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

The Chinook Sugarbeeters were a fun team to watch a season ago, with a fast break offense and high flying dunks they certainly entertained the crowd. Like every team they lost a few solid contributors on both sides of the ball graduating three seniors but return a very athletic team that will compete very well in the District 9C once again.

The 'Beeters are again being led by Head Coach, Chad Jones and his Assistant Coach, Scott Schmitt. Jones is in his second season as Head Coach after serving as an assistant for many years.

Returning this year are senior starters Brendan Fetter and Levi Jensen. Senior Flint Annis is listed at 6'2" but is more than capable of holding his own in the post. Senior Braxton Inman is a do whatever you ask type of player and rounds out a solid group of senior leaders.

Juniors this season include Wylee Simenson, Jackson Nordboe and Quentin Edwards. Sophomores looking to play a bigger roll in year two are Landen Beck and Carson Nissen.

Rounding out the 'Beeter junior varsity roster are senior Ryan Meneely, junior Danny MacKenzie and Riley Jorgenson. Sophomores include Jacob Metcalf, Brockton Elliot, Lance Pitkanen and Kalled Jaha. Freshman Britt Powell completes the 2022-23 'Beeter roster.

"We're running five seniors this year, all of those guys and couple others have good experience and logged a lot of minutes last year," said Jones. "Levi, Fetter, both started, Braxton and Flint came off the bench. Flint, Braxton, Jackson those guys got a lot of minutes and were really involved with everything that we were doing so they have a lot of experience and of course were at Divisional last year."

Jones' roster also includes a group that will be called on to contribute more this season, "Wylee along with sophomores Carson and Landon are going to be a big part of the rotation this year. Both Carson and Landon have grown a little bit. I have always looked at that class, that's pretty much raw work ethic. Those guys are always in the weight room. They are pretty competitive and their ball handling has come around quit a bit."

Jones is confident with his senior post, "On paper he's the best shooter we have on the floor by far. I've told the guys he gets the ball down there and the vast majority of the time Flint is going to score. Another big strong guy with a tremendous work ethic."

Offensively the 'Beeters are spread out, "Last year we had a couple of guys that could give you 10-15 points a night. This year we are going to be more of a team that can get 6-10 points from seven players each night. We're pretty level across those seven, eight guys in the rotation."

Defence is the priority this year, "Our goal is defensive intensity, long athletic kids. Throw the shot clock in with that, thirty five seconds is a ton of time so we need to be able to compete."

Offensively Jones has his ideas, "What I want to get to is being able to play at the pace we want to play at. I want to play a little more fast and loose this year. Ideally we play tough defence, get steals and layups and the shot clock is irrelevant," said Jones.

Reality is there will be plenty of times the shot clock comes into play, "Now there is going to be a lot of last second shots because of the shot clock, so in that case we want to get those rebounds and get more time on the other end. Jump balls, out of bounds plays late in the shot clock can cause momentum swings."

What does he expect out of his team this season? "I think we will be really competitive and make a good run in the post season and we got the kids to do some damage this year."

The 'Beeters will head to Shelby to take part in the Coyotes Preseason Tournament. The 'Beeters will open play with a 4:30 tip off against the Cut Bank Wolves of the District 1B on Friday, December 9. Saturday, December 10, the boys will face another team from the District 1B as they will take on the Shelby Coyotes, also with a 4:30 pm tip off.

The 'Beeters will begin District 9C play with a road trip to Big Sandy where they will face the Pioneers on Friday, December 16. The 'Beeters will then play at home for the first time the following night when they will host the Box Elder Bears. The 'Beeters will close out 2022 on the road against the Thunderbirds in Hays on December 21.

Chinook will return to the court in 2023 when they will make a short road trip east to take on the Harlem Wildcats on Friday, January 6. Chinook will return home to challenge the Turner Tornadoes on January 7.

Chinook seniors Brenden Fetter, left, Flint Annis, middle and Levi Jensen, right all played big rolls a season ago for the 'Beeters. This year Head Coach Chad Jones looks to play a more up tempo style of offense as well as a pressure defense and these three will again be counted on to fill those roles with their athleticism, length and strength.

The remaining regular season schedule has the 'Beeters on the road January 13 against the North Star Knights. Home games will follow against Fort Benton on January 14 and Big Sandy January 19. The team schedule then lists a pair of road contest, the first on January 21 in Box Elder and then Chester on January 22.

Home games with Hays/Lodge Pole January 28 and Harlem, February 3 will follow. A road contest in Turner is scheduled for February 4 and Senior Night will take place on

February 10 against North Star. The regular season finale will be in Fort Benton, February 11.

The District 9C Tournament will again be held at Havre High School and will run from February 15-18, the top three teams from the District 9C Tournament will move on to the Northern C Divisional in Great Falls. The Northern C features a nine team format and will be held at the Four Seasons Arena February 22-25.

The top two teams from the Northern C Divisional will then move on to the Class C State Tournament in Billings, March 8-11. The State C Tournament will be played at Rimrock Auto Arena at Metra Park.