Hi-Line Boys Basketball Roundup

As we creep closer to Christmas and the New Year, we are getting close to the holiday sports break that occurs every year around this time. Yet, before that break comes, Hi-Line basketball fans were treated to one last weekend of exciting boys basketball action.

This past weekend also signaled the start of conference play in the District 9C and last Friday in Chester, two of the league's top teams met as Chester/J-I hosted the Box Elder Bears.

Over the past three seasons, the Bears have dominated the 9C and the past two years they have made it through district play unscathed. However, that will not happen this year as the Hawks upended Box Elder 54-53.

Much like it did in the District 9C semifinals a season ago, C/J-I jumped on the Bears early and grabbed an 18-4 lead by the end of the first quarter. By halftime, Box Elder had gotten within striking distance thanks to a 20-point second quarter, but the Bears still found themselves trailing 31-24.

By the end of the third quarter, Box Elder had pulled even and the score was 41-41 entering the fourth, but in the end, the Hawks did just enough to escape with a 54-53 win.

Justin May had a huge game for C/J-I and led with a game-high 28 points. Troy Harmon also added 12 for the Hawks. Jerrod Four Colors was the only Box Elder player to reach double figures in the loss, scoring 10 points. Brandon The Boy contributed with eight, as did Bodis Duran and Tristian Bernard.

While Box Elder and C/J-I was the marquee matchup of the weekend, Rocky Boy got the Hi-Line basketball schedule started last Thursday at home against Conrad. And in their first foray into District 1B basketball, the Stars were defeated by Conrad 58-56. Jerrell Gopher led Rocky Boy with 16 points in the loss. Kordell Small finished with 14.

In other Class B action, the Harlem Wildcats paid a visit to the Malta Mustangs in a battle of District 2B rivals Friday and when it was all said and done, Malta easily defeated the Wildcats by a final of 54-28. Terry Sandcrane paced the Wildcats with 10 points.

Elsewhere Friday, in the 9C, the Fort Benton Longhorns opened the district season with a victory on their home floor as they knocked off the Big Sandy Pioneers 62-27. Taylor Arganbright led Fort Benton with 18 points. Javan Christensen and Andy Giles each pitched in with 10. Laurence Allderdice scored a game-high 19 for the Pioneers.

Also in the 9C on Friday, the North Star Knights, who are hoping to contend in the district this year, opened their conference schedule with an impressive 82-42 victory over Turner.

North Star jumped on the Tornadoes early with 22 first-quarter points and at halftime led 42-17. In all, the Knights scored 20 points or more in three of the four quarters and got a 23-point effort from Devan Miller, who led all scorers in the game. Matthew Helmbrecht contributed with 13 for the Knights. Jimmy Snow, Willy Gilead and Payton Peterson all finished with seven. Bret Van Valkenberg was the high scorer for Turner with 15. Cody Welsh added 13.

In another important 9C game, the Chinook Sugarbeeters and Hays-Lodge Pole Thunderbirds, who each advanced to the Northern C Divisional last season, met in Chinook Friday. And in a battle of young teams, the Beeters rolled to a 58-31 victory.

Even though the final score was lopsided, the game was fairly close, and entering the fourth quarter, Chinook led HLP 35-25. Yet, the Beeters finished the game on a 23-6 run and got the victory thanks in large part to 27 points from Ian McIntosh. Issac Bell added 10 and Travis Hamilton had eight. Tyson Shambo and Jace Shambo each had six in the loss for the T-Birds.

After falling to Chinook, the T-Birds paid a visit to Chester to take on C/J-I and fell for the second straight night, this time by the score of 79-63. May had another big night for the Hawks, as he amassed 36 points to best the T-Birds. Cory Richter also poured in 25. Frank Runs Above was the top scorer for HLP with 27, Tyson Shambo had nine.

Chinook on the other hand, played host to Big Sandy Saturday and finished off a perfect 2-0 weekend in district play with a dominating 64-22 triumph. The Beeters used a 20-4 first quarter run to blow the game wide open and got a game-high 19 points from McIntosh. Bell contributed with 13 and Cord Scheider finished with 11. Allderdice finished with nine for the Pioneers.

After suffering their first 9C loss since the 2012-13 season, Box Elder rebounded in a big way, dismantling North Star 88-51 on its home floor. The Bears blitzed the Knights with 51 first-half points and from that point on, the outcome was never in doubt.

Five Bear players reached double-figures led by Four Colors, who had 16. Pernell Morsette, had 15, The Boy had 13, Shane Ketchum had 12 and Trey Henderson scored 11. Miller led the Knights again with 11, Keevan Borlaug managed nine.

And rounding out 9C play for the weekend was Fort Benton, which traveled to Turner Saturday and knocked off the Tornadoes 45-30. Arganbright and Christensen led the Longhorns to a 2-0 start in district play with 12 points. Andy Giles added 11. Cody Welsh was the only Tornado to reach double figures and ended up with 11.

The area action continued on Monday with HLP beating North Star 52-45 on the road.

Frank Runs Above scored 18 points and Tyson Shambo added 10 for the T-Birds, while Matt Helmbrecht scored 17 and Keevan Borlaug added 10 for the Knights.

Also on Monday night, Big Sandy fell to DGS 78-25 with Laurence Allderdice scoring 20 for the Pioneers.

C/J-I also beat Turner 65-37 Monday night, while Fort Benton lost to Conrad and Harlem fell in a nailbiter at Wolf Point.

Thursday

Conrad 58, Rocky Boy 56

Conrad 13 10 16 19 – 58

Rocky Boy 16 14 13 13 – 56

Rocky Boy – Jerrell Gopher 16, Kordell Small 14, Chase Corcoran 6, Ben ron Eyes 5, Treyal Belgarde 2, K. Windy Boy 13. Totals: 22 2-4

Conrad – Clark Judiseh 7, Cordell Wittmier 12, Trent Zimbelman 16, Logan Garman 5, Bert Paulsen 1, Kyle Murack 17. Totals: 17 19-26.

Total fouls – RB 22, Conrad 10. Fouled out – none. 3-pointers – Gopher 4, Small 4, Corcoran 1, Iron Eyes 1, Wittmier 3, Paulsen 2.

Friday

Chester/J-I 54, Box Elder 53

Box Elder 4 20 17 12 – 53

C/J-I 18 13 10 13 – 54

Box Elder – Jerrod Four Colors 10, Pernell Morsette 2, Brandon The Boy 8, Bodis Duran 8, Tristian Bernard 8, Eli Robertson 7, Trey Henderson 4, Shane Ketchum 6. Totals: 24 3-5.

C/J-I – Cory Richter 4, Brandon Richter 4, Javin Miles 6, Troy Harmon 12, Justin May 28. Totals: 21 10-13.

Total fouls – BE 16, CJI 10. 3-pointers – The Boy 2, May 2.

Fort Benton 62, Big Sandy 27

Big Sandy 7 8 5 7 – 27

Fort Benton 13 16 12 21 – 62

Big Sandy – Laurence Allderdice 19, R. Roth 8. Totals: 10 3-6.

Fort Benton – Taylor Arganbright 18, Eli Toon 10, Javan Christensen 10, Andy Giles 16, J. Pimperton 6, D. Cook 2. Totals: 27 3-7.

Total fouls – BS 12, FB 10. 3-pointers – Alderdice 2, Roth 2, Arganbright 2, Toon, Giles 2.

Malta 54, Harlem 28

Harlem 7 9 7 5 – 28

Malta 18 11 13 12 – 54

Harlem – Corbin Brockie 2, Jaden Beaumont 5, Terry Sandcrane 10, Michael Butterfly 5, Keahnn Little 2, Tevin Messerly 2, Cole Azure 2. Totals: 11 5-12.

Malta – Nate Costin 11, Hunter Love 3, Jace Bishop 10, Tyson Carney 2, Allen Williamson 16, Blake Siostrom 2, Ostin Welch 4, Taylor Matthews 2, Tel jensen 2, Devon Raybon 2.

Totals: 19 13-16. Total fouls – Harlem 15, Malta 12. 3-pointers – Butterfly, Costin 2, Lov

North Star 82, Turner 42

Turner 8 9 10 15 – 42

North Star 22 20 14 26 – 82

Turner – Cody Welsh 13, Tyler Humphreys 6, Damian Schumacher 2, Bret Van Valkenberg 15, Eddie Harmon 3, Tracer Helig 3. Totals: 14 11-25.

North Star – Dylan Miller 4, Shea Sizemore 4, Cade Chvilicek 9, Dane Miller 2, Willy Gilead 7, Gavin Spinler 7, Jimmy Snow 7, Payton peterson 5, Devan Miller 23, Keevan Borlaug 4, Matthew Helmbrecht 13, Thamas Nerat 2. Totals: 31 15-26.

Total fouls – Turner 18, NS 21. 3-pointers –Humphreys, VanValkenberg 2, Chvilicek 2, Gilead, Spinler, Helmbrecht.

Chinook 58, Hays-Lodge Pole 31

Chinook 13 12 10 23 – 58

Hays-Lodge Pole 7 10 8 6 – 31

Chinook: R. Smith 3, Kyler Johnson 5, Ian McIntosh 27, K.yleMcMasters 3, Cord Schnider 2, Issac Bell 10, Travis Hamilton 8.

HLP: Jace Shambo 6, E. Blackcrow 7, Tyson Shambo 6, Damon Castillo 2, C. Werk 4, Frank Runsabove 4, Tough Snow 2.

Saturday

Chester/J-I 79, Hays-Lodge Pole 63

HLP 9 10 23 21 – 63

C/J-I 26 13 22 18 – 79

Hays-Lodge Pole – Frank Runsabove 27, P. Main 2, Tough Snow 6, C. Werk 6, Jace Shambo 2, Tyson Shambo 9, Damon Castillo 8, D. Shambo 3. Totals: 24 9-14.

C/J-I – Cory Richter 25, Brandon Richter 3, Javin Miles 4, Troy Harmon 9, Justin May 36, Bruce Tempel 2. Totlas: 29 18-30.

3-Point goals – Runsabove 2, T. Shambo 1, Costillo 2, D. Shambo 1, C. Richter 1, Harmon 1, May 1. Total fouls -- Hays-Lodgepole 20, CJI 14. Fouled out – J. Shambo. Technical fouls – J. Shambo.

Fort Benton 45, Turner 30

Fort Benton 8 17 14 6 – 45

Turner 7 5 7 11 – 30

Fort Benton – D. Bird 2, Taylor Arganbright 12, Eli Toon 11, Andy Giles 7, Javan Christiensen 12, D. Cook 1. Totals: 16 11-17.

Turner – Cody Welsh 12, Tyler Humphreys 5, Damian Schumacher 1, Bret VanValkenburg 2, Eddie Harmon 6, Tracer Heilig 4. Totals: 12 6-19.

3-Point goals – Arganbright 1, Toon 1. Total fouls – Fort Benton 15, Turner 14. Fouled out – None.

Box Elder 88, North Star 51

North Star 14 12 14 11 -- 51

Box Elder 23 28 32 5 -- 88

North Star - Dylan Miller 2, Shea Sizemore 4, Cade Chivilizak 4, Willy Gilead 5, Galvin Spinler 5, Jimmy Snow 3, Payton Peterson 2, Devan Miller 14, Keevan Borlaug 9, Matthew Helmbrecht 5. Totals 15 18-26 51.

Box Elder - Jerrod Four Colors 16, Pernell Morsette 16, Brandon The Boy 13, Reece Morsette 3, Bodis Duran 8, Tristan Bernard 4, Thane Wolf Chief 3, Elias Robertson 2, Trey Henderson 11, Shane Ketchum 12. Totals 33 16-23 88.

3-point goals - North Star: Spinler 1, Snow 1, Borlaug 1; Box Elder: Four Colors 1, The Boy 2, Morsette 1, Bernard 2, Wolf Chief 1, Henderson 1. Total fouls - North Star 18, Box Elder 18. Fouled out - none.

Chinook 64, Big Sandy 22

Big Sandy 4 6 8 4 – 22

Chinook 20 22 11 11 – 64

Big Sandy – R. Roth 1, T. Haugen 2, E. Schwarzbach 6, M. Louvar 4, Laurence Allerdice 8, C. Doulington 1. Totals: 9 4-9.

Chinook – Robert Smith 3, Kyler Johnson 4, Ian McIntosh 19, James Christensen 2, Kyle. M 6, Brendan Edwards 3, Cord Schneider 10, Isaac Bell 13, Travis Hamilton 4. Totals: 28 3-9.

Team fouls – Big Sandy 10, Chinook 13. Fouled out – none. 3-pointers – Smith 1, McIntosh 3, Edwards 1.

Monday

Wolf Point 44, Harlem 43

Wolf Point 17 9 11 7 – 44

Harlem 2 8 13 10 -- 43

Wolf Point – Andrew Heser 2, Logan Nefzger 11, Terrell Hamilton 2, Morty Manning 2, Joseph Williamson 15, Cale Evans 2, Nathan Hamilton 10. Totals 19 2-7 44.

Harlem – Jaden Beaumont 2, Terry Sandcrane 16, Keahna Little 20, Damon Adams 3, Tevin Messerly 2.

Conrad 67, Fort Benton 16

Ft. Benton 2 5 7 2 -- 16

Conrad 16 13 20 18 -- 67

Ft. Benton - T. Hasbrough 1, T. Arganbright 4, E. Toon 5, A. Giles 1, J. Christensen 2, D. Cook 3. Totals 5 5-12 16.

Conrad - Trace Jochems 4, Clark Judisch 7, Daylon Jay 2, Cordell Wittimier 5, Ryan Murack 2, Logan Garman 17, Eric Harwood 4, Clint Judisch 2, Damon Baney 6, Bert Paulsen 7, Kyle Murack 11. 25 10-22 67.

3-point goals - Toon 1, Jochems 1, Wittimier 1, Garman 3, Paulsen 1, Murack 1. Total fouls - Ft. Benton 16, Conrad 16. Fouled out - Toon.

Hays-Lodge pole 52, North Star 45

HLP 18 11 9 12 -- 52

NS 8 9 20 8 -- 45

HLP - Tyson Shambo 10, Damon Castillo 8, Charles Werk 8, Frank Runs Above 18, Jace Shambo 5, DJ Shambo 2, Kyle Young 1. Totals 17 15-25 52.

NS - Shea Sizemore 4, Willy Gilead 2, Payton Peterson 1, Devon Miller 9, Keevan Borlaug 12, Matthew Helmbrecht 17. 16 11-25 45.

Chester/J-I 65, Turner 37

C/J-I 23 23 17 2 -- 65

Turner 9 11 7 10 -- 37

C/J-I - Cory Richter 13, Brandon Richter 6, Noah Bender 2, Clark Diemert 2, Jayin Miles 3, Troy Harmon 13, Justin May 17, Bruce Tempel 6. Totals 29 6-11 65.

Turner - Jonathan Wu 2, Cody Wecsh 4, Clayton Krass 3, Tyler Humphrey 9, Damian Scrivm 2, Bret Van Valk 3, Eddie Harmon 6, Jevyn Schum 3, Tracer Hekig 5. Totals 14 4-9 37.

DGS 78, Big Sandy 25

DGS 29 20 19 9 – 78

Big Sandy 4 14 1 6 – 25

DGS – T. Morris 3, C. Bokma 9, R. Woodhall 17, K. Woodhall 6, C. Hill 2, K. Carpenter 13, T. Lee 11, J. Schafer 2, C. Cali 5, K. Carpenter 8, S. Beeler 2. Totals 32 3-4 78.

Big Sandy – R. Roth 3, T. Haugen 2, L. Allderdice 20. Totals 7, 10-21 25.