The Harlem Wildcats took part in the Class B Tip Off Tournament in Billings this past weekend. The tournament, held at Lockwood High School, featured a number of top Class B teams and presented a stiff challenge for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats are very young this season with just four players having very limited varsity experience. The Wildcats were defeated twice in Billings, falling to Huntley Project 81-60 on Friday and to Lodge Grass 86-43 on Saturday.
Friday the Wildcats turned in a good effort over the course of the first two quarters playing a fast paced game that they had some success with and entered halftime trailing 41-31. The second half was a little different and their inexperience started to show. Despite playing hard the Wildcats fell to Huntley 81-60. Senior Marley Stewart led the way with 15 points in the contest.
Saturday the Wildcats gave their best effort all four quarters but a veteran championship calibre Lodge Grass team was simply to much to overcome.
The Indians stormed out to a 19-9 lead over the Wildcats at the end of one and extended their advantage to 39-19 by halftime. Lodge Grass outscored Harlem 21-8 in the third to take complete control of the contest. The wildcats continued to play hard and get up and down the court in a fast paced style of play. When the final horn sounded the Lodge Grass Indians had doubled up the Wildcats 86-43.
Stewart again led the Wildcats in the scoring column with 15 points. Senior Terrance Messerly finished with 10 points in the contest while junior Tommy Champagne added six.
The Wildcats will head to Malta this Friday as they begin their District 2B Conference schedule. They will return to the Jungle to play in front of the hone town fans for the first time this season on Saturday against the Poplar Indians. They will close out 2022 in Cut Bank on Thursday, December 22.