Beeters finish fourth at Northern C

GREAT FALLS — The Chinook Sugarbeeters were just a few plays from playing for the Northern C championship, but after losing to Heart Butte Thursday night in the semifinals, Chinook still had a chance to get third place and possibly challenge for a berth at the state tournament.

That was the goal Friday in Great Falls at the Four Seasons Arena, but before taking part in the consolation game, the Beeters had to beat the North Star Knights for a fourth time this season. And that’s exactly what Chinook did Friday morning, knocking out its 9C rival 57-45.

Chinook built a five-point lead at the end of the first quarter, which grew to eight points by the end of the first half. The Beeters led by 13 going into the fourth quarter and thanks to 32 points combined from Cord Scheider and Isaac Bell, who each had 16, they won by 12. North Star, which made it the Northern C for the first time 12 years, saw its run come to an end. Dylan Miller scored 17 points in the losing effort. Devon Miller pitched in with 11.

“The kids accomplished more than any other team in 12 years has at North Star,” North Star head coach Walynn Burgess said. “I am just proud of the way they introduced North Star basketball to the Northern C.”

After advancing past North Star, Chinook had to deal with Belt in the third-place game. Yet, the Beeters simply ran out of gas against the Huskies, who ended up up winning the game 45-37.

All game long, the Beeters were bothered by Belt’s pressure and it forced them into one of their least productive games of the season offensively. Chinook had just 14 points in the first half and trailed 16-14. In the third quarter, Belt outscored the Beeters 17-12, which pushed the lead to six points.

The Beeters whittled the Belt advantage down to three, with two and a half minutes to go, but the Huskies were solid at the free throw line down the stretch, which helped them wrap up the 45-37 victory. Brendan Wing had some big buckets in the fourth for Belt and he finished with 13. Troy Hennes added 10 and Keegan Stroop finished with nine. Brendan Edwards led Chinook with 12, Schneider had 11 and Bell wound up with 10.

Belt knocked off Sunburst in a challenge game Saturday, following Heart Butte’s win over the Refiners in the championship game Friday night. Chinook finished the season 22-3, while North Star ended up 18-6. The Class C boys state tournament starts Thursday in Missoula.

Chinook 57, North Star 45, lo

North Star 9 9 6 21 – 45

Chinook 14 12 11 20 – 57

North Star: Dylan Miller 17, Dane Miller 2, Caden Rettig 3, Brody Wendland 2, Payne Ditmar 5, Devon Miller 11, Jon Sonju 2, Thomas Nerat 2, Daniel Nerat 1. Totals: 16 11-15.

Chinook: Isaac Bell 16, Ethan Bell 5, James Christensen 2, Riley Kellam 8, Brendan Edwards 10, Cord Schneider 16. Totals: 20 17-36.

3-pointers: Rettig, Ditmar. Fouls: North Star 25, Chinook 16. Fouled out: Dylan Miller, Kellam.

Belt 45, Chinook 37, 3rd

Belt 9 7 17 12 – 45

Chinook 9 5 12 11 – 37

Belt – Keagan Stroop 9, Brendan Wing 13, Brayden Haugrose 3, Troy Hennes 10, Hunter Vogl 4, Trey Heitzman 2, Kaimen Evans 4. Totals 17 10-18.

Chinook – Isaac Bell 10, Ethan Bell 2, Riley Kellam 2, Brendan Edwards 12, Cord Schneider 11. Totals 11 14-27.

3-pointers – Haugrose; Bell.