The Chinook Sugarbeeter girls' basketball team began the New Year with a pair of District 1B Conference tilts. On Friday night, the girls traveled to Fairfield to take on the Eagles in a big early season contest. The 'Beeters controlled the contest from start to finish, using a strong finish to earn a 51-38 win. On Saturday, the 'Beeters welcomed the Cut Bank Wolves to town and put together a huge first half effort as they improved to 8-0, following a 78-15 win over the Wolves.

Friday night, the 'Beeters and Eagles, arguably two of the top teams in the conference, played a solid back and forth contest that certainly entertained those in attendance. Senior Hallie Neibauer dropped her first bucket from long range and scored six points in the opening stanza to give the 'Beeters a boost early on. Junior Alexus Seymour and junior Hannah Schoen each added four points to give the 'Beeters 15 points. The Eagles didn't back down, connecting twice from distance and scoring 15 as well.

The 'Beeter offense continued to roll, Neibauer added four more points to her game total and Seymour added a triple of her own leading to a 13-point quarter. The 'Beeters stepped up their defense before the halftime buzzer, holding the Eagles to just seven in the frame. The combination of the two led to a 27-22, 'Beeter advantage heading into halftime.

The third quarter proved to be a critical one for both teams, with Chinook looking to extend the lead while the Eagles were out to close the gap. Neibauer opened the second half with nine points and a triple. The 'Beeter dropped in four from the charity stripe to, give the 'Beeters a 40-28 advantage providing Chinook with a 12-point cushion heading into the fourth quarter of action. The Eagles made a couple runs trying to make a dent in the 'Beeter lead. After trimming the lead to single digits, Chinook turned up the intensity down the stretch.

Neibauer was on fire late, connecting from long range along with two baskets and eight of the 'Beeters ten fourth quarter points to power the 'Beeters to a 51-38 win over the Eagles, adding another win to their conference standings. Neibauer led the way with 28 points, while Seymour tallied 10 and Schoen chipped in 9 in the win.

On Saturday, the 'Beeters hosted the Cut Bank Wolves in another District 1B contest. The 'Beeters let little time go off the clock in quickly shutting the Wolves down. The 'Beeter offense scored at will from the opening tip and their defense forced turnover after turnover leading to easy baskets. Neibauer scored 17 first quarter points with a pair tinkling the nets twice from long range and five other players scored a field goal to give Chinook a 32-7 lead after just eight minutes of action.

Chinook kept their foot on the gas to start the second quarter while the defense kept the pressure on. Sophomore Brooke Fetter buried, nailed one from distance and scored eight points before the half and Schoen added five to the 'Beeter tally giving the 'Beeters a 48-13 halftime lead. Chinook held the Wolves to a single basket in the second half while scoring 30 of their own in pushing their overall record to 8-0 and 7-0 in conference.

Mari Anne Skoyen

Chinook will be at home this Friday to face the Conrad Cowgirls. On Saturday the girls will head west to face an old District 9C rival, the Chester/Joplin-Inverness Hawks.