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

The Chinook Sugarbeeters and Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds met for the second time in a span of eleven days. Chinook won the first meeting in a closely contested contest in Hays 55-48. This time around in Chinook was an epic thriller between the two teams in the Floyd Bowen Gymnasium. 32 minutes wasn't enough time to decide the outcome in a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats. In the end the 'Beeters edged out the Thunderbirds 79-77 in double overtime.

Hays/Lodge Pole junior Jacoby Ball connected from the charity stripe for the first point of the game. Chinook senior Brenden Fetter answered back with a baseline jumper for a 2-1 'Beeter lead and what was the first of many lead changes throughout the night. Senior Cash Messerly connected from down town, moments later senior Daniel Henry converted on an offensive rebound to give the Thunderbirds a 7-2 advantage. Hays/Lodge Pole held a 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Thunderbirds took a 21-12 lead following an offensive rebound and basket from junior Jacoby Ball. Chinook responded with a 17' jumper from sophomore Carson Nissen, a mid range jumper from Fetter and an offensive rebound put back from senior Flint Annis to trim the Thunderbird lead to 21-18. Chinook regained the lead, 23-22 with 2:53 left in the half on a three ball from Fetter.

Thunderbird senior William Has Eagle then dialed in from long distance. Has Eagle dropped in a three from well beyond the arc for a 25-23 Thunderbird lead. The very next possession Has Eagle pulled up from even deeper and knocked down another triple. Messerly connected from distance moments later to push the Thunderbird lead to six, 31-25 with 1:25 left in the half. Hays/Lodge Pole led 31-28 at the break.

Fetter started the third quarter with a strong take to the basket for a bucket and hit the free throw to even the contest at 31-31. Ball and senior Davontae Sullivan each scored on offensive put backs to help the Thunderbirds push the lead to 45-37 late in the third quarter.

Has Eagle opened the fourth with an easy bucket off the inbound to extend the Hays/LP lead to 49-45. Annis collected an offensive rebound and scored moments later to bring Chinook back within one 49-48 with 4:15 left on the game clock. Has Eagle again came up big for the Thunderbirds converting a and one to put the Thunderbirds back up four. Chinook finally caught the Thunderbirds at 52-52 following a steal from Fetter and an acrobatic finish at the rim.

Fetter connected twice from the line to give Chinook a 54-52 advantage late. Once again Has Eagle was clutch, evening the contest with a strong move in the paint. Fetter connected on a long corner three and with :45 remaining. Senior Braxton Inman scored off an offensive rebound to put Chinook up 59-56. The Thunderbirds needed a big time play and Has Eagle again provided it, draining a deep three with :16.5 remaining to even the score at 59-59 and force overtime.

Chinook scored first in the extra frame off an old fashion three point play from Fetter making the score 62-59. Messerly responded for the Thunderbirds with a floater in the key. Nordboe scored moments later inside off a perfect pass from Fetter to give Chinook 64-61 advantage. Ball answered the Bell this time for the Thunderbirds with back to back buckets in the paint as Hays/LP retook the lead 66-64. With their backs against the wall the 'Beeters needed a bucket and they got it from Nordboe off an offensive rebound and score to even the contest at 66-66 and force a second overtime.

Fetter opened the scoring in the extra period once again to put Chinook up two. Fetter then made a great play as the Thunderbirds attempted to get the ball up court, making the steal and beating two defenders to the rim for an emphatic two hand dunk that sent the 'Beeter fans into a frenzy. Nordboe took a long pass from Inman on the break, let the defender fly by and scored to put Chinook up six, 72-66. Messerly dropped in a NBA three to cut the lead in half. Henry followed with score inside and suddenly the lead was back to one, 72-71.

Has Eagle gave the Thunderbirds back the lead with another strong inside move 74-73. With just :43 ticks on the clock sophomore Carson Nissen drained a long two point bucket in the left corner giving the 'Beeters the lead once again. Hays/LP senior Davontae Sullivan knocked down a free throw for a 74-74 tie game. With time winding down Fetter soared to the basket, double clutched his shot and scored, drawing the foul and converting the free throw for a 77-74 lead with :29 remaining. Nissen added a jumper moments later to push the lead to five 79-74. Has Eagle dropped in a shot from just inside half court proving the final points in a 79-77 'Beeter win.

Fetter led all scorers with 39 points, Nordboe finished with 13 and Annis 12 for the 'Beeters. Hays/Lodge Pole was led by Has Eagle with 30 points including five from way down town. Ball added 16 and Messerly and Henry each scored 14

Hays/Lodge Pole senior William Has Eagle knocks down a long three to even the score at 59-59. Has Eagle dropped in 30 points on the night including five from beyond the arc

The Sugarbeeters began the week in Chester where they struggled early on and could never recover. The Hawks took a 21-6 lead over the 'Beeters at the end of one and extended the margin to 37-20 by halftime. The 'Beeters struggled to find any continuity on either end of the court in the second half. Chester/J-I pushed the lead to 37-25 heading into the fourth quarter and walked away with a 67-35 win over the 'Beeters. Chinook was led in the contest by Jensen with 10 points.

The Thunderbirds began the week at home in a contest with the Fort Benton Longhorns. The Thunderbirds were a much improved team from the first meeting between the teams in Fort Benton. Hays/Lodge Pole received quit a boost with recent roster additions but it wasn't enough against the Longhorns. Fort Benton led 28-13 at the end of one and 41-28 by halftime. The Longhorns maintained the advantage throughout the second half and secured a 62-49 win over the Thunderbirds. Eight Thunderbirds found the scoring column led by junior Jacoby Ball with nine.