One week, and just a few games remain for area high school girls basketball teams, before they take the floor for district tournaments, and for some, beyond.
And with the postseason so close, every game is magnified.
This past week started with an old rivalry renewed as Rocky Boy and Big Sandy met in Big Sandy in what turned out to be a barn burner. The now Class B Morning Stars edged the 9C Pioneers 59-54 Thursday night. The Morning Stars held a commanding eight-point lead early in the fourth quarter, then had to stave off a furious Big Sandy rally in the final minutes.
Brandy Buffalo scored 16 points to lead Rocky Boy, while Chanell Standing Rock added 13. Big Sandy got 15 points by Kaylie Gilman, while Molly Herron posted 12 and Brooke Leader added 10 in the loss.
Also on Thursday, the Harlem Wildcats suffered a tough, 50-42 loss in Shelby. The game was tied at the end of regulation, but in overtime, the Coyotes out-scored the Wildcats 50-42. Jaycee Werk scored a game-high 19 points to lead Harlem.
Things got even more difficult as Harlem returned to 2B play on Friday night, and fell at home to Glasgow 58-29. Werk had another strong outing, scoring 11 points, while Jaylynn Allen chipped in with seven.
Things also didn’t turn around for the Pioneers on Friday night in what was a key 9C showdown at home. The visiting Chinook Sugarbeeters invaded Big Sandy’s gym and walked out with an impressive 59-49 win. Once again, Big Sandy had to play from behind, as the Beeters raced out to a 32-21 halftime lead. Big Sandy played better in the second half, but it wasn’t to be.
Makhayla Farmer had a big night for the Beeters, scoring a game-high 21 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Katelyn Neibauer added 14 points for the Beeters. Big Sandy’s Mateila Cline matched Farmer’s 21 points, while Molly Herron scored 11.
In another important 9C affair Friday night, the Box Elder Bears scored a 51-45 win over Hays-Lodge Pole in Box Elder. The Bears ripped off a 22-8 run in the fourth quarter to come back to win.
Rebecca Rosette poured in 21 points to lead Box Elder, while Shakayla Whitecow scored 24 points for the Thunderbirds.
In District 10C play Friday night, the Chester/J-I Hawks had little trouble hanging on to their lead in the standings as they thumped Power 57-35. Kate Graff totaled 18 points and Haley Harmon added 14 for the Hawks.
In non-conference action, the young Turner Tornadoes were dusted by the powerful Roy-Winifred Outlaws, 55-16 in Turner. The Outlaws’ defense proved too much for Turner as the Tornadoes scored just seven points in the first half and nine in the second. Kristina Conlan scored six to lead Turner.
Meanwhile, the North Star Knights continued their winning ways with wins on both Friday and Saturday night.
First up, the Knights took it to Sunburst on the road, 53-21 on Friday night. Lisa Carlon led the way with 10 points and Mac Hansen added nine.
On Saturday, North Star was back home to face arch rival C/J-I, and the game didn’t disappoint. The Knights prevailed 46-44, as they had to hold off a charging C/J-I squad in the fourth stanza.
Lisa Carlon posted 13 points for the Knights, while Bettie Carlon scored 12 and Tylynn Rettig added nine. The Hawks, who suffered only their second loss of the season, got 12 by Denerey Haaland and 10 points each from Haley Harmon and Brittnee Theel.
Box Elder and Chinook also kept up the winning on Saturday.
The Bears took care of Heart Butte, 75-40 in Heart Butte. Rebecca Rossette led four Bears in double figures with 15 points, while Stephanie Sutherland scored 14.
And in their final 9C game of the regular season, the Beeters thrashed Turner 59-9. Chinook’s defense was stifling, while Brooke Nicholson paced the Chinook offense with 13 points. Kristina Conlan again led the Tornadoes with 3 points.
In Class B action, Fairfield also beat the Rocky Boy Morning Stars Saturday night in Rocky Boy.
Thursday
Rocky Boy 59, Big Sandy 54
Rocky Boy 12 15 15 17 — 59
Big Sandy 9 11 14 20 — 54
Rocky Boy — Brandi Buffalo 16, Leaha Gopher 2, Leigha Onco 2, Cady Gamble 11, Tracy Day Child 4, Chanell Standing Rock 13, Jude The Boy 7, Kyle Raining Bird 4. Totals 23 11-18
Big Sandy — Leela Engle 7, Mateila Cline 7, Molly Herron 12, Kaylie Gilman 15, Brooke Leader 10. Totals 18 9-25
Total fouls — RB 18, BS 17. Fouled out — Day Child. 3-pointers — Buffalo, Standing Rock, Leader.
Shelby 50, Harlem 42 (ot)
Harlem 11 8 8 15 0 — 42
Shelby 6 9 9 18 8 — 50
Harlem — Jaylynn Allen 5, CoCo Moore 9, Jaycee Werk 18, Kasey Ramone 2, Minique Doney 8. Totals 13 12-17
Shelby — Katie Kelleher 22, Kylee Bailey 4, Melanie Brauchle 4, Jessica Mahr 14, Kelsey Smedsrud 6. Sarah Sanchez 4. Totals 15 20-26
Total fouls — Harlem 21, Shelby 14. Fouled out — Allen. 3-pointers — Werk 2.
Friday
Glasgow 58, Harlem 29
Glasgow15 11 14 17 – 58
Harlem 5 5 11 8 – 29
Glasgow - Abby Kolstad 2, Laura Wagman 11, Haylee Redfield 2, Mariah Stein 2, Alex Page 12, Erica Hartsock 6, Alaina Cole 7, Megan Rasmussen 7, Mikayla Lanchnier 9. Totals: 14 15-24.
Harlem – Jaylynn Allen 7, Coco Moore 4, Teshia Cliff 2, Monique Doney 1, Casey Ramone 5, Jaycee Werk 11. Totals: 8 8-13.
3-pointers: Page 2, Rasmussen 2, Lanchnier, Allen, Werk. Total fouls: Harlem 17, Glasgow 13. Fouled out: none.
Chinook 59, Big Sandy 49
Chinook 16 16 18 9 — 59
Big Sandy 10 11 11 17 — 49
Chinook – Brooke Nicholson 2, Emily Dennis 3, Hannah Weber 8, Makhayla Farmer 21, Katelyn Neibauer 14, Aland Smith 7, Tavin Schneider 4. Totals: 22 9-13.
Big Sandy – Leela Engle 4, Mateila Cline 21, Molly Herron 11, Kaylie Gilman 4, Brooke Leader 9. Totals: 21 6-16.
Total fouls: Chinook 12, Big Sandy 18. Fouled out: Engle. Three pointers: Dennis 1, Weber 2, Cline 1.
Roy-Winifred 55, Turner 16
Roy-Winifred 16 13 14 12 — 55
Turner 5 2 7 2 — 16
Roy-Winifred – Shelby Smith 8, Randi Wichman 6, Hope Berg 5, Danae McClure 10, Danyce McClure 12, Emily Borgum 14. Totals: 22 7-55.
Turner – Ella Billmayer 2, Shania Maloney 2, Kristina Conlan 6, Marybeth Baldik 3, Lyndsay Hutton 3. Totals: 5 4-8.
Total fouls: Roy-Winifred 11, Turner 12. Fouled out: None. Three pointers: Berg 1, Denae McClure 2, Manyce McClure 1, Conlan 2.
Chester/J-I 57, Power 35
C/J-I 9 12 12 24 — 57
Power 7 6 8 14 — 35
C/J-I – Haley Harmon 14, Denerey Haaland 5, Brittany Theel 6, Erin Wolfe 2, Kate Graff 18, Caitlin Vinson 10, Tianna Houlihan 2. Totals: 19 14-25.
Power – Shailyn Miller 3, Rachel Pederson 2, Joie Beard 7, Ali Willikes 9, Maggie Leigland 4, Kennedy Miller 10. Totals: 13 8-19.
Total fouls: C/J-I 17, Power 19. Fouled out: Haaland, Pederson, Beard. Three pointers: Harmon 2, Haaland 1, Graff 1, Vinson 1, K. Miller 1.
Box Elder 51, Hays-Lodge Pole 45
HLP 7 10 20 8 — 45
Box Elder 10 8 11 22 — 51
HLP – P. Siers 3, K. Martin, C. Carrywater 4, C. Doney 2, S. White Cow 24, J. Parker 3. Totals: 15 9-17.
Box Elder – Michelle Windell 3, Leilani Gardipee 6, Alicia Wolf Chief 9, Krista Chief Stick 6, Rebecca Rosette 21, Stephanie Sutherland 6. Totals: 13 23-40.
Total fouls: Hays-Lodgepole 23, Box Elder 18. Fouled out: Siers, White Cow, Rosette. Technical fouls: White Cow 2. Three pointers: Siers 1, Martin 3, White Cow 2, Wolf Chief 1, Rosette 1.
North Star 53, Sunburst 21
North Star 17 14 13 9 — 53
Sunburst 5 2 6 8 — 21
North Star — M. Hansen 9, D. Spicher 2, L. Carlon 10, G. spicher 3, T. Rettig 8, B. Carlon 5, A. Borlaug 4, K. hansen 7, S. O’Neil 1, K. Lavery 2, K. Miller 2. totals 21 9-20
Sunburst — Nicole Bock 5, Hannah Nauschulz 1, Brooke Lindskog 6, Courtney Lindskog 3, Krista Hauschulz 6. Totals 7 7-12
Total fouls — NS 12, SB 13. Fouled out — K. Hauschilz. 3-pointers — Rettig 2.
Saturday
Roy-Winifred 64, Hays-Lodge Pole 24
Roy-Winifred 9 21 11 23 — 64
HLP 5 7 7 5 — 24
Roy-Winifred — Smith 7, Siroky 7, Wichman 6, Berg 4, De. McClure 2, Da. McClure 28, Bergum 8, Kananen 2.
HLP — S. Doney 3, Martin 2, C. Doney 5, Whitecow 9, Parker 5.
Chinook 59, Turner 9
Turner 0 2 4 3 — 9
Chinook 23 20 6 10 — 59
Turner — Ella Billmayer 2, Shania Maloney 2, Kristina Conlan 3, Lyndsay Hutton 2.
Chinook — Brooke Nicholson 13, Hattie Niederegger 2, Emily Dennis 4, Hannah Weber 4, Madison McCann 2, Talya Johnson 2, Makhayla Farmer 8, Mikenda Seymour 6, Katelyn Neibauer 8, Alana Smith 8, Tavin Schneider 2.
Box Elder 75, Heart Butte 40
Box Elder 16 23 20 16 — 75
Heart Butte 12 9 8 11 — 40
Box Elder — Michelle W. 9, Leilani G. 12, Alicia W.C. 14, Krista C. S. 8, Rebecca R. 15, Stephanie S. 14, Nacy S. 1, Misty B. 2.
Heart Butte — Tylynn Calf Boss Ribs 5, Tering Whitcomb 12, Shayanna England 11, Myshyla Calf Boss Ribs 2, Starla Calf Robe 5.
North Star 46, Chester/J-I 44
C/J-I 9 10 11 14 — 44
North Star 8 16 15 7 — 46
C/J-I — Haley Harmon 10, Denerey Haaland 12, Brittnee Theel 10, Kate Graff 9, Caitlin Vinson 3.
North Star — Mac Hansen 2, Delainey Spicher 8, Lisa Carlon 13, Tylynn Rettig 9, Bettie Carlon 12, Kassidy Hansen 2.
