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

The 37th Annual Hi-Line Invitational Tournament took place this past weekend at the Armory Gymnasium on the campus of MSU-Northern in Havre. The Light and Skylight basketball teams co-hosted the event featuring many of the top high school girls and boys basketball players from across the state of Montana.

The tournament features All-Star teams for each of the four classifications, AA, A, B and C in a round-robin tournament with Championship and consolation games capping off the tournament. There is also a three-point competition for the girls and boys as well as a slam dunk contest.

The tournament began when Babsie Bishop and the Malta Athletic Foundation came up with the idea 37 years ago. Through the years, many of the state's best players to ever play the game have been participants. The tournament has been held annually with Malta being the tournament site for many years before being moved to the Armory Gymnasium in Havre in 2008.

Blaine County Athletes have been well represented through the years, and this year two Blaine County Athletes will have the honor. Chinook senior, Hallie Neibauer and Turner senior, Ryan Doyle were selected to play. Both represented their towns and Blaine County as well as anyone possibly could.

Neibauer played with the Class B All-Stars that included Baker sophomore Madison O'Conner who was a key contributor to Baker's Class B State Championship win; sophomore Denvyr Tuss of Malta, juniors Paige Lofing and Sannah Windy Boy of Huntley Project, junior Molly Gilbert of Shepherd, sophomore Ryian Eveland of Jeffereson, sophomore Macy Tjelde of Fairview, senior Kameryn Ketchan of Big Timber and senior Giovanna Horner of Loyola Sacred Heart. Neibauer, O'Conner, Tuss, Lofing, Windy Boy and Horner all finished their season at the Class B State tournament in Billings earlier this month.

Doyle played with the Class C All-Stars that included second place finishers at State, Manhattan Christian's senior Mason Venema and junior Christian Triemstra; junior Kenyan Davis of Harlowton/Rygate, sophomore Bram Handran of Scobey, senior Brady Bantz of Winnett/Grass Range, senior Karson Pulst of Chester/JI, senior, Reese Paulson of Belt, sophomore Nolan Kamerman of Melstone and sophomore Johnslee Pierre of Luster Christian.

Neibauer had an incredible senior season for the Sugarbeeters, and her performance at the H.I.T was no different. The team began play Friday morning against Class C.

In game one for Class B, Neibauer contributed 14 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in their win against Class C, 77-57. Their second game was against the Class A team, who handed them their only loss in the tournament. Class A defeated Class B in a high-scoring game, 109-99. Neibauer finished the game with 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Game three was against Class AA. Class B defeated Class AA, 95-86. Neibauer scored six points and picked up five rebounds.

This year's tournament was thought to be one of the best the H.I.T has seen in years. In the game with Class B and Class AA going up against each other, every player on the floor was committed to playing college ball. It made for a thrilling weekend of basketball. While Class B came away with the victory against Class AA, which should have placed them in the Championship game, it came down to defensive points allowed. Three of the four teams finished with 2–1 records. The tiebreaker forced the Class B team to the Consolation game, where they would take on Class C for third place. In their final game of the weekend, Class B defeated Class C for a second time, in a close 81-78 victory. Neibauer tossed in 13 points while picking up seven rebounds in the victory.

Neibauer tallied 43 points and 24 rebounds on the weekend and also won the Miss Defense award.

On the boys' side, Doyle was Blaine County's lone representative at the H.I.T.

Class C - Turner, Ryan Doyle

Class C took on Class A on Thursday night to start the tournament. Class C was able to earn a comfortable win, outscoring Class A, 106-75. Doyle added four in the victory. Game two was against the Class B team. Class B shot 58% from the field compared to Class C's 39%, handing them the win over Class C. Doyle added five, including one from behind the arc.

Game three was against Class AA, where Class C was handed another tough loss, falling to Class AA, 107-67.

In the Consolation game, Class C was looking to even the score with Class B, and while they shot better in game two, they still were unable to find the win column. In his final high school game, Doyle added five points in his efforts to help Class C. Class B defeated C, 108-93.

Congratulations on an excellent high school career, Hallie and Ryan!