Rocky Boy, Harlem end at Northern B

While many Hi-Line basketball fans were focused on the Class C and Class A boys state tournaments, there was still some important girls basketball being played up in Choteau, at the 2016 Northern B Divisional.

With berths in the Class B state tournament on the line, eight teams converged on Choteau to battle it out, over the course of three days and two of the teams participating were Rocky Boy and Harlem.

Yet, it didn’t take long for either team to suffer a setback as both the Morning Stars and the Wildcats dropped their respective opening games of the tournament on Thursday. Rocky Boy opened against Glasgow and despite jumping out to an 11-5 lead in the first quarter, the Scotties outscored the Morning Stars 35-20 over the second and third quarters, to roll to a 53-39 win.

Jaylynn Mitchell was the top performer for Rocky Boy with a game-high 19 points. Adrienne Gopher added six, while Sean Henry and Jurnee LaForge each had five. Abbi Kolstad finished with 17 for Glasgow. Jordan Kulcyzk contributed with 15.

While Rocky Boy got off to a hot start in its opening game, Harlem did the exact opposite and fell behind Choteau, the host-team, 15-4 at the end of the first quarter. At the half, the Bulldogs had extended their lead to 34-11 and would go on to win handily, 55-31. Payton Durocher had 20 to spark the Bulldogs. Skylee Diren was the leading scorer for Harlem with eight. Autumn Eagleman and Val Talks Different both finished with five.

On Friday, the Wildcats were hoping to keep their season alive after falling to Choteau and to do so, they would need to upset the Shelby Coyotes. However, the Coyotes doubled-up Harlem in the first half, 30-15 and cruised from there to a 68-41 win. Abbey Aklestad had 27 to lead Shelby, while Brooke LaValdo scored 12 for the Wildcats and Skylee Dirden had eight.

Harlem may have been bounced from the tournament Friday, but the Morning Stars weren’t, thanks to a 53-46 victory over Wolf Point in loser-out action. Rocky Boy led 18-9 at the end of the first quarter and 33-16 at the half en route to the seven-point victory. LaForge had 17 to lead the way for the Morning Stars. Henry added 10 and Maya Reed also had nine. Kateri Rush had a game-high 21 for Wolf Point in the loss.

After posting a win Friday, the Morning Stars still had hopes of advancing to the state tournament. But, they were soon dashed by Choteau, which overcame a 9-7 deficit after the first quarter to defeat Rocky Boy 43-32. Henry had 13 points for the Morning Stars in their final game of the season. Durocher had 14 points to lead the way for the Bulldogs.

The Malta M-Ettes ended up winning the Northern B title, by way of a win Saturday against Fairfield. won a challenge game Monday night to determine the eighth and final team in the Class B girls state tournament, which starts this Thursday in Butte.

Thursday

Glasgow 53, Rocky Boy 39

Rocky Boy 11 10 10 8 - 39

Glasgow 5 18 17 13 - 53

Rocky Boy: Sean Henry 5, Maya Reed 3, Adrienne Gopher 6, Jaylynn Mitchell 19, Shania Patacsil 1, Jurnee Laforge 5.

Glasgow: Khloe Krumwiede 4, Abbi Kolstad 17, Lexi Nixdorf 6, Leinie Hughes 6, Tyra Johnson 5, Jordan Kulczyk 15.

Choteau 55, Harlem 31

Harlem 4 7 12 8 - 31

Choteau 15 19 15 6 - 55

Harlem: Mari Ereaux 1, Skylee Diren 8, Anita Bentley 4, Brooke LeValdo 2, Val Talks Different 5, Autumn Eagleman 5, Cyprienne Guardipee 2, Emma Humphryes 4.

Choteau: Payton Durocher 14, Whitney Durocher 9, Kaitlin Bowers 4, Tristin Achenbach 8, Payge Durocher 20.

Friday

Shelby 68, Harlem 41

Harlem 9 6 5 21 - 41

Shelby 13 17 24 14 - 68

Harlem: Mari Ereaux 3, Skylee Dirden 8, Brooke LeValdo 12, Val Talks Different 4, Autumn Eagleman 6, Jazzamyn Benson 4, Emma Humphreys 4.

Shelby: Sierra Asper 14, Kim Parsell 2, Abbey Aklestad 27, Skyler Martin 2, Brooke Aklestad 3, Brianne White 6, Ashton Daniels 9, Sarah Sanchez 5.

Rocky Boy 53, Wolf Point 46

Rocky Boy 18 15 12 8 - 53

Wolf Point 9 7 8 22 - 46

Rocky Boy: Sean Henry 10, Maya Reed 9, Adrienne Gopher 9, Jurnee LaForge 17, Jaylynn Mitchell 6, Shania Patacsil 2.

Wolf Point: Brenna Kurokawa 7, Shelby Hanks 13, Ashtyn Hentges 4, Kateri Rush 21, Kelsie Neubauer 1.

Saturday

Choteau 43, Rocky Boy 32

Rocky Boy 9 10 7 6 - 32

Choteau 7 20 9 7 - 43

Rocky Boy: Sean Henry 13, Adrienne Gopher 4, Jurnee Laforge 4, Jaylynn Mitchell 5, Shania Patacsil 2, Rosie Parker 4.

Choteau: Payton Durocher 14, Whitney Durocher 6, Tristin Achenbach 11, Payge Durocher 6, Jazmyn Duffner 6.