 p.m.
Hays/Lodge Pole will begin District 9C play on the road in Gildford, Friday, December 17 against the Knights. The Thunderbirds will play their first four conference games of the season on the road closing out
December with games in Big Sandy (12/18), Fort Benton (12/20) and Chinook (12/21). They will play their first home game on Friday, January 7, 2022 when they will welcome the Turner Tornadoes to the Thunderdome.
The District 9C Tournament will once again take place in Havre at the Blue Pony Gymnasium. The tournament will run from February 16-19. The top three teams will advance to the Northern C Divisional in Great Falls, February 23-26 at the Four Seasons Arena. The top two teams will then advance to the State Class C Boys & Girls State Tournament in Bozeman, March 9-12.
