Class B girls dominate HIT, again

The Hi-Line Invitational basketball tournament has been dominated by the Class B team in the girls competition. And this past weekend, Class B reigned again, winning its fourth straight HIT championship.

After winning its first three games in the tournament, Class B faced off against Class C for the championship Saturday inside the Armory Gymnasium at Montana State University-Northern. The game was close into the third quarter, with Class C even leading at half 36-32, but in the end, Class B ran away with the game and the title, 82-61.

Natalie Klinker, who had a stellar weekend at the HIT, led the way with 16 points for Class B. Sophia Stiles added nine in the win, while Allix Goldhahn pitched in with nine as did Harlem freshman L’tia Lawrence, who connected on three 3-pointers. The Class C team was led by RaeAnn Bendon, who finished with 11. Box Elder’s Lily Gopher finished with 10.

Klinker was the high scorer in the tournament with an average of 16 points per game, which earned her MVP honors. Goldhahn, a future Skylights player, was named the defensive player of the the tournament and the miss hustle award went to Havre freshman Kyndall Keller.

The championship game was held Saturday, but the HIT got underway Thursday at MSU-Northern with Class C knocking off Class A 71-68. Kaylie Oliverson led Class C with 14 points, while Bendon added 13. Keller scored 21 to pace Class A in the loss. Fellow Havre player Ceyara Plante pitched in with 16.

On Friday, the first matchup of the day featured Class B taking on Class C and in entertaining contest, Class B won 93-77. Natalie Hilderman scored 15 points for Class B. Klinker also pitched in with 12, Bendon scored 18 to lead Class C, Gopher also contributed with 17.

After dropping its opening game to Class C, the Class A squad took out Class AA for its first win, thanks to an 87-64 victory. Peyton Kehr and Dani Urick led Class A with 18 points; Sean Henry of Rocky Boy added 15 and Keller had eight. Nikki Krueger and Kylee Meredith of Glacier both scored 13 in the loss. Meredith later won the 3-point shooting competition Friday.

After winning its first game of the tournament, the Class A team took on Class B and was defeated in a competitive game, 84-70. Stiles, who is committed to the University of Montana out of Malta, scored a game-high 17. Klinker, who is from Fairfield, finished with 16. Urick led Class A with 14 points. Sydney Hovde and Kehr both had 12, while Keller wound up with nine.

The final game Friday night saw the Class C team take on Class AA and in one of the more lopsided affairs of the tournament, Class C cruised to a 99-66 win. Kaylie Oliverson had 21 to pace Class C, but got help from Gopher, who finished with 18. Krueger led AA with 13 points, along with Kendahl Knapton of Chester-Joplin-Inverness, who matched her point total.

On Saturday, Class B took on Class AA in the final game of round-robin play, and it was Class B that won going away, 107-57. Klinker led all scorers with a game-high 19 points. Stiles had another solid outing with 18. Molly Salmond, another Class B player also had 13. Kaitlyn Jones and Courtney Mitchell both led Class AA with nine.

Following the round robin, Class A took on Class AA in the third-place game Saturday and thanks to a dominant 24-point performance from Hovde, Class A rolled 98-55. In addition to Hovde having a big game, Urick, Henry and Kehr all contributed with 13. Aubrey Meiwald also ended up with 15 for Class A. On the other side, Krueger led the AA team with 11, while Meredith added 10 and Korrin Harmon of CJI had nine.

The HIT wrapped up Saturday evening when the Class B girls finished off their 4-peat with a 21-point win over Class C. The Class B girls finished 4-0 on the weekend, while Class A and Class C were each 2-2. The Class AA team went 0-4.

Thursday

Class C 71, Class A 68

Class C: Kerstyn Pimperton 9, Lillian Gopher 6, Mesa Williams 4, Kassie Hoyer 3, Kaylie Oliverson 14, RaeAnn Bendon 13, Krista Schott 10, Sara Anderson 8, Lorianne Stulc 4.

Class A: Sean Henry 10, Ceyara Plante 16, Erynn Thier 2, Aubrey Meiwald 7, Kyndall Keller 21, Paij Peterson 3, Dani Urick 9.

Friday

Class B 93, Class C 77

Class B: L'tia Lawrence 9, Payge Durocher 2, Molly Salmond 11, Allix Goldhahn 10, Sophia Stiles 11, Tavia Rooney 6, Mesa King 9, Natalie Klinker 12, Jada Nicholson 8, Natalie Hilderman 15. Totals: 32 24-31.

Class C: Kerstyn Pimperton 6, RaeAnn Bendon 18, Kylie Schott 12, Krista Schott 4, Sara Anderson 2, Lillian Gopher 17, Mesa Williams 2, Lorianne Stulc 8, Kassie Hoyer 2, Kaylie Oliverson 6.

Class A 87, Class AA 64

Class AA: Nikki Krueger 13, Kendahl Knapton 3, Katelyn Jones 4, Aria Johnson 6, Korrin Harmon 5, Coya Nack 11, Courtney Mitchell 9, Kylee Meredith 13.

Class A: Sean Henry 15, Kyndall Keller 8, Ceyara Plante 3, Paij Peterson 6, Peyton Kehr 18, Erynn Thier 4, Dani Urick 18, Sydney Hovde 8, Aubrey Meiwald 7.

Class B 84, Class A 70

Class A: Sean Henry 3, Kyndall Keller 9, Peterson 2, Peyton Kehr 12, Erynn Thier 9, Dani Urick 14, Sydney Hovde 12, Aubrey Meiwald 9.

Class B: L'tia Lawrence 6, Payge Durocher 5, Molly Salmond 7, Allix Goldhahn 3, Sophia Stiles 17, Tavia Rooney 6, Mesa King 12, Natalie Klinker 16, Jada Nicholson 4, Natalie Hilderman 8..

Class C 99, Class AA 66

Class AA: Kaitlyn Jones 2, Aria Johnson 5, Coya Nack 6, Courtney Mitchell 8, Nikki Krueger 13, Kendahl Knapton 13, Molly Schmitz 9, Kylee Meredith 10.

Class C: RaeAnn Bendon 8, Krista Schott 10, Sara Anderson 10, Lorianne Stulc 11, Kaylie Oliverson 21, Kerstyn Pimperton 5, Kylie Schott 2, Lillian Gopher 18, Mesa Williams 12, Kassie Hoyer 2.

Saturday

Class B 107, Class AA 57 (round robin)

Class AA: Aria Johnson 3, Korrin Harmon 2, Kaitlyn Jones 9, Molly Schmitz 8, Coya Nack 5, Courtney Mitchell 9, Kylee Meredith 5.

Class B: Payge Durocher 11, Tavia Rooney 13, Mesa King 8, L'tia Lawrence 9, Molly Salmond 13, Sophia Stiles 18, Natalie Klinker 19, Jada Nicholson 6, Natalie Hilderman 10.

Class A 98, Class AA 55 (consolation)

Class A: Sean Henry 13, Kyndall Keller 2, Ceyara Plante 3, Paij Peterson 9, Peyton Kehr 13, Erynn Thier 6, Dani Urick 13, Sydney Hovde 24, Aubrey Meiwald 15.

Class AA: Nikki Krueger 11, Kendahl Knapton 2, Katelyn Jones 1, Aria Johnson 2, Korrin Harmon 9, Coya Nack 6, Courtney Mitchell 14, Kylee Meredith 10.

Class B 82, Class C 61 (championship)

Class C: Kerstyn Pimperton 6, RaeAnn Bendon 11, Sara Anderson 5, Lillian Gopher 10, Mesa Williams 1, Lorianne Stulc 11, Kassie Hoyer 9.

Class B: L'tia Lawrence 9, Payge Durocher 5, Molly Salmond 6, Allix Goldhahn 9, Sophia Stiles 14, Tavia Rooney 7, Mesa King 6, Natalie Klinker 16, Jada Nicholson 6, Natalie Hilderman 4.