The final hurrah for our local high school basketball fans happened this past Wednesday in Rudyard, Montana. The Annual District 9C Senior Classic once again took place. This event is something special and gives our graduating seniors, their friends and families. Years from now everyone in attendance will remember a fun and enjoyable sendoff that will serve as a great memory of their 'Glory' days.

This year the Senior Classic extended an invitation to underclassmen that were selected to the District 9C All-Conference teams as well, making the night even better. The schedule of events included a boys and girls game with all players available split into a Light and Dark Team. The girls played first and were followed by the boys contest. In addition, there was a three-point contest for the girls and boys as well as a Slam Dunk Contest and Shooting Skills Contest. Also Sportsmanship Awards were handed out at the conclusion of the night.

The White Team for the girls was coached by Chinook Head Coach, Mike Jones and included Hays/Lodge Pole sophomore Alliyah Pretty Paint, senior Jaedyn Chandler and junior Nashone Shambo. Chinook senior Allison Powell and Turner junior Dakota Krass rounded out our local contingent. Joining our Blaine County athletes on the White team were Laynie Sattoriva (North Star), Mariah Arkinson (Box Elder), Breanna Bacon (Box Elder) and Kaytlyn Domire (North Star).

The Dark Team for the girls was coached North Star's Scott Bymaster. Chinook was represented by junior Bree Swanson and sophomore Hallie Neibauer. Hays/Lodge Pole seniors Judemia Gray and Tahtianna Whitecow represented the Thunderbirds. The remainder of the Dark team included Angela Gopher (Box Elder), Ashlee Wang (Fort Benton), Annalise Johnson (Box Elder), Laramie Peterson (North Star), Tatum Hull (Chester-Joplin-Inverness), Makaela Kelly (Box Elder).

It was a fun evenly contested contest with White team edging out the Dark team 67-64. The Bears Mariah Arkinson and Angela Gopher were the games Most Valuable Players. Pretty Paint scored 11, Shambo seven, Chandler five, Krass two and Powell two for the White team. For the Dark team Gray scored six, Swanson four and Neibauer and Whitecow each finished with two. Chandler was also a Sportsmanship winner for the Girls Game.

In the Boys contest it was the White Team topping the Dark Team 82-75. The White Team was coached by Chester/J-I Head Coach Joe Horel. Blaine County athletes on the White Team included Chinook seniors Toby Niederegger, Braden Eoff and Turner senior Shay Humphreys. Others on the roster were Braydon Cline (Big Sandy), Lane Demontiney (Big Sandy), Kyle Harmon (Chester/J-I) 8, Andrew Ballantyne (Fort Benton), Rhett Wolery (North Star), Kody Strutz (Big Sandy), Tristan Standing Rock (Box Elder) and Trevin Grammar (Chester/J-I).

The Dark Team was coached by Big Sandy's Thomas Dilworth and included Hays/Lodge Pole senior Tyshawn Shambo as well as Chinook seniors Oskar Pula and Hunter Molyneaux. Turner seniors Trever Kimmel and Shay Humphreys rounded out the Blaine County contingent. Also on the roster were Garrett Spicher (North Star), Gabe Saddler (Box Elder) 11, Jackson Schmele (Fort Benton) 7, Blake Harmon (Chester/J-I), Tyrus LaMere (Box Elder) and Jacob Giles (Fort Benton).

The Most Valuable Players of the game were Niederegger for the White team with 20 points and Shambo for the Dark team with 15 points in the contest. Also scoring for the White team were Eoff with six and Humphreys with two. For the Dark team Pula added 13 points in the contest. Kimmel added three points and Molyneaux finished with two. The Sportsmanship Award for the boys game went to Chinook's Braden Eoff.

The 'Beeters were well represented in the Three-Point Contest for the boys. Eoff took home top honors, winning the event with 28 made shots. Niederegger was second with 27 made baskets. Box Elder's Makaela Kelly won the Girls Three-point contest with 33 baskets to edge out Chester/J-I senior Tatum Hull who finished with 30.

The Boys White and Dark Teams provide a photo opportunity for friends and family at the 9C Senior Classic in Rudyard last Wednesday. It was a great way to conclude the 2021-22 High School basketball season on the Hi-line

The Shooting Stars Competition was won by the Jazz Team and included a couple of Lady Thunderbirds Nashone Shambo and Tahtianna Morgan who combined their efforts with Fort Benton's Jackson Schmele to win the event. The Boys Slam Dunk Champion was none other than Chinook senior Oskar Pula. Pula rattled the rim plenty of times during his senior season, electrifying gyms across the Hi-line.