Neibauer Earns All-Star Honors at the Hi-line Invitational Tournament (HIT)
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The Hi-Line Invitational Class C Team finished 2nd at the prestigious tournament, falling to the Class B 77-67 in the championship.
The 36th Annual Hi-Line Invitational Tournament took place this past weekend at the Armory Gymnasium on the campus of MSU-Northern in Havre. The Light and Skylight basketball teams co- hosted the event featuring many of the top high school girls and boys basketball players from across the state of Montana.
The tournament features All-Star teams for each of the four classifications AA, A, B and C in a round robin tournament with Championship and consolation games capping off the tournament. There is also a three-point competition for the girls and boys as well as a slam dunk contest.
The tournament began when Babsie Bishop and the Malta Athletic Foundation came up with the idea 36 years ago. Through the years many of the state's best players to ever play the game have been participants. The tournament has been held annually with Malta being the tournament site for many years before being moved to the Armory Gymnasium in Havre in 2008.
Blaine County Athletes have been well represented through the years, and while only one Blaine County Athlete, Chinook junior, Hallie Neibauer was selected to play, she represented the Sugarbeeters and Blaine County as good as anyone possibly could.
Neibauer played with the Class C All-Stars that included North Country juniors Paige Wasson and Teagan Erickson as well as Roy/Winifred juniors Isabelle Heggem and Laynee Ellness. Others on the roster included Twin Bridges junior Emma Konen, North Star senior Laynie Sattoriva, Manhattan Christian senior Ava Bellach and Twin Bridges junior Allie Dale. Each player with the exception of North Stars Sattoriva played at the Class C State tournament in Billings earlier this month.
Neibauer turned in an outstanding performance for the Class C in the team's four games played. The team began play Thursday evening picking up a 89-79 win over the Class A. Neibauer scored 14 points for the Class C in the win. The team played a pair of games on Friday. The Class C topped Class AA in a thriller 68-66 with Neibauer scoring 12. The girls fell to the Class B Friday night 87-81 in a tough, but very entertaining, game. Neibauer paced the Class C All-Stars with 20 points in the contest.
Chinook junior Hallie Neibauer was named to the tournament All-Star tram and earned Miss Defense recognition as well.
With their record of 2-1 in round robin play the Class C punched their ticket to the tournament championship, a rematch with the Class B. The outcome once again went the way of the Class B with a final of 77-67. The games played are fun up tempo and full of action. High School basketball just completed its first season with a shot clock of :35 the HIT has always featured a shot clock but with the time set at :24 creating a much more up tempo style of play.
Neibauer's effort over the Class C four game run earned her high praise from many and resulted in her being named to the HIT Tournament Girls All-Star Team. This years group of 10 also included Paige Wasson (North Country), Paige Lofing (Huntley Project), Madison O'Connor (Baker), Malea Egan (Colstrip), Isabelle Heggem (Roy/Winifred), Elise Aby (Laurel), Layne Kearns (Hamilton), Alex Bullock, (Helena High) and Tailyn Smith (Bozeman). Neibauer also was named Miss Defense as the best defender in the tournament.
