What a night for the Knights

Over the last decade, the Chinook Sugarbeeters and North Stars Knights have both been staples at the Northern C Divisional tournament in Great Falls. But, in 2017, only one of them would get the chance to go.

The Knights and Beeters met in the District 9C girls consolation game Friday night inside the HHS gymnasium, and thanks to a 3-point barrage in the third quarter, it was the Knights who punched their ticket to the Northern C with a 47-43 win.

“I’m thrilled for these girls,” North Star first-year head coach Rob Spicher said. “At the beginning of the season (Northern C) was one of their main goals. So it’s special. It’s great to see them work hard enough and play well enough to achieve that goal. The girls did a great job and I’m really happy for them.”

The third-seeded Knights may have been the favorite coming into the game, but it was the Beeters who led for almost the entire first half. The Beeters led 14-9 thanks to a combined 10 points from Brooke Elliot and Erin Pula in the first quarter, and they held a slim, 25-22 halftime lead with late buckets from Kourtney Hanson.

But as well as Chinook, which has gone to seven straight Northern C tournaments, played in the first 16 minutes, the third quarter is where everything changed.

Chelsea Donaldson nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game at 27-27, but Sierra Swank answered right back with a three of her own, and Elliot scored right after to give Chinook a 32-27 edge. Then, however, the Knights went on a 12-0 run, sparked by a Lily Pedersen three, as well as long-range bombs from Katelin Harvey and Sheridan Spicher. Harvey capped the run with a pair of free throws, and by the time the third was over, the Knights led 39-34.

“Those 3-pointers were big,” Coach Spicher said. “That’s the kids showing the confidence they have in themselves. We, as coaches, try to put them in the best position possible and then let them make the decisions. Those shots were those girls making decisions and having the confidence in themselves to do it.”

Even with the exciting third quarter, the game went right down to the wire. An Elliot jumper pulled Chinook to within one with 5:01 left to play, but Paij Peterson answered with a spectacular drive and score, which turned into an old-fashioned 3-point play that put the Knights up 44-40. Pula would make one more field goal for Chinook, but in the final two minutes, the Beeters gave away a couple of turnovers and missed good looks at the basket, and North Star was able to hold on for the exciting win.

The loss ended the season for Chinook (11-11), which got 12 points from Elliot and 11 by Hanson. Chinook finished the game shooting 42 percent from the field and outrebounding the Knights 42-27.

On the other side, North Star forced 35 turnovers on defense, while also getting 12 points and nine rebounds from Peterson, despite early foul trouble. Sheridan Spicher chipped in with 10, but the Knights were also balanced with Pedersen scoring eight and Kate Hansen adding six.

Now, the Knights (15-7) are headed back to Great Falls for the first time in three seasons. The Knights will play the third seed from the 8C in the opening round Wednesday morning, and, coach Spicher said, his team is far from done accomplishing goals.

“This was a big one, and these kids deserve it,” Spicher said of the third-place finish. “But we have more goals that we’ll go after down there in Great Falls. So we’re excited and looking forward to it.”

North Star got to the consolation game by fighting off a big effort from Turner Friday afternoon. The Knights won that game 56-49, eliminating Turner after a strong showing at the 9C.

For much of the contest, North Star seemed to be in full control, especially early when the Knights jumped out to a 12-4 lead. North Star then had a big second quarter, and led 28-14 at intermission.

Eventually, the Knights led by as many as 15 points, but Turner wouldn’t go away. The Tornadoes got 3-pointers from Ella Billmayer and Rylee Conlan early in the fourth quarter to cut the lead down. However, foul trouble, mostly from having to play catch-up, would eventually catch up to the Tornadoes, who ended their season with an outstanding 11-10 record.

Turner, which also won a game at the 9C for the second straight year, got 14 points from Billmayer in her final game, while Conlan scored 10 and Melanie Watkins added nine. The Knights got a big game from Katelyn Hansen, who poured in 18, while Paij Peterson and Peytan King each scored 12.

In the other loser-out game, Chinook survived a huge scare from Chester-Joplin-Inverness. In what was a 56-55 final score, the Hawks had the ball with three seconds left, with a chance to upset the Beeters. But, CJI never got a clean look at a game-winner, and was eliminated with the loss.

The Hawks, who won six games this season after advancing to the Northern C a year ago, saved their best for last. They played well from start-to-finish and gave the Beeters all they could handle. Korrin Harmon scored 22 points and buried four triples in the loss, while Khloe Kamerzell added 18 and two treys.

Erin Pula paced Chinook in its final win of the season, scoring 22 points and pulling down 15 boards. Carrie Hofer scored 11 and Sierra Swank chipped in with 10.

Chinook 56, CJI 55, lo

Chinook 14 15 10 17 – 56

CJI 15 13 16 11 – 55

Chinook – Sierra Swank 10, Carrie Hofer 11, Kourtney Hanson 4, Jaye Anderson 2, Rochelle Chaffin 0, Erin Pula 22, Brooke Elliot 7.

CJI – Kendahl Knapton 9, Korrin Harmon 22, Kayona Fraser 5, Khole Kamerzell 18, Peyton Hawks 1.

3-pointers – Harmon 4, Kamerzell 2, Fraser 1, Swank 1, Hofer 2, Pula 1. Fouls – CJI 11, Chinook 21. Fouled out – Hofer.

North Star 56, Turner 49, lo

North Star 12 16 11 17 – 56

Turner 4 10 17 18 – 49

North Star – Katelyn Hansen 18, Niki Kurtz 1, Paij Peterson 12, Lily Pedersen 2, Sheridan Spicher 6, Chelsea Donaldson 5, Peytan King 12.

Turner – Raegan Conlan 3, Ella Billmayer 14, Sarah Billmayer 3, Rylee Conlan 10, Melanie Watkins 9, Rennay Watkins 2, Shyan Krass 8.

3-pointers – Hansen 1, Raegan Conlan 1, Ella Billmayer 2, Sarah Billmayer 1, Krass 1. Fouls – North Star 23, Turner 29. Fouled out: Raegan Conlan, Rylee Conlan, Ella Billmayer, M. Watkins.

North Star 47, Chinook 43, 3rd

Chinook 14 11 9 9 - 43

North Star 9 13 17 8 - 47

Chinook: B. Elliot 12, K. Hanson 11, S. Swank 6, C. Hofer 3, J. Anderson 3, R. Chaffin 2, E. Pula 6.

North Star: K. Hanson 6, P. Peterson 12, L. Pederson 8, K. Harvey 3, S. Spicher 10, C. Donaldson 3, P. King 5.