The Chinook Sugarbeeters played in front of the hometown fans for the first time this season when they hosted the Shelby Coyotes on Saturday night. The 'Beeters have ran away from their first three opponents and were looking to make it four in a row. By the time the final horn sounded, Chinook had secured a 64-35 win over the Coyotes to improve to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the District 1B
Senior Hallie Neibauer wasted little time getting the Sugarbeeters on the scoreboard, connecting from distance just eighteen seconds into the contest for a quick 3-0 lead. Shelby responded with a three ball of their own to even the score at 3-3, marking the last time the game would be tied. Neibauer converted an offensive rebound into points and then took a nice pass from junior Alexus Seymour and knocked down another triple for an 8-3 'Beeter lead.
Seymour again found Neibauer, who calmly knocked down another bomb to put Chinook on top 11-6 midway through the opening quarter. Neibauer accounted for all 13 'Beeter points to start the game following a strong attack to the basket. Senior Jenna Liddle then took an inbounds pass from Neibauer for a bucket and a 15-6 Chinook lead. Seymour pushed the lead to twelve with a three ball of her own and then took a nice pass from sophomore Neva Lowe as the quarter came to an end with Chinook holding a 22-9 advantage.
Neibauer continued to be hot from the field, scoring on an offensive rebound to start the second quarter and then drilling a long straight away two-point bucket. Junior Addison Olsen connected from distance off a nice pass from Lowe to put Chinook on top by twenty, 29-9. Olsen followed with an easy bucket off the inbound from Neibauer. Seymour scored going to the basket and senior Gracie Skoyen converted the old-fashioned three-point play to make the score 36-11. Chinook closed out the first half with a basket from Lowe and sophomore Brooke Fetter, sending the teams to halftime with Chinook on top 40-13.
Neibauer knocked down her fourth triple of the contest in the third and scored seven more in the fourth with the 'Beeter offense in cruise control. Chinook outscored the Coyotes 24-22 in the second half to secure a twenty-nine point 64-35 win. Neibauer paced the 'Beeter effort with 29 points and nine rebounds in the win, including four from beyond the arc. Neibauer connected on 12/16 shots from the field. Seymour scored nine points and corralled eight boards to go along with five steals and five assists. Fetter tallied nine points and five rebounds. Schoen added six points to the 'Beeter total and grabbed seven rebounds. All nine players dressed found the scoring column on the night.