Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Isaac Bell, Chinook Basketball

It's been a long time since the Chinook boys basketball team played at the state tournament or won a championship in the District 9C. Yet, with Isaac Bell and a host of other talented players, the Sugarbeeters are looking to change that this season.

Last season, a young Chinook team, led by Bell and Cord Schneider, who is also a junior, as well as the now graduated Wade Schneider, advanced to the Northern C Divisional Tournament. However, the Beeters weren't just happy to be there. In fact, they won two games and reached the semifinals before losing back-to-back games, which put an end to their postseason run.

Yet, in high school basketball and all sports for that matter, sometimes you have to lose big games, to learn how to win them.

Now, after earning All-Conference honors in the 9C as a freshman and sophomore, as well as being selected to the Havre Daily News All-Hi-Line team last spring, Bell is ready to help lead Chinook to the promised land.

"Chinook basketball hasn't really been on the map for a long time," Bell said. "So making the state tournament and trying to win the district championship, those are our main goals and it would be great to be part of that."

Of course, the Chinook basketball program has been no slouch under the direction of head coach Mike Seymour. The Beeters have made numerous trips to the Northern C Divisional in the past few seasons and with a loaded roster, they will be looking to make it to Great Falls again this March.

Obviously, nothing is guaranteed in the always-difficult 9C. Box Elder, the five-time defending champions in the district, are attempting to reload with a young team and a new head coach, LaVon Myers, a former Montana State University-Northern basketball player, has taken over the head coaching duties for Jeremy MacDonald, a legendary coach that led the Bears to two Class C state championships.

Hays-Lodge Pole, another traditional power in the 9C, is also dealing with the loss of three All-Conference players, while North Star, another challenger has some key starters returning in Dylan and Devon Miller.

Yet, it's clear at this point that Chinook, with Bell, Schneider, Trajan Hannum and Hunter Neibauer, is the most talented team in the district. Not only do the Beeters have a bunch of highly skilled players, but in Bell and Schneider, Chinook has the kind of height that very few Class C teams can match.

That's going to give the Beeters an advantage over most of the teams it will play in the 9C. Yet if Chinook wants to achieve more and eventually earn its way into the Class C state tournament, it will need players like Bell to continue to elevate his game, which he has done each season since he burst onto the scene as a freshman.

Tuesday night, the Beeters played host to Box Elder in a key battle of 9C teams. But before Chinook and Box Elder hit the floor, the Havre Daily News caught up with Bell for five questions.

HDN: What are you guys hoping to achieve this season?

Bell: "We know that we can't overlook anybody and that there are a lot of really good teams in the Northern Division, but one of our goals is trying to make it to the state tournament. We have others, too, but that's a good goal for us."

HDN: How did the run to the semifinals at the Northern C help prepare you guys for this season?

Bell: "I think it's always good to get that experience. We played some really good teams there and we learned a lot from it. I think it helped us figure out what we need to do to get to that next level."

HDN: Your brother, Ethan Bell is also playing varsity basketball this season for Chinook, what has it been like getting to play with him?

Bell: "It's been great. He is coming along and getting more playing time, so that has been a good experience for him. He is going to be one of the guys that will keep this going when my class is gone."

HDN: Are you a fan of basketball? What is your favorite team or your favorite player?

Bell: "Yes, I am a fan of Duke and the Lakers. Also Lonzo Ball. I just like how he plays with no emotion and how he is a really good team basketball player."

HDN: You are just a junior, but have already earned All-Conference honors twice, do you have aspirations of playing collegiately?

Bell: "Yes, that has always been a dream of mine to play college basketball. So that is something that I am working towards and hoping to achieve."