Hi-Line girls basketball roundup

Despite a blizzard and some cancellations, the girls high school basketball season on the Hi-Line is off and running.

With tournaments in Havre, Big Sandy and Fort Benton, area teams were plenty busy on the opening weekend of the basketball season.

Thursday night saw a pair of District 9C teams open the season in different ways at the Big Sandy Tournament.

The host Big Sandy girls toppled Highwood 58-44 on Thursday night, getting the season off on the right foot. The Pioneers broke open a 25-22 halftime game with an 18-6 run in the third quarter as MacKenzie Jenkins and Hannah Williams scored 11 points each in the win.

Also in Big Sandy on Thursday, the Chinook Sugarbeeters fell to 7C power Roy-Winifred, 39-33. The game was the Chinook debut for head coach Charlie Robinson, and although the Beeters came up short, they played well against a team considered a strong favorite in the Northern C.

The Big Sandy Tournament was interrupted on Friday as was the first day of the Fort Benton Tournament, but several games did take place on the first day of Native American Classic in Havre. Harlem wasn't able to make it to the first day of the tourney, which was held at the MSU-Northern Fieldhouse, but Rocky Boy and Box Elder opened the season with big wins.

The Morning Stars took care of the Browning junior varsity team by a score of 58-23 as Falene Russette poured in a game-high 14 points and Tanae Singer added 11.

Box Elder was also sharp in its opening game Friday in Havre. The defending 9C champion Bears turned away 10C rival Valier, 59-34.

Box Elder led 33-13 at halftime and never looked back. Aricka Wolf Chief led all scorers with 17 points and three 3-pointers.

The action continued in Havre on Saturday and both the Bears and Morning Stars stayed hot despite the cold outside.

The Bears shocked Class 2B Harlem 81-62 behind a 45-point first half offensive explosion. Harlem rallied in the second half, but Box Elder's lead was too much for the Wildcats to overcome.

Junior Aricka Wolf Chief was on fire for Box Elder, scoring a career-high 33 points in the win. Crystal Stamper chipped in with 15 points for the Bears, while Kianna Dumas scored 15 points for Harlem in the loss.

Saturday's action at the NAC also saw Rocky Boy demolish Heart Butte 77-19 behind 22 points from Falene Russette. As a result, the Morning Stars are off to a perfect 2-0 start.

Saturday was a good day for District 9C teams across the Hi-Line.

In Big Sandy, the Pioneers, Beeters and North Star Knights all picked up nonconference wins.

Big Sandy improved to 2-0 on the season with a 47-33 win over the Sunburst Refiners. A 13-0 run in the second quarter helped Big Sandy build a lead, then the Pioneers held off the Refiners in the second half. Freshman Molly Herron paced the Pioneers with 12 points.

Chinook picked up its first win of the season Saturday in Big Sandy. The Beeters took care of 10C rival Dutton-Brady 40-21 behind 18 points from junior Taryn Norby. The Beeter defense was tremendous as well, holding the Diamondbacks to single-digit scoring in all four quarters.

And North Star made it a sweep of 9C vs 10C matchups Saturday in Big Sandy as the Knights crushed Power 60-8. Shelby Lipp led nine Knights who scored with a game-high 22 points.

The start to the season was not as kind for the Chester/J-I Hawks however. The Hawks were downed by 8C rival Fort Benton Saturday in Fort Benton.

The Longhorns jumped out to a 31-15 halftime lead and wound up beating the Hawks 61-39. Nikole Wolfe scored nine points for C/J-I in the loss.

Note: Area coaches and athletic directors are reminded to please fax or e-mail all box scores to the Havre Daily News immediately flowing all games. Boxes can be faxed to George Ferguson at 265-6798 or e-mailed to gferguson@havredailynews.com.

Thursday

Roy-Winifred 39, Chinook 33

Roy-Winifred 9 11 8 11 — 39

Chinook 5 11 4 13 — 33

Roy-Winifred — Shelby Smith 11, Ashley Knerr 7, Regan Bold 10, Alexandra Bold 7, Danyce McClure 4. Totals: 16 5-10.

Total fouls — RW 14, Chinook 12. 3-pointers — S. Smith, R. Bold, Norby.

Big Sandy 58, Highwood 44

Highwood 12 10 6 14 — 44

Big Sandy 17 8 18 15 — 58

Highwood — Tiara McGee 7, Sami Granger 7, Raina O'Leary 15, Stevy Birkeland 2, Rachel Nelson 2, Briana Green 6, Kim Johnson 5. Totals: 18 5-11.

Friday

Rocky Boy 58, Browning JV 23

Browning 5 8 4 6 — 23

Rocky Boy 14 16 13 15 — 58

Browning — Brooke Carlson 7, Rayann Cree Makious 2, Kim Heavy Runner 4, Marah Ingram 7, Wendy Mad Plume 3. Totals 9 7-18.

Rocky Boy — Star Broncho 4, Teanne Singer 11, Zeneta Sutherland 1, Falene Russette 14, Sabina Laforge 4, Catlin Gamble 10, Deserea Small 2, Leah Gopher 5, Leigha Onco 5, Chenel Standing Rock 2. Totals 22 11-18.

Fouls — Browning 18, Rocky Boy 16. Fouled out — None. 3-pointers — Singer 1, Russette 1, Leah Gother 1.

Box Elder 59, Valier 34

Valier 7 6 8 13 — 34

Box Elder 14 19 18 8 — 59

Fouls — Valier 14, Box Elder 16, Fouled out — None.

Havre Sophmores, 63 Heart Butte 33

Heart Butte 11 10 5 7 — 33

Havre 19 15 14 15 — 63

Heart Butte — J. Tail Feathers 19, K. Tail Feathers 6, J. Aimsback 2, R. Boss Ribs 2, E. Denney 4. Totals 14 1-4.

Havre — Trisha Kinsella 3. Kaylie Gilman 15, Sadie Seidal 10, Mary Lynos 14, Naya Bischoff 6, Lacy Waid 6, Kayla Berg 9. Totals 25 12-24.

Fouls — Heart Butte 19, Havre 7. Fouled out — Boss Ribs. 3-poiinters — J. Tail Feathers 3, K. Tail Feathers 1, Seidal 1.

Saturday

Rocky Boy 77, Heart Butte 19

Rocky Boy 29 22 17 9 — 77

Heart Butte 5 9 5 0 — 19

Rocky Boy — Star Broncho 2, Tennae Singer 9, Zeneta Sutherland 5, Felen Russette 23, Sabrina Laforge 10, Caitlyn Bamble 16, Leigha Onco 8, Chanel Standing Rock 4. Totals 37 2-12.

Heart Butte — Ashley Heavy Runner 2, Chantell White Quills 2, Jenny Jo Tail Feathers 10, Krystee Tail Feathers 5. Totals 8 0-0.

Fouls — Rocky Boy 10, Heart Butte 11. Fouled out — None. 3 pointers — Singer 1, J. Tail Feathers 2, K. Tail Feathers 1.

Box Elder 81, Harlem 62

Box Elder 23 25 13 20 — 81

Harlem 15 15 13 19 — 62

Box Elder — Brandi Buffalo 12, Megan Parker 7, Crystal Stamper 15, Aricka Wolf Chief 33, Rebecca Rossett 2, Jaylin Parker 8, Shelbi Eagleman 4. Totals: 29 21-30.

Harlem — Jacinda Fuller 9, Kianna Dumas 15, Rikki Horn 2, Maurvella Fuller 9, Alaynna Gray 6, Hyapatia Getten 14, Sandy Filesteel 1, Raelynn Rider 6. Totals: 21 16-29.

Total fouls — BE 26, Harlem 28. Fouled out — Buffalo, Rosette, J. Fuller, Horn, M. Fuller. 3-pointers — Parker 2, J. Fuller, Dumas 2, M. Fuller 2, Gray 2.

Fort Benton 61, Chester/J-I 39

C/J-I 4 11 17 9 — 39

Fort Benton 14 17 12 18 — 61

C/J-I — Stine Haaland 2, Macky Sangwin 1, Megan Han 4, Nikole Wolfe 9, Brittnee Theal 2, Katelyn Graff 1, Jenni Ghekiere 8, Jocelyn Woods 9, Caitlin Vinson 3. Totals 21 3-5.

Fort Benton — Nikki Ferredas 21, Deanne Woodhouse 11, Cassey Naeseth 3, Beth Schuler 6, Kelsey Little 10, Miranda Evans 6, Molly Bailey 4. Totals 24 16-21.

Fouls — CJI 16, Fort Benton 9. Fouled out — None. 3-pointers — Wolfe 3, Woods 2, Vinson 1, Woodhouse 3.

Big Sandy 47, Sunburst 33

Sunburst 13 0 13 7 — 33

Big Sandy 11 13 16 6 — 47

Sunburst — Kayleen McAlpine 9, Rachel Ehlers 3, Ashlee Simmes 4, Alex Watterud 3, Angie Christiaens 14. Totals: 9 11-15.

Big Sandy — Hannah Williams 9, Mariha Gullickson 4, Molly Herron 12, Mateila Cline 8, Ashley Shipp 4, Shanya Gilead 6, Brooke Leader 2, Leela Engle 2. Totals: 18 6-11.

Total fouls — Sunburst 9, BS 13. 3-pointers — McAlpine 3, Ehlers, Herron 2, Cline 2, Gilead.

Hays-Lodge Pole 75, Dodson 29

Dodson 6 10 9 4 — 29

Hays-Lodge Pole 23 17 18 17 — 75

Dodson — Violet Lewis 6, Margaret Bear 2, Karis Bear 2, Raben Bear 19. Totals 13 1-3.

HLP — Anita Denny 16, Kayla Shambo 7, Coco Moore 16, Kallie Martin 5, Saundra Chief Stick 2, Shayla White Cow 17, Kristie Runs Above 12. Totals 31 9-12.

Fouls — Dodson 8, Hays/Lodgepole 13. Fouled out — None. 3-pointers — R. Bear 2, Mooro 2, Martin 1, White Cow 1.

Chinook 40, Dutton-Brady 21

Dutton-Brady 3 9 3 6 — 21

Chinook 16 8 12 4 — 40

Dutton-Brady — Amber Reeve 18, Shannon Habel 2, Hailee VandenBos 1. Totals: 7 3-6.

Chinook — Alana Smith 4, Taryn Norby 18, Brooke Skoyen 6, Maklayla Farmer 2, Kayla Hanson 8, Mikenna Seymour 2. Totals: 19 0-5.

Total fouls — DB 8, Chinook 13. 3-pointers — Reeve 3, Norby 2.

North Star 60, Power 8

Power 4 1 1 2 — 8

North Star 15 19 18 8 — 60

Power — Shailyn Miller 1, Brieanna Smelser 1, Madison Perry 4, Jordan Smelser 2. Totals: 3 2-9.

North Star — Jordan Spicher 9, Haylee Anderson 4, Lisa Carlon 5, Kali Twedt 4, Taylor Warren 4, Bridjour Han 9, Tande Smith 2, Shelby Lipp 21, Kassidy Hansen 2. Totals: 23 10-23.

Total fouls — Power 17, NS 13.