The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbird girls varsity basketball team finished the regular season with a flurry, closing out the regular season with six games in nine days. This week the Thunderbirds played four contests, all at home. Monday they defeated the No. 2 Chinook Sugarbeeters 39-34 in a huge contest for the Thunderbirds. On Tuesday the girls took down Big Sandy 55-41, then on Thursday they beat the North Star Knights 57-44 before falling to Box Elder 54-42 in the regular season finale.

Monday night the Thunderbirds were looking to even their season series with the Chinook Sugarbeeters. Hays/Lodge Pole got the start they were looking for with all five starters finding the scoring column early on. Sophomore Alliya Pretty Paint connected from beyond the arc for the Thunderbirds as they took a 15-6 lead into the second quarter.

The defenses for both teams took over in the second quarter. The Thunderbirds managed just five points in the stanza while the Sugarbeeters scored seven. The Thunderbirds maintained a 20-13 advantage at the break. The third quarter featured a bit more scoring. Chinook junior Bree Swanson scored five points, including a triple and Pretty Paint scored six for Hays/Lodge Pole.

The Thunderbirds led 31-26 to start the fourth and did what was needed to keep the Sugarbeeters at bay down the stretch. Despite their struggles at the free throw line the Thunderbirds maintained their five point advantage down the stretch and secured a 39-34 win. Hays/Lodge Pole finished the game just 8-35 from the charity stripe in notching the big conference win. Pretty Paint led the Thunderbirds with 14 points while Neibauer scored a team high 12 for the 'Beeters

Tuesday against the Pioneers, Hays/Lodge Pole was looking to keep the ball rolling and add to their win streak. Junior Nashone Shambo buried a three-point bomb and scored seven first quarter points to kick start the offense. Senior Judemia Grey added seven points of her own in the frame helping the Thunderbirds take a 16-11 lead.

Shambo added another triple before the half and senior Jaedyn Chandler got into the action with a pair from distance as well, scoring eight in the second quarter. Hays/Lodge Pole led 34-21 at the halftime intermission. The Thunderbirds extended their lead to 47-31 at the end of three and coasted to a 55-41 win over the Pioneers. Shambo finished with a game high 22 points in the win.

Thursday the North Star Knights visited the Thunderdome, providing the Thunderbirds with another opportunity to avenge an early season loss. The Thunderbirds got long balls from Chandler and Pretty Paint early on and built a 19-10 lead after eight minutes of action. The lead grew to 32-20 by halftime paving the way for a comfortable 57-44 win over the Knights. Pretty Paint led the offensive attack with 17 points while Grey scored 14.

Saturday the No. 1 Seed Box Elder Bear came to town and looked to firing on all cylinders early on. Box Elder built a 17-0 lead early but the Thunderbirds rallied and closed the gap to a single point 25-23 by half time. Shambo scored nine and Chandler six in leading the Thunderbird comeback.

Pretty Paint and Chandler each connected from downtown in the third to help the Thunderbirds stay close. Box Elder took a slim 34-33 lead into the fourth quarter of action.

The Bears were too much down the stretch and the Thunderbirds were out of gas after battling back from the big deficit early. Box Elder outscored the Thunderbirds 20-9 the final eight minutes to earn a 54-42 win and end the Thunderbirds win streak. Chandler led Hays/Lodge Pole with 13 points, Pretty Paint added 12 and Shambo 11 in the loss.

Freshman Nina Fox goes hard to the basket Saturday against the Bears. Fox has been a huge contributor to the Thunderbirds success this year.

The Thunderbirds improved to 9-5 in the District 9C and 13-5 overall. Their strong finish moved them up in the standing and they will be the No. 3 Seed at the District 9C Tournament in Havre week. Hays/Lodge Pole will begin play Thursday against the No. 6 Seed Chester/Joplin-Inverness Hawks with tip off set for 4:00 p.m. The top three teams from the District 9C Tournament will advance to next weeks Northern C Divisional being played at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls.