The Chinook Sugarbeeters have been a vastly improved team as of late. After a tenuous start to the season in December, the team has come together and strung some quality outings together. This past week they concluded their regular season with the straight conference wins and head to the post season on a roll.

Monday the 'Beeters were in Hays to take on the Thunderbirds and escaped with a hard fought 47-41 overtime victory. The 'Beeters were back in action on Friday as they hit the road for a contest with the North Star Knights. After a bit of a sluggish start they pulled out a 58-50 win over the Knights. Saturday they honored their seniors before beating the Fort Benton Longhorns 48-40 to close out the regular season.

The first meeting between the Thunderbirds and the Sugarbeeters was a barn burner that went down to the wire with Chinook winning at the end of double overtime 62-59. The second meeting wouldn't need two overtimes to decide the outcome, but extra time was still needed.

Sophomore RJ Blackcrow found his mark from distance early on and the Thunderbirds took a 11-7 lead early on. The 'Beeters strong suit all season long has been their defensive effort and that was again on full display on Monday night. Chinook held the Thunderbirds scoreless in the second quarter while the offense scored eight to secure a 15-11 halftime lead.

Junior Daniel Henry ignited the Thunderbird offense after the break with a trio of three-point bombs to bring Hays/Lodge Pole back. Senior Toby Niederegger connected from distance for the Sugarbeeters to tighten things up heading into the fourth quarter with Hays/Lodge Pole on top 27-26.

The defenses for both teams rallied down the stretch but senior Oskar Pula scored five points in the fourth to help the Sugarbeeter even the score 34-34 at the end of regulation. Pula added six more in the extra frame, including four for four from the charity stripe, leading the way to a 47-41 Sugarbeeter victory.

Pula led the 'Beeters with 20 points while Niederegger fished with 12. Henry led the Thunderbirds with 12 points, all coming from beyond the arc.

Friday the 'Beeters hit the road and headed to Gildford to take on the North Star Knights. The two teams struggled a bit offensively early on and ended the first quarter all even at 8-8. Niederegger scored six in the opening frame and eight in the first half to steady the offense against the Knights.

The 'Beeters began the third quarter all knotted up with the Knights at 21-21. The offense started to click in the third quarter. Niederegger scored eight and Pula started to find some rhythm, scoring five to help Chinook take a 36-33 into the fourth quarter.

Chinook kicked their attack up a notch and outran the Knights down the stretch. Chinook scored 22 fourth quarter points to rally the team to a 58-50 win over the Knights. Junior Brenden Fetter scored six of his 12 points in the fourth quarter to help the 'Beeters secure the win. Niederegger led the 'Beeter attack with 20 points and Pula finished with 17.

Saturday the 'Beeters were back in the Factory, with the Fort Benton Longhorns providing the opposition. The Sugarbeeters honored their seniors earlier in the night and were looking for a solid showing in the season finale.

The first half was again a solid defensive effort for the Sugarbeeters and both teams matched the other on the scoreboard. The Longhorns maintained a slim lead for much of the first half, leading 13-11 after eight minutes of action and 21-20 at the break.

Niederegger kept the 'Beeters close in the first half, scoring seven points in the first quarter and six in the second to power the 'Beeter attack. A monster two handed slam by junior Brenden Fetter late in the half provided a spark to the 'Beeter offense late.

Niederegger dropped in three buckets from distance in the third quarter to wake up the offense and give the 'Beeters a 33-30 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Niederegger scored 16 second half points for the 'Beeters and 29 for the game to power Chinook to a 48-40 win over the Longhorns. Fetter finished the contest with 11 points.

The Sugarbeeters finished the regular season with a 9-4 record in the District 9C and 10-6 overall. They will be the No. 4 Seed at the District 9C Tournament in Havre this week. The tournament gets underway today, February 16 and concludes with the boys championship on Friday night.

Chinook junior Brenden Fetter converts at the rim late in the first half against the Fort Benton Longhorns Saturday night. The two teams will meet again Wednesday (Today) at the District 9C Tournament in Havre.

Chinook will begin play at the District 9C Tournament this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. against the Fort Benton Longhorns. The top three teams at the conclusion of the District 9C Tournament will advance to the Northern C Divisional in Great Falls next week at the Four Seasons Arena.