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

The Chinook Sugarbeeters got their 2023-24 season underway this past Friday night in Choteau in a conference clash with the Bulldogs. The 'Beeters are now competing in The District 1B alongside Choteau, Fairfield, Rocky Boy, Cut Bank, Conrad and Shelby.

The 'Beeters got off to a good start taking a 13-8 lead at the end of one quarter of action. Senior Jackson Nordboe connected from beyond the arc and scored seven in the opening stanza, while junior Landon Beck added four for the 'Beeters. The second quarter wasn't very kind to the 'Beeters with the offense managing just six points on three Nordboe field goals. The Bulldogs however found their rhythm offensively scoring 18 to take a 26-19 lead into halftime.

Freshman Jameson Nordboe connected from long range and score five in the third quarter for the 'Beeters who managed 12 points in third. Choteau again tallied 18 and extended their lead to 44-31 heading into the final eight minutes. Junior Carson Nissen and senior Gyme Kelly each knocked one down from distance coming down the stretch, but it wasn't enough as the Bulldogs handed the 'Beeters a 60-49 loss to start the season.

Nordboe led the way for the 'Beeters with 19 in the season opener while Beck finished with nine in the loss. Chinook will be back on the court Friday in Shelby at the Coyote Tip Off Tournament when the will face Ekalaka at 9:00 am, Saturday the 'Beeters will play Shelby at 7:30 pm.

This years 'Beeter boys roster includes seniors Jackson Nordboe and Gyme Kelly, juniors out this winter are Landen Beck, Carson Nissen, Jacob Metcalf, Brockton Elliot, Lance Pitkanen, Oliver Standiford and Kalled Jaha. Sophomores are Britt Powell and Isaac Kelly. Rounding out the roster is freshman Ryan Bell, Jameson Nordboe, Braxton Hajenga, Cooper Standiford, Carter Alisch and Kolton DePriest.

Leading the Sugarbeeters on the sideline is first year head coach Bill Bell. Bell is familiar working with the program having served as the Junior High Head Coach the past three seasons and working with many of the boys in grade school. Bell lays out what his team will look like this upcoming season, "I return Jackson, Carson and Landon as starters from last year's team."

Bell knows what he wants from his returners, "I expect Jackson to be one of team leaders as he has been in the program the longest. I expect him to lead on the floor and off of the court and be a model example for the other kids to follow. Jackson is going to be our big man in the post and for him to guard the other team's big man, get rebounds and score in the paint. Carson is a returning shooting guard this year, but he may play more of a small forward roll and guard the opponents best wing man. Carson needs to help bring the younger kids along on the court that don't have as much experience as he does. Landon will be serving in a similar type of roll as a point guard and possibly a shooting guard. Whoever their best guard is, is who he will be guarding as he is one of our strongest defenders."

This year's team includes a couple of new faces to the school, "We are fortunate to have two transfers come in from Plevna, Gyme (Kelly) and Isaac (Kelly) who have ties to the Hi-line. We expect Gyme to be one of our starters down low alongside Jackson." Bell goes on to say, "Rounding out our starting five will be Ryan (Bell), he is one of our best ball handlers and one of our top shooters. Ryan will play the point guard position and be counted on to start the offense off on the right foot."

The Sugarbeeters should be fun to watch, "We plan to mix up our offense, five out, four out most of the time. We will utilize motion offense with a lot of screening, cutting and attacking the basket or kicking the ball out to one of our perimeter shooters. We want to avoid being stagnate and move the ball all the time." When the 'Beeters don't have the ball Bell says, "Defensively we will be primarily a man-to-man defense and really put pressure on the opponent. We want to play hard nose defense and force turnovers kick starting our fast break. The boys have been working on playing a full court defense that we will utilize sporadically when need be."

Bell has high hopes for the team this season, "Our team goals are to improve our record from last year, I think we have the ability and talent to improve on that. The boys have really come together and making it too divisional. One of the things I want to achieve is to get the boys to listen to my philosophy and buy into it. I want us to win our last game wherever that may be. Those are few things we will strive to accomplish."