We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
The Chinook Sugarbeeters were back on the court this past Saturday as they hosted the Shelby Coyotes in their home opener. The two teams met a week ago in a non-conference clash at the Coyote Classic with Shelby coming away with a 68-42 win. Saturday in front of the hometown fans, the 'Beeters were a very different team, playing the Coyotes tough in a 74-70 setback.
Junior Carson Nissen dropped in a corner three off a nice pass from junior Landon Beck to give Chinook an 11-5 lead midway through the first quarter. Moments later, freshman Ryan Bell found senior Jackson Nordboe underneath the basket for a 13-5 advantage. Nordboe again scored down low off a nice spin move to put Chinook on top 17-5 with 2:05 left in the first. Nordboe closed out the first with another spin move to the basket and Beck scored with time winding down as the 'Beeter offense continued to roll. Nissen converted one of two from the charity stripe, giving Chinook a 22-13 advantage after eight minutes of action.
Nordboe opened the scoring for the 'Beeters in the second with another nice move in the paint to put Chinook up 24-13. Bell knocked down a long elbow three to give Chinook a 30-19 lead with 3:31. Senior Gyme Kelly found Bell in the right corner for another three and a 33-24 'Beeter lead. Nordboe scored again inside, and Bell knocked down yet another three to give Chinook a 40-28 lead. Bell ended the half with a long two, sending the teams to the locker room with the 'Beeters on top 42-30.
Kelly dropped in a bomb to get the offense started in the third for a 45-32 'Beeter lead. Freshman Jameson Nordboe got in the scoring column and Beck followed with a nice take to the basket to put Chinook up 49-37. Nissen fed a nice pass down low to Jameson for a bucket to keep the lead at ten, 51-41. Jameson again scored from the baseline. Bell connected from distance on the 'Beeters' next two possessions to maintain the twelve point lead, 59-47. Nordboe scored late to give Chinook a 61-50 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Bell connected from the charity stripe to put Chinook up eleven, but a three-point bomb from the Coyotes led to a 'Beeter timeout with a 64-56 lead. The Coyotes cut the 'Beeter lead to four, 64-60, with 4:54. Beck converted a nice steal into a layup for 66-61. Shelby cut the lead to two, but Kelly's bucket pushed the lead back to four, 68-64. Shelby again connected from distance to trim the lead to 68-67 and a 'Beeter timeout with 1:52 remaining.
Shelby knocked down a pair from the charity stripe to take their first lead, 69-68 with time running down. Sophomore Isaac Kelly knocked down a long straight-away two to give the 'Beeters back the lead 70-69 with :30.9 left. Shelby stole the inbound, scored, and knocked down the free throw to take a 72-70 lead with just :16.9 remaining. Shelby connected on a pair of free throws to end the game and secure a 74-70 win over the 'Beeters. Nordboe led the 'Beeter attack with 16 points, Kelly and Bell each tallied 13 points while Beck contributed 10.
