Big Sandy, North Star Get by Turner in 9C Action, Thunderbirds Fall to Box Elder

 

January 18, 2023



The Turner Tornadoes were in Big Sandy Friday night to take on the Pioneers. Big Sandy started fast and the Tornadoes could never get any footing in the contest in a 60-37 loss. The North Star Knights were in Turner on Saturday and doubled up the Tornadoes by halftime en-route to a 59-43 win over the Tornadoes. The Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds had just one game this week, a Saturday afternoon contest with the Box Elder Bears. A slow start doomed the Thunderbirds right from the opening tip as Box Elder stayed the course in a 53-36 win over the Thunderbirds.

Friday night in Big Sandy the Tornado offense struggled to find any rhythm early on. The Tornadoes managed just two buckets one each from senior Dakota Krass and sophomore Bridget Reed. The Pioneers scored 14 in the opening eight minute to take a ten point lead heading into the second quarter.

Eighth grader Ali Doyle ignited the Tornado offense in the second, dropping in a long three point bucket and scoring seven before the half. Krass added a triple of her own in a 14 point quarter for the Tornadoes. Big Sandy still had their offense firing on all cylinders though and led 36-18 heading into halftime.

Junior Natalie Richman led the Tornado offense in the third quarter, scoring six of the teams 10 points. The defense still couldn’t slow down the Pioneer attack and Turner trailed 52-28 heading into the fourth quarter of action.

The Tornadoes continued to play hard down the stretch but the Pioneers held all the cards and coasted to a 60-37 win over the Tornadoes. Krass led the Tornado attack with 12 points while Doyle finished with 11 points in the contest.

Saturday Turner was back home as they hosted the North Star Knights in front of an always supportive home town crowd. The Tornadoes got three point buckets from Krass and sophomore Cassidy Grabofsky early in a ten point first quarter. The Turner defense however still continued to give up points, allowing North Star to score 19 in the opening quarter to open up a nine point advantage heading into the second quarter of action.

Turner got a triple from sophomore Meridian Snider and five of the teams 12 third quarter points. The defense held the Knights in check but the Tornadoes couldn’t trim anything off the North star advantage.

North Star began the fourth quarter with a 44-28 advantage and maintained the spread the rest of the way. Both teams notched 16 points in the fourth quarter leading to a North Star 59-43 win over the Tornadoes. Krass led the Tornado effort with 11 points. Reed and Grabofsky each chipped in eight in the contest.

Saturday afternoon the Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds welcomed the Box Elder Bears to the Thunderdome. The Bears had the offense rolling early on and the Thunderbirds couldn’t get the car started, Box Elder raced out to a 18-3 lead after eight minutes of action setting the tempo for the remainder of the contest.

The second quarter was much more competitive but still went the way of the visitors. The Thunderbirds score eight in the frame getting four points from junior Alliya Pretty Paint. The Bears put up 11 in the quarter and led 28-11 heading into halftime.

Box Elder extended their advantage down the stretch outscoring the Thunderbirds 15-9 to secure a 53-36 win over Hays/Lodge Pole. Sophomore Nina Fox paced the Thunderbirds with 11 points in the contest. Pretty Paint finished with eight.

The Thunderbirds and Chinook Sugarbeeters made up their game that was postponed from December 21 on Tuesday. Results from this contest will be included in next weeks Blaine County Journal. The game was postponed originally due to excessive snow and extreme cold. The Thunderbirds will be at Rocky Boy on Thursday and at Box Elder on Saturday. Turner will be on the road Friday to face Fort Benton and then host Chester/Joplin-Inverness on Saturday.

 
 

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