T-birds Beat Rocky Boy, Fall to North Star, Big Sandy
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Sophomore Gabriel Walker scored 14 points Tuesday night in the Thunderbirds 51-36 win over the Rocky Boy Morning Stars
The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds took on the District 1B Rocky Boy Northern Stars last Tuesday. It was the home opener for the Thunderbirds and it also marked the first time they had faced the Morning Stars since they made the move to Class B following the 2009 season.
The Thunderbirds were shorthanded, dressing just six players. The Thunderbirds set the tone early with an effective attack offensively while also playing outstanding defense.
Junior Imagin Fox scored seven first quarter points and sophomore Nina Fox drilled one from downtown to lead the Thunderbirds to a 14-3 lead at the end of the first quarter of play.
Nina Fox connected again from distance and added six points to her total in the second quarter. Sophomores Angela Blackcrow and Gabrielle Walker each scored providing the final points that earned Hays/Lodge Pole a 24-16 halftime lead.
Hays/Lodge Pole continued their steady attack and made their six man rotation pay dividends. Nina Fox scored twice more in the third and senior Shauntae Hawley added a couple of buckets to help the Thunderbirds push their lead to 35-24 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Walker had a huge fourth quarter scoring 10 of the teams 16 points down the stretch leading the Thunderbirds to a 51-36 win. Nina Fox and Walker each scored 14 for the Thunderbirds in the contest. With the win Hays/Lodge Pole earned its third win to start the season.
Things were decidedly different in Gildford on Friday night in Hays/Lodge Pole's District 9C Conference opener. Still shorthanded the Thunderbirds couldn't get anything going early against the North Star Knights. Hays/Lodge Pole managed just two point in the opening quarter and trailed 14-2.
The offense didn't get much better in quarter number two and with momentum securely in their corner North Star took complete control of the game outscoring the Thunderbirds 22-5 in the quarter to lead 36-7 at the break.
North Star doubled up Hays/Lodge Pole in the third quarter 14-7 and coasted to a 51-17 win to hand the Thunderbirds their first loss of the season. Nina Fox scored seven in the loss.
Saturday at home against the Big Sandy Pioneers the Thunderbirds again struggled early on. Walker scored four points for the Thunderbirds early on but they trailed the Pioneers 23-12 heading into the second quarter.
Junior Alliya Pretty Paint knocked down a triple and scored six second quarter points for the Big Sandy lead. The Pioneers took a 36-23 lead into halftime.
Coming out of the break the Thunderbirds offensive struggles continued as they managed just seven third quarter points. Hays/Lodge Pole add 10 points to their total in the fourth quarter but it wasn't enough. Big Sandy collected a 56-40 win to drop Hays/Lodge Pole to 3-2 on the season. Blackcrow led the Thunderbirds offensively with 13 points on the night. PrettyPaint added nine points to the Thunderbird total.
