'Beeters Thump North Star 74-46, Tornadoes outlast Knights 58-56, Teams Head to Districts

 

February 15, 2023

Chinook senior Braxton Inman scores inside Friday night during the 'Beeters 74-46 win over the North Star Knights.

It was a wild weekend on the hardwood for Blaine County boy's basketball. The Chinook Sugarbeeters closed out the their home schedule Friday night with a 74-46 thumping of the North Star Knights. Saturday the team was in Fort Benton to take on the Longhorns. Chinook struggled early and couldn't rebound in a 59-39 loss to conclude their regular season schedule. The Turner Tornadoes fell at home Friday night to the Big Sandy Pioneers 64-35 but bounced back nicely in Gildford Saturday holding on to beat the North Star Knights 58-56.

The Harlem Wildcats began the week in Box Elder last Tuesday where they fell to the Bears 83-49. Saturday the Wildcats closed out the regular season in Glasgow with a 69-45 setback to the Scotties. The Thunderbirds put up a ton of points Saturday in their regular season finale in Box Elder. Hays Lodge Pole connected for nine three point bombs and scored 71 points. Problem was that the Bears hit 15 from beyond the arc and scored 109 points. The teams combined for 180 points or just over six points a minute for the whole contest.

Friday night in Chinook the Sugarbeeters first recognized their seniors and then caught fire to start their contest with the Knights. The 'Beeters were rolling on both sides of the ball right from the opening tip. The defense was active, in passing lanes, grabbing loose balls and rebounding while limiting the Knights to nine first quarter points. The offense got a boost from sophomore Carson Nissen with five points early, including one from distance. Senior Braxton Inman scored six points in the paint for the 'Beeters to help the team stake a 20-9 lead at the end of quarter one.

Senior Brenden Fetter caught fire before the half entertaining the crowd with his high flying dunks and creative shots, scoring 11 points in the quarter. Junior Jackson Nordboe controlled the paint for the 'Beeters, attacking the basket for eight points of his own. Senior Flint Annis added four to the 'Beeter total giving Chinook a 46-26 halftime lead.

The 'Beeters slowed down a bit after the break but remained in firm control of the contest. Nordboe and Annis continued to own the paint, combining for 10 points in the quarter. Chinook doubled up the Knights 12-6 in the third quarter to lead by 26 heading into the fourth quarter 58-32.

Fetter shined down the stretch in his final home game scoring 12 fourth quarter points and wowing the crowd a bit more in the process. In the end the Sugarbeeters coasted to a 74-46 win over the Knights.

The game was easily their most complete of the season and a win the team very much needed. Fetter led the way with 27 points on the night. Nordboe finished with 18 and Annis chipped in 10.

After suffering a tough loss at home to the Big Sandy Pioneers the Turner Tornadoes were looking to rebound Saturday in Gildford against the Knights.

Turner certainly got off to the fast start they were looking for with a solid first quarter effort. Junior Ryan Doyle got the offense on track with seven points and the defense controlled the North Star attack limiting the Knights to just seven, taking a 11-7 lead into the second quarter.

'Beeter senior Levi Jensen glides in for two during first half action with the Knights.

Doyle continued to spark the offense in quarter number two. Doyle added eight points to his first half total including his second from down town. Sophomore Trent Billmayer added a triple of his own and scored seven while sophomore Caleb Zellmer and senior Charlie Calvert scored baskets helping to lift the Tornadoes to a 30-26 halftime lead.

The Tornadoes turned in a big third quarter effort. Billmayer added his second from distance and scored seven while Doyle added six. Zellmer found his mark from beyond the arc and suddenly Turner held a 48-36 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Knights made a valiant comeback down the stretch and had a chance to tie late in the contest. Turner held a 58-55 lead but the Tornadoes were called for a foul on the shooter beyond the arc sending North Star to the charity stripe with no time left on the clock for a chance to tie. The Knights were able to connect on just 1-3 securing a 58-56 win for the Tornadoes.

Turner was led in the contest by Doyle with 23 points. Billmayer finished with 19 points in the contest for the Tornadoes.

 
 

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