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

The Chinook Sugarbeeters continue to steamroll the competition winning three games to start the new year by an average of 34.7 points. This past Tuesday the 'Beeters hosted the Chester/Joplin-Inverness Hawks and ran away from the visitors for a 67-30 win. Friday night the 'Beeters were in Harlem racing past the Lady Cats for a 56-26 win. The 'Beeters closed out the week with a home win over the Turner Tornadoes 56-30.

In their first outing of the New Year against the Hawks Tuesday night, the Sugarbeeters looked like a well oiled machine and not a team that hadn't played in two weeks. Junior Hallie Neibauer made a great defensive play at mid-court and quickly got the ball to sophomore Hannah Schoen underneath for a 2-0 lead early. Neibauer followed two possessions later with a bomb from the left elbow and a pair of free throws to grow the 'Beeter lead to 7-0.

The Hawks finally got on the scoreboard midway through the quarter. Senior Bree Swanson found Neibauer on the baseline for a midrange jumper. Schoen scored off an offensive rebound and sophomore Alexus Seymour scored going to the basket for a 14-6 'Beeter lead heading into the second quarter.

CJI scored the first four points of the quarter to trim the lead back to four, 14-10 but Chinook would quickly respond. Swanson knocked down a long two point bucket and then finished a 'Beeter break for a 18-10 lead with 4:30 remaining in the half. Neibauer took a look at the defense in front of her and quickly knifed her way to the basket for another score. Moments later junior Mya Berreth found Neibauer in the corner for a long three as the 'Beeters doubled up the Hawks 24-12.

Chinook began the third quarter holding a 26-14 advantage. Neibauer scored the first points of the quarter off a difficult shot near the rim just a minute into the quarter.

Swanson scored twice and then made a perfect entry pass in to Schoen for another score and a 34-16 'Beeter lead. Neibauer continued to score in every way. First she went two for two at the charity stripe, then she finished the fast break and followed that with another corner three for a 41-18 Chinook lead. Senior Torin Cecrle dropped in a three ball of her own pushing the lead to 44-18 with 2:17 left in the third quarter.

Chinook eased up a bit down the stretch and coasted to a 67-30 win to get the new year started off on the right foot. The 'Beeters received a big effort from Neibauer with 22 points, Swanson scored 14 and Schoen add 11 in the lopsided win.

Friday night Chinook made the short trip east to play the Harlem Lady Cats in a non-conference title. While the 'Beeters are an experienced veteran team the Lady Cats are not. Harlem has been playing much better as of late and gaining experience and it showed early on against the 'Beeters.

Chinook scored their first basket with 6:11 left in the first quarter off a 15' jumper from Seymour. Lady Cat junior Emma Billmayer scored soon after to even the contest at 2-2. The teams traded multiple possessions until Chinook finally scored again off a basket from Swanson. Harlem Head Coach, Brandon Trottier called timeout with 2:42 left in the opening quarter and the 'Beeters holding a 4-2 lead.

Following the timeout the Chinook offense began to find some continuity. Swanson knocked down a pair of free throws but Lady Cat sophomore Jayden Blackcrow dropped in a long bomb from beyond the arc to make the score 6-5. Seymour scored again and Cecrle closed out the quarter with a nice pass to Swanson for a three ball and 11-5 'Beeter lead at the end of one.

Swanson started the second quarter with a beautiful pass into Neibauer for an easy score. Neibauer then made a nice kick out pass toSeymour for a 17' jumper and a 17-5 'Beeter lead. Coming out of a Lady Cat timeout Neibauer quickly found her mark from a distance knocking down a triple. Seymour added another layup and Swanson converted twice more from the free throw line to put Chinook on top 24-7. The 'Beeters would take a 30-9 lead into halftime scoring 19 in the second quarter.

Seymour led the way for the 'Beeters, tossing in 18 points in the win. Neibauer scored 13 and Schoen contributed 10. The Lady Cats were paced by Billmayer with seven.

Saturday night at home against the Tornadoes the 'Beeters again started a bit slow before they stepped on the gas. Turner sophomore Cassidy Grabofsky scored the first points of the game on a long bomb from beyond the arc to put Turner on top 3-0 with two minutes gone. Chinook has trailed for a very short time this season and they didn't trail long Saturday night. Neibauer scored on an easy bucket inside and Seymour followed with a layup to give Chinook a 4-3 lead. Seymour again scored but the Tornadoes continued to battle. Eighth grader Ali Doyle added a layup for the Tornadoes to even the score at 6-6. The teams would trade baskets and head to the second quarter all even at 8-8.

Chinook found their way in the second getting things started with an easy score from Neibauer off the inbound. Berreth added a corner three. Swanson forced a Tornado turnover and made a nice pass to Neibauer for another bucket and a 15-8 Chinook lead. Turner quickly called timeout but the 'Beeters were still running. Neibauer made a nice spin move in the paint and then found Swanson in the corner for another three point bucket and a 20-8 lead with 4:48 left in the half.

Reed got the Turner offense back on track with a short jumper to make the score 20-10. Berreth distributes the ball very well and made a perfect entry pass over the top to Schoen for another easy score. Doyle responded for the Tornadoes but they had no answer for the 'Beeter attack.

Schoen kicked the ball out to Seymour for a jumper off the glass and a 24-12 Chinook lead. Neibauer closed out the half with another missile from beyond the arc to give Chinook a 15 point cushion heading into halftime, 27-12.

Turner kept competing all game long and again scored the first points of the half off a bucket from Reed. Neibauer converted an old fashioned three point play and converted another layup as the 'Beeter offense kept up their attack.

Junior Mya Berreth runs the offense for the 'Beeters getting the ball rolling to start each possession.

Swanson added another three point bomb and Cecrle made a razor sharp pass through the key to Berreth ensuring the route was on with Chinook holding a 39-16 lead with 3:40 left in the third quarter.

Chinook slowed things down the remainder of the way and coasted to another one sided victory 56-30. It just happened to be their closest contest of the week.

Chinook was led on the night by Neibauer with 20 points. Seymour added 14 points of her own and Swanson tossed in 10. The Tornadoes were paced offensively by Reed with 25 points. Three players each scored four in the contest.

Chinook improves to 4-0 in District 9C play and 7-0 overall. The 'Beeters have yet to be challenged in any contest and have trailed on a just a handful of possessions. This Friday the girls will be in Gildford to take on the North Star Knights, the only other undefeated team in the District 9C. Saturday they will host the Fort Benton Longhorns.