Hi-Line Boys Roundup: Bears best Stars in NAC showdown

The anticipation level was high for the start of the 2014-15 boys basketball season along the Hi-Line. But as Box Elder and Rocky Boy proved last Thursday night, the wait was worth it.

There were many great matchups played in the state last Thursday through Saturday but few can compare to the showdown between the Box Elder Bears, the defending Class C state champions, and the Rocky Boy Stars.

The two rivals met in the opening game of the Native American Classic Thursday night in Havre at the Armory Gymnasium. And, well, let's just say it was worth the price of admission.

The Bears came into the game riding a 26-game win streak. And one of those 26 victories just happened to come against Rocky Boy last season. So, the Stars, who are looking to show they are a title contender in Class B, were out for revenge.

Yet, the Bears are the favorite to repeat as state champs for a reason and jumped out a quick 11-3 lead thanks to a pair of 3-pointers from Jerrod Four Colors. Skylar Parisian helped the Stars climb back into it at 13-7 after knocking down a 2-pointer, then a trey. But, Brandon The Boy showed why he was a preseason All-State selection by hitting back-to-back 3-pointers and giving the Bears 19-7 lead late in the first quarter.

Trailing 19-11 at the end of the first, the Stars tried furiously to gain ground on the Bears and despite a solid 17-point effort in the second stanza, Rocky Boy still trailed by seven, 34-27 at halftime.

Things tightened up in the third and when Junior Day Child buried a three as time was running out, the Stars trailed Box Elder by just three at 47-44.

Day Child hit a jumper to start the scoring in the fourth and then Parisian hit a free throw to tie the game at 47-47 with more than seven minutes remaining. That's when the Bears reasserted control. Box Elder went on a 12-3 run, highlighted by a 3-point play by The Boy.

After the run, the Bears led 59-50 with 3:03 to play. Rocky Boy tried to rally but in the end the Stars fell short, 66-61. Four Colors was the high scorer in the game with 17 points. Clayton Morsette had 13 and The Boy had 12. Parisian led the Stars with 15 points and Bubby Gopher was next with 14.

"This game is our Louisville-Kentucky," Box Elder head coach Jeremy MacDonald said. "That is one of the best rivalries in the state of Montana. It was fun to be a part of it. Rocky Boy is a great team. They are going to make some noise in Class B, and we are going to make some noise in Class C. We are going to try and get our Chippewa Cree tribe in the newspaper for some good things."

In other action at the Native American Classic Thursday, the Harlem Wildcats of District 2B, took on Kainai, Alberta and dominated from start to finish on their way to a 60-32 victory. Tristan Gone scored 17 points for Harlem. James Chandler contributed with 10.

At the Chester/J-I Tournament, the North Star Knights, who, along with Box Elder, are from the District 9C, got their season off to a promising start with a 57-38 victory over Helena Christian. Matthew Helmbrecht notched a game-high 15 points in the win, while Payton Peterson also had 14.

In other action from Chester on Thursday, the Chinook Sugarbeeters went head-to-head with Simms and won a low scoring affair, 38-24. The Beeters held Simms to just seven points in the first half and used a 13-point third quarter to push a nine-point halftime lead into a 16-point advantage by the end of the first quarter.

Lane Seymour was outstanding, scoring a game-high 20 points for the Beeters. Ian McIntosh added six.

Friday, the Stars were looking to bounce back from their loss to Box Elder and did so in a big way with a 99-31 domination of Poplar in Havre. Cecil LaFromboise was a force down low and poured in 21 points for Rocky Boy. Parisian stood out with 17. Gopher had 15.

Making its debut Friday was Fort Benton/Geraldine in the first game for the schools after the co-op. The game took place in Fort Benton and unfortunately the season-opening game for Fort Benton/Geraldine was a 59-41 loss to Foothills. On the bright side, Toren Andreasen did score 19 points in the loss.

Chester/J-I, the host team at the Chester tournament got its season, the first one as a member of the 9C, off to a roaring start with a 59-18 win over Helena Christian. Four Hawks scored in double figures led by Justin May and Brandon Richter, who each had 13. Troy Harmon and Brandon Theel both scored 11.

In other action in Chester Friday, the Big Sandy Pioneers got their first win in quite some time after being winless in 2013-14. Head coach Ronnie Simpson's crew downed Roy-Winifred 48-36 in large part due to the 16 points from Kyle Strutz and 14 from Laurence Alderdice.

North Star saw its record fall to 1-1 in Chester Friday after Valier defeated the Knights by the score of 57-48. Helmbrecht had 17 points in the loss. Peterson pitched in with 15.

On the final day of basketball in Chester Saturday, Chinook won its second game of the young season by thrashing Roy-Winifred 63-33. Seymour was solid again with 14 points, while Wade Schneider had 13 and McIntosh had 10.

Also in Chester Saturday, Big Sandy fell to Simms 55-27. Alderdice was one of the few bright spots with 13 points. Geno Menard added eight. Fort Benton/Geraldine lost for the second night of the week, but this time it was only by three. Centerville built a 29-23 lead after three quarters and eventually held on for a 39-36 win. Ryal Briese had nine points to lead the way for Fort Benton/Geraldine. Sean Bronec had seven. Chester/J-I joined Chinook at 2-0 with a 66-37 victory over Valier. The Hawks rode May's 26 points to the win. Harmon also contributed with 14 and Corey Richter had 10.

In the last boys game at the NAC, the Box Elder Bears extended their win streak to 28-games with a 68-25 win over Class B Harlem Saturday. Morsette led the Bears with 16 points, while Four Colors added 12. Jake Jones also had nine. Gone had nine points in the loss for the Wildcats.

Thursday

Harlem 60, Kainai (Alberta) 32

Kainai 6 7 9 10 – 32 

Harlem 10 14 16 10 – 60

KAINAI - Ryan Mills 1 0-0 2, Dakota Melting Tallow 1 0-0 2, Dylan Shade 0 0-0 0, Jonathan Red Crane 0 0-0 0, David Crow Chief 3 0-0 7, Tim Eaglespeaker 2 1-1 5, Jaylin Good Striker- Hunt 3 2-2 8, Ryan Wadsworth 0 0-0 0, Wyatt Buckskin 1 0-0 2, Aubrey Blood 0 0-0 0, Roan Weaselhead 2 1-2 6, Shane Ramsey 0 0-0 0. Total 13 3-3 32.

HARLEM - Corbin Brockie 1 0-0 2, Deion Hammett 3 0-4 8, Dutch Helgeson 3 0-0 9, John Bell 2 0-0 6, Tevin Messerly 2 0-0 4, Tristan Gone 8 1-3 17, Cole Azure 0 0-0 0, Terry Sanderane 2 0-0 4, James Chandler 5 0-1 10. Total 26 1-8 60.

3-point goals – Kainai 2 (Weaselhead, Crow Chief), Harlem 7 (Hammett 2, Helgeson 3, Bell 2). Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.​

North Star 57, Helena Christian 38

North Star 14 15 12 16 – 57

Helena Christian 9 5 10 14 – 38

North Star – Willie Gilead 7, Gavin Spinler 10, Jimmy Snow 3, Payton Peterson 14, Devon Miller 4, Keevan Borlang 2, Matthew Helmbrecht 15, Chris Lavery 2. Totals: 22 9-19.

Helena Christian – Brad Asbury 2, Bryan Asbury 7, RTanner Marks 4, Zach Fenlason 6, Tim Donaldson 3, Connor Koenig 16. Totals: 13 11-21.

Total fouls – NS 23, HC 19. Fouled out – Koenig. 3-point goals – Gilead, Spinler 2, Helmbrecht, Donaldson.

Chinook 38, Simms 24

Chinook 5 11 13 9 – 38

Simms 1 6 6 11 – 24

Chinook – Lane Seymour 20, Ian McIntosh 6, Cody McCracken 6, Zach Schieller 5, Travis Hamilton 1. Totals: 11 15-25.

Simms – Logan Rushton 5, Dace Steinke 4, CJ Brown 8, Erik Pschernig 4, Jake Bloom 3. Totals: 8 4-11.

Total fouls – Chinook 14, Simms 20. 3-point goals – Seymour, Rushton, Brown 2, Pschernig.

Box Elder 66, Rocky Boy 61

Box Elder 19 15 13 19 – 66

Rocky Boy 11 16 17 17 – 61

BOX ELDER -- Brandon The Boy 4 1-2 12, Bodis Duran 0 0-0 0, Clayton Morsette Jr. 4 2-5 13, Jake Jones 4 3-4 11, Jerrod Four Colors 6 3-7 17, Quinn Baker 1 4-6 6, Pernell Morsette 1 1-2 4, Shane Ketchum 1 0-0 3, Tanner Perisian 0 0-0 0, Jacob Bradley 0 0-0 0. Total 21 14-26 66.

ROCKY BOY -- Bubby Gopher 4 3-4 14, Isiah Murie 1 0-0 2, Levi Olson 2 0-0 4, Skylar Parisian 5 3-6 15, Junior Day Child 4 0-0 8, Shadow LaForge 2 0-0 5, Lance Parker 0 1-2 1, Kordell Small 0 0-0 0, Cecil LaFromboise 5 1-2 11. Total 23 8-14 61.

3-point goals – Box Elder 10 (The Boy 3, Morsette Jr. 3, Four Colors 2, Morsette, Ketchum), Rocky Boy 7 (Gopher 3, Parisian 2, Day Child, LaForge). Fouled out – Rocky Boy (Day Child). Technical fouls – Rocky Boy (Bench).

Friday

Hays-Lodge Pole 61, Lodge Grass 60

Hays-Lodge Pole 24 14 13 10 - 61

Lodge Grass 19 15 12 14 - 60

HLP - Tyson Shambo 25, Brian Wing Jr. 4, Thane Helgeson 2, Sterling WhiteCow 10, Frank RunsAbove 10, Darnell Parisian 4, Tough Snow 6.

LG - Antonio Merchant 13, Skylar Plainfeather 3, Kobe Gutierrez 10, Arlo MaleBear 2, Lando Stewart 20, Joshua Wilson 12.

Foothills Christian 59, Fort Benton/Geraldine 41

Foothills  9 16 18 16 – 59

Fort Benton/Geraldine 20 5 9 7 – 41

Foothills Christian – Ben Fried 4, Luke Willekes 10, Dawson Reiman 17, Shane Wood 10, Konner Lund 6, Claus Henning 12. Totals: 23 7-15.

Fort Benton/Geraldine – Toren Andreasen 19, Briese Ryal 3, Ben Hulme 7, Jaxon Christienson 6, Eli Toon 4, Sean Bronec 2. Totals: 17 4-7.

Total fouls – FH 12, FBG 15. Technical fouls – Andreasen 2 (ejected). 3-point goals – Fried, Willekes 2, D. Reiman, Henning 2, Andreasen 2, Hulme.

Chester/J-I 59, Helena Christian 18

Helena 3 5 7 3 – 18

C/J-I 18 16 21 4 – 59

Helena Christian – Bryan Asbury 3, T. Marks 5, T. Donaldson 2, C. Koenig 8. Totals: 5 7-16

C/J-I – Brandon Richter 13, B. Hawks 2, Brandon Theel 11, Jarvin Miles 3, Troy Harmon 11, Corey Richter 4, Justin May 13, B. Tempel 2. Totals: 23 9-15

Rocky Boy 99, Poplar 31

Poplar 8 9 6 8 – 31

Rocky Boy 38 28 26 7 – 99

Poplar – Waylon Youpee 9, Coy Atkinson 6, Boy Youngman 4, Alex Lame Bear 8, Lane Headdress 2, Damon Sadler 2.

Rocky Boy – Bubby Gopher 13, Lexi Olson 5, Skylar Parisian 17, Shoadow LaForge 7, Jarrell Parker 4, Cecil LaFromboise 21, Kordell Small 4, Lance Parker 4.

Big Sandy 48, Roy-Winifred 36

Roy-Winifred 15 6 4 11 - 36

Big Sandy 12 10 14 12 - 48

Roy-Winifred: Cody Bergum 2, Jorden Dehaven 10, Buster Stier 12, Brett Wichman 6, Raymond Levick 4, Raven Rice 2. Totals: 13 7-12.

Big Sandy: Levi Edwards 5, S. Wing 5, Geno Menard 8, Kyle Strutz 16, Laurence Allderdice 14. Totals: 15 18-26.

Total fouls: Roy-Winifred 21, Big Sandy 12. Fouled out: Dehaven. 3-pointers: Strutz 1, Dehaven 1, Stier 2.

Valier 57, North Star 48

North Star 4 17 9 18 - 48

Valier 8 13 24 12 - 57

North Star - Willie Gilead 8, Gavin Spinler 5, Payton Peterson 12, Devon Miller 6, Matthew Helmbrecht 17. Totals: 17 7-25.

Valier - Darin Habel 7, Wade Culver 4, Sean Brownell 17, Coltin Wheeler 10, Halsten Beck 11, Colten Curry 4, Tristin Bullshoe 4. Totals: 19 17-30.

Total fouls: North Star 24, Valier 21. Fouled out: Spinler, Helbrecht. 3-pointers: Gilead 2, Helmbrecht 1, Wheeler 2.

Saturday

Chinook 63, Roy-Winifred 33

Roy-Winifred 6 7 15 5 – 33

Chinook 21 13 14 15 – 63

Roy-Winifred – Cody Bergum 2, Jordan DeHaven 5, Buster Styer 12, Brett Wichman 8, Raymond Levick 3, Patrick Carrell 3.

Chinook – Lane Seymour 14, Ian McIntosh 10, Cody McCracken 6, Zack Schellin 15, Travis Hamilton 5, Wade Schneider 13.

Total fouls – RW 18, Chinook 11. Fouled out – DeHaven. 3-point goals – DeHaven, Styer 2, Levick, Carrell, Schellin 2, Hamilton.

Simms 55, Big Sandy 27

Simms 23 11 13 8 – 55

Big Sandy 4 6 5 12 – 27

Simms – Thomas Kohut 2, Logan Rushton 4, Dece Steinke 6, CJ Bown 18, Erik Pschernig 11, Jake Bloom 14. Totals: 23 3-7.

Big Sandy – L. Edwards 2, Geno Menard 8, Kyle Strutz 4, Laurence Alderdice 13. Totals: 12 3-8.

Total fouls – Simms 14, BS 10. 3-point goals – Brown 5, Pschernig.

Centerville 39, Fort Benton/Geraldine 36

Centerville 6 7 16 10 – 39

Fort Benton/Geraldine 6 5 12 13 – 36

Centerville – Brandon Travis 4, Cooper Davis 3, Logan Vining 15, Briggs Judd 10, Tanner Rigor 7. Totals: 12 9-12.

Fort Benton/Geraldine – Ryal Briese 9, Javan Christensen 4, Taylor Arganbright 9, Ben Hulme 6, Eli Toon 1, Sean Bronec 7. Totals: 13 10-18.

Total fouls – CV 18, FBG 12. 3-point goals – Davis, Vining 2, Rigor.

Box Elder 68, Harlem 25

Harlem 5 11 0 9 – 25

Box Elder 24 10 17 17 – 68

Harlem – Corbin Brockie 5, Deion Hammett 2, Dutch Helgeson 1, John Bell 6, Tristan Gone 8, Terry Sandcrane 3.

Box Elder – Quinn Baker 4, Clayton Morsette 16, Tanner Parisian 3, Bodis Duran 3, Jake Jones 9, Jerrod Four Colors 12, Prenell Morsette 7, Shane Ketchum 2, Tre Henderson 3, Jacob Bradley 8.

Total fouls – Harlem 9, BE 8. 3-point goals – Brockie, Bell 2, C. Morsette, Jones 2, P. Morsette.

Chester/J-I 66, Valier 37

Valier 12 8 9 8 – 37

C/J-I 15 21 15 15 – 66

Valier – N. Boumans 4, K. Christiaens 2, C. Wheeler 13, S. Brownell 7, O. Lunda 1, H. Beck 8, C. Curry 2. Totals: 11 10-23.

C/J-I – Brandon Richter 8, B. Hawks 7, Javin Miles, Troy Harmon 14, Corey Richter 10, Justin May 26. Totals: 20 21-34.

Total fouls – Valier 25, CJI 21. Fouled out – B. Theel (CJI). 3-point goals – Boumans, Wheeler 2, Ceck 2, Harmon, C. Richter, May 6.