Thunderbirds soar past rival Bears

In the last few seasons, there were few rivalries in Class C boys basketball as intense as Hays-Lodge Pole and Box Elder. The two schools met in a divisional championship game and twice in the District 9C championship all within the last three seasons.

However, when the two teams met again Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the 9C boys tournament inside the HHS gymnasium in Havre, the normally competitive rivalry was no contest, as the Thunderbirds rolled to an easy 67-36 victory

HLP. which finished third in the 9C regular season standings, blitzed the Bears early, scoring 13 of the first 17 points and grabbing a 13-4 advantage. After an old-fashioned 3-point play from Chance Main, HLP led the game 22-6 and at the end of the first quarter, The T-Birds held a commanding 30-6 lead.

"We just came out and attacked," Main said. "We tried to be aggressive and get after it.

"A couple of weeks ago, we played them and they almost beat us, we were down like 13 points at one point," HLP head coach Derrick Shambo said. "Our 2-3 zone wasn't really rotating the way that we wanted it to, so we worked on that and we worked on shooting with contact around the basket and I think that really paid off for us."

Box Elder played better in the second quarter and trimmed the deficit by two points. Jerel Anderson knocked down a 3-pointer late in the first half, making the score 38-16 in favor of the T-Birds, giving the Bears hope of making a comeback.

Yet, in the third quarter, Chance Main, who scored 10 points in the first half put an end to any ideas of a comeback. Led by Main, the T-Birds actually opened the second half on an 18-0 run and when Main scored his second 3-point play of the game, the mercy rule was in affect.

From there, the T-Birds put the game on cruise control and while the Bears managed to make the final margin a little closer, the outcome was decided just a few minutes left into the third quarter.

Main finished the game with 15 points, which tied for the game high with his teammate, Jeffrey Stiffarm, who connected on two 3-pointers on his way to 15. Main also grabbed 10 rebounds and joined David Main, who scored 12 points and grabbed 11 boards, in posting a double-double. Peyton Gardipee and Quentin Limberhand led the way for the Bears. Both players finished with six points.

With the victory, the T-Birds improved to 12-6 overall on the season, while the Bears fell to 5-14. HLP will play North Star tonight in the semifinals, with the winner clinching a berth in the Northern C Divisional Tournament next week in Great Falls.

"We just have to keep pushing and keep attacking," Main said. "It's going to be a big game, but we just have to keep our composure. The game plan is still going to be the same and we just have to go out and keep it going."

Box Elder, on other hand, played Chester-Joplin-Inverness in the loser-out game today to stay alive in the tournament. The Bears had won the five previous renditions of the 9C tournament and now will take on the Hawks with their season on the line.

"I think we just have some inexperience and just weren't really ready to play," Box Elder head coach LaVon Myers said. "I think the guys were just nervous maybe because it was their first time on the big stage and we just came out a little flat. But I know these guys will come out and play a lot harder, and it will be a learning experience for us."

HLP will take on North Star tonight in the semifinals at 8.

Hays-Lodge Pole 67, Box Elder 36

HLP 30 8 23 6 - 67

Box Elder 6 10 10 10 - 36

HLP - Moke Cliff 5, Michael Ball 5, Damien Bradley 78, Isiah Runs Aboe 6, Jeffrey Stiffarm 15, David Main 12, Jasper Doney 2, Chance Main 15. Totals: 27-61, 6-12 67.

Box Elder - Nacona Limderhand 4, Kadyn Duran 3, Chris Burns 5, Jerel Anderson 5, Peyton Gardipee 6, Malique Rosette 3, Quentin Limberhand 6, Seth Duran 4. Totals: 14-17, 4-4, 36.

3-pointers: J. Stiffarm 2, D. Bradley 2, M. Ball 1, M. Coke 1, C. Main 1, K .Duran 1, C. Burns 1, J. Anderson 1. Totals fouls: Box Elder 11, Totals fouls: Box Elder 11, HLP 7. Fouled out -- none.