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

The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds were in Chinook this past Tuesday for District 9C contest to close out the 2021 schedule for both teams. The early part of the schedule has left both teams wanting more. Tuesday night they left everything on the court in a double overtime thriller that had fans on the edge of their seats late into the night. At its conclusion it was the Sugarbeeters walking away with an exhausting 62-59 win.

Both teams entered Tuesdays contest feeling a little snake bit to start the season. The Thunderbirds (1-4) and Sugarbeeters (1-3) both suffered a pair of conference losses a week as District 9C play got underway. Heading into the holiday break with that first conference win under their belt was something both teams had in mind.

The Thunderbirds got on the board first with a trio of baskets from junior Brandon Castillo, sophomore RJ Blackcrow and sophomore Jacoby Ball to grab an early 6-0 lead. Senior Oskar Pula got Chinook on the board with a nice move cutting to the basket. Sophomore Jackson Nordboe found senior Braden Eoff on the wing for a long three to trip the Thunderbird advantage back to one, 6-5 with 3:20 left in the opening quarter.

Nordboe turned defense into offense with a steal and layup to give Chinook its first lead at 7-6. Both teams clearly came to play and the feeling out process didn't take long with both offenses batting the others defense and for the most part both defenses responded. Play was fast and furious with neither team looking to give an inch.

Castillo connected on a pair from the charity stripe to give the Thunderbirds the lead back 8-7. Eoff went the other way with a drive to the basket quickly responding for the 'Beeters. Senior Tyshawn Shambo's free throw evened the contest at 9-9 setting the stage for a thrilling night of basketball.

Pula was active on the glass for the 'Beeters converting an offensive rebound into points and adding the free throw that followed. The Thunderbirds were whistled for back to back charges leading to a basket by junior Brenden Fetter for a 14-9 'Beeter lead. Hays/Lodge Pole added a Castillo free throw making the score 14-10 at the end of the first quarter.

Nordboe's second basket of the quarter gave the 'Beeters a 20-13 lead with 5:40 left in the opening half. Pula scooped a loose ball off the floor at mid-court and beat the defender to the basket for a big two handed slam and a 22-13 lead. Chinook finished the half strong, getting mid range jumper from Eoff at the top of the key, a basket from senior Toby Niederegger, and a strong finish from Pula to hold a thirteen point, 28-15 halftime advantage.

The Thunderbirds were determined to get back in the game and attacked the 'Beeter defense right away. Castillo dropped in a pair of free throws and Shambo got to the line and converted one of his own to cut the lead back to ten, 28-18. Shambo and Ball scored twice for the Thunderbirds to keep them close but junior Levi Jensen scored twice for the 'Beeters in response. Niederegger ended the back and forth with a long ball from beyond the arc to push the Chinook lead to fourteen, 38-24 with 1:38 remaining in the third quarter.

Head Coach, Shakayla Whitecow, called a timeout in hopes of getting her Thunderbird team back on track. Coming out of the timeout junior Daniel Henry connected from downtown and Ball added a pair from the line. Junior William Has The Eagle scored going to the basket as time was winding down. Hays/Lodge Pole closed out the quarter strong, cutting the lead to seven heading into the fourth quarter, 38-31.

The fireworks were just beginning as both teams faced foul trouble and a lot of basketball was yet to be played. Nordboe scored the first points of the fourth only to see Has The Eagle knock down a dagger from beyond the arc to fire up the Thunderbird cheering section. Has the Eagled converted two from the line to keep the Thunderbirds in striking distance, 42-36 with 6:18 remaining on the game clock.

Hays/Lodge Pole continued to be relentless in their attack and cut the lead to four, 45-41 following a triple from Henry. The 'Beeters were steady on the boards with Pula cleaning the glass for another offensive rebound score to push the lead back to six. The 'Beeters held a 49-46 lead heading into the final minute. Shambo closed the gap to one with a pair of free throws and then found himself at the line for a pair with :28 left on the game clock. Shambo missed the front end but knocked down the second.

Shambo was back at the line just ten seconds later and gave the Thunderbirds a 50-49 lead. Junior Cash Messerly added a free throw with :16.8 left to put the Thunderbirds on top 51-49. Niederegger attacked the basket on the other end drawing a foul and a chance to even the game with :10.7 left on the game clock. With ice in his veins Niederegger converted both to send the game to overtime tied at 51-51.

The teams traded possessions to start the overtime. Niederegger collected an offensive board for a bucket to give Chinook a 53-51 lead. Both teams played hard nosed defense with neither giving the other anything to look at on the offensive end. After nearly two minutes of scoreless action Castillo drove hard down the lane dropping in a little floater to even the game back up at 53-53 with 1:38 showing on the clock.

Jensen added a free throw moments later to give Chinook back a one point lead. The Thunderbirds continued to fire away from beyond the arc and Messerly connected from long range to give the Thunderbirds their first lead of the contest since early in the first quarter, 56-54 with 1:13 remaining. Jensen answered right back taking a pass from Niederegger and knocking down a twelve foot baseline jumper with sixty seconds remaining. Both teams had their chances the final minute, but once again both defenses held their ground sending the game to a second overtime even at 56-56.

Castillo converted a pair from the free throw line a minute into the second overtime to put Hays/Lodge Pole on top 58-56. After a wild back and forth scrum Niederegger ended up the line converting one of two to trim the Thunderbird lead to one 58-57 with 2:23 showing on the clock.

Blackcrow add a free throw for the Thunderbirds to push the lead back to two 59-57. The Thunderbirds had a chance to extend their advantage following a long possession that ended up with a missed opportunity at the line giving the 'Beeters back the ball.

Niederegger made the most of the possession driving hard to the basket for the game tying score. Junior Flint Annis did his part for the 'Beeters in the paint collecting an offensive rebound and drawing a foul in the process. Annis was clutch converting on both attempts to give the 'Beeters back the lead 61-59 with just :45 remaining.

Junior Cash Messerly gives the Thunderbirds a 56-54 lead in the first overtime of their game with Chinook last Tuesday night.

The Thunderbirds missed two from the line with time winding down. Annis added another to make the lead 62-59 with just seventeen seconds remaining. The Thunderbirds were unable to get anything to fall down the stretch. The 'Beeters picked up their first conference win of the season in a nail-biting, double overtime 62-59 win over the Thunderbirds.

The 'Beeters were led on the night by Niederegger with 15 points. Pula contributed 13 in the win while Nordboe finished with 10. For the Thunderbirds, they were paced in the scoring column by Ball with 14. Shambo added 13 on the night with 12 coming in the second half and overtime. Castillo scored nine and Has The Eagle added eight to the Thunderbird effort.

Both teams will use the holiday break to work on things the coaches have seen during the first third of the season and work to improve on. Chinook will return to the court in the new year on Tuesday, January 4 when they will head to Chester to face the Hawks. Hays/Lodge Pole will take the court for the first time on Friday, January 7 when they will welcome the Turner Tornadoes to the Thunderdome.