A Longhorn Stampede

The Fort Benton girls basketball team is no stranger to the District 9C Tournament. However, the fact is, some of their players played it in the tournament for the first time Thursday against Chinook and, on the big stage, the young Longhorns passed their first test with flying colors.

Chinook kept the 9C first-round game game close in the first quarter, but a 29-5 run in the second quarter by Fort Benton put it out of reach, and by the end of the third quarter, a running clock was instituted after the Longhorns went up by 40 points. The final was 70-25. With the win Fort Benton (18-2) moves on to the semifinals tonight against Turner. Chinook will play this morning in loser-out action against Hays-Lodge Pole.

"We came out and we were really intense right from the start," Fort Benton head coach Cassie Pimperton said. "We really got after it defensively and I think that set the tone for us. Our young players really came out and did a good job handling things. They worked hard and it was fun to watch them play. I can't wait to watch them again (tonight)."

The Longhorns have a number of freshmen and sophomores on their team and one freshman in particular who stood out was Aspen Giese. She helped set the tone with an early 3-pointer and was a dominant force in the first half as she scored 13 points, grabbed three rebounds and notched six steals.

"It's really helps when you have great teammates around you," Giese said. "I am thankful to have some great teammates that are very good players."

Geise added that playing in the 9C tournament for the first time was something she had waited a long time for, and with a game-high 18 points, it's safe to say her debut was a successful one.

"I have been looking forward to this for a long time," Giese said. "I have grown up watching this tournament and coming to these games and I am just so excited to get my chance to play. It's going to be really exciting to get a chance to play in the semifinals."

Fort Benton had a lot of fun in the quarterfinal game, but the same can't be said for Chinook. Things started to go south in the second quarter, when the Longhorns ripped off a 15-0 run to grab a 30-9 advantage. By the intermission, Fort Benton led 44-14. The Sugarbeeters did their best to keep the game competitive, but late in the third, the Longhorns extended the lead to 40 and the clock ran continuously for the rest of the game due to the mercy rule.

"I think our depth made a big difference," Pimperton said."I think that allowed us to pressure them and I think we were able to wear them down a little bit."

While Giese led the way with 18 points three rebounds and eight steals, McKenzie Clark also had a stellar outing with 16 points and four steals. McKenna Hanford reached double figures with 10. Kourtney Hanson and Erin Pula both finished with six for Chinook.

Fort Benton has played in the 9C championship game two times in the last three years and will get there again with a win over Turner tonight. Chinook played HLP in a loser-out game this morning.

Fort Benton 70, Chinook 25

Fort Benton 15 29 16 10 - 70

Chinook 9 5 6 5 - 25

Fort Benton - Cassie Nack 4, McKenzie Clark 16, Aspen Giese 18, Abby Clark 4, Maci Molinario 6, Megan Clark 7, Leah Gannon 5, McKenna Hanford 10. Totals: 25-52 17-22 70.

Chinook - Sierra Swank 4, Carrie Hofer 5, Kourtney Hanson 6, Jaye Anderson 4, Erin Pula 6. Totals: 10-29 4-11 25.

3-pointers: A. Giese 1, Megan Clark 1, McKenna Hanford 1, J. Anderson 1. Totals fouls: Chinook 15, Fort Benton 9. Fouled out -- none.