Friday The 'Beeter boys kicked off 2024 with a road contest in Fairfield this past Friday. The 'Beeters were looking to get the new year started on the right foot and put together a solid effort from start to finish. Chinook played well and held the Eagles in check for much of the contest. In the end, the Eagles had a little more in the tank, pulling out a 74-67 win. Saturday they were back in the friendly confines of the Factory to host the Cut Bank Wolves in another District 1B clash. The Wolves controlled the tempo and the scoreboard, handing Chinook a 71-60 setback. Chinook fell to 1-7 on the season and 0-7 in conference play.

The 'Beeters got off to the start they were looking for. Freshman Ryan Bell provided the spark the 'Beeter offense needed early on. Bell dropped in a pair from beyond the arc and scored eight first quarter points. Senior Gyme Kelly hit on two buckets while senior Jackson Nordboe and junior Oliver Standiford each got in the scoring column, giving the 'Beeters a 18-8 lead heading into quarter number two. Nordboe knocked down a three-ball of his own and scored nine more points, while freshman Jameson Nordboe added six points. Chinook scored 17 points before the half, but the defense gave up 25 sending the teams into halftime with a 35-33 'Beeter lead.

The Eagles continued their offensive roll, scoring 25 more in the frame, while the 'Beeters stayed strong, adding 15 to their tally. Bell scored five in the third and Kelly added nine more. The 'Beeters gave up the lead heading into the fourth quarter trailing 57-50 with eight minutes remaining. The teams went toe to toe down the stretch and were unable to cut into the deficit with both teams scoring 17 points in the frame, giving the Eagles a 74-67 win over the Sugarbeeters. Bell led the 'Beeter attack, scoring 21 points, including five from distance. Kelly poured in 15 while Nordboe dropped 14 points.

On Saturday the boys were back at home looking to put on a show in front of the hometown crown against the Cut Bank Wolves in another District 1B tip-off. The Wolves jumped out to a 25-12 lead early to take some steam out of the 'Beeter offense. Nordboe scored five points, junior Carson Nissen scored four and Bell buried a triple. Bell, Nissen and sophomore Isaac Kelly each connected from distance to help the 'Beeter score seventeen second quarter points, keeping the 'Beeters within striking distance trailing 41-29 heading into the halftime locker room.

Mari Anne Skoyen

The third quarter began with the 'Beeters getting contributions from six players scoring 15 points in the stanza, but the Wolves found some rhythm and the Wolves matched the 'Beeters' 15 to send the teams to the fourth quarter with Cut Bank up, 56-47. The Wolves kept the lead coming down the stretch, eventually coming away with a 71-60 win over Chinook. Nordboe led the 'Better offense with 14 points on the night, while Bell knocked down four triples for 12 points in the win, as did Nissen. Isaac Kelly chipped in 11 in the contest.