Big Sandy's Back

It has been a grind of a season for the Big Sandy Pioneers, who have faced adversity and injuries all season long. And After a semifinal loss to Chinook Thursday night in the 9C tournament, the Pioneers aimed to get to the consolation game, and beyond.

Big Sandy did just that, meeting and beating the Chester-Joplin-Inverness Hawks 45-30 in the Havre High Gymnasium Friday night to earn third place and a spot in the Northern C Divisionals this week.

After all the misfortune that hit the Pioneers this year, Big Sandy head coach Thomas Dilworth was relieved and so proud that his team made it happen, especially since this was the first game with a full, healthy roster back on the court.

"First of all, I'm blessed," Dilworth said. "I just can't say how proud I am of these guys. CJI is just so well-coached and I can't say enough about that program. It was a great game and competition. I love the 9C."

It makes sense that Dilworth loves the 9C, especially since the tough conference produced a tough competitor in CJI for them to be tested against.

The first quarter started off hot for both teams. Kade Strutz, Clint Darlington and Ryan Roth all racked up baskets for the Pioneers, but Kealy Haaland and Andrew Woods responded in kind to keep the Hawks right behind, with Big Sandy leading 11-10 after one.

The second stanza swung in CJI's favor next. Kyle Harmon and Woods went on a 6-0 run to jump into the lead, while Strutz and Roth fought right back to stay in it. At the end of the half, it was a Brock Proulx jumper that gave the Pioneers the lead 20-18 at the break.

Strutz was a force throughout the whole bout, especially in the first half.

"Coach just told me to be aggressive at the beginning of the game and I listened to him this time," Strutz said. "It's about time that I did that, though, just call to the hoop like I normally do in practice."

After halftime, the Pioneers kept putting up baskets, with Darlington standing out, dropping eight points for Big Sandy within the eight-minute period. That performance helped the Big Sandy stay the course and lead CJI 31-21 after the third quarter.

From there, Strutz added onto an already big night for Big Sandy, while Harmon put up more shots for the night. In the end, Strutz and Brock Proulx were a big part of the night to help the Pioneers earn a spot in the Northern C Divisionals next week. Strutz put up 17 points and four assists Friday night, while Darlington put up 14 points and 11 rebounds. The Hawks were led by Harmon's 12 point game, while Woods and Spencer Richter had five rebounds each.

Brock Proulx was happy for the team and what they accomplished.

"It's something we've worked towards for a long time," Proulx said. "It's been a long time since Big Sandy has been to divisionals. I'm really, really excited for my boys."

Big Sandy's run to their first Northern C in eight years began Friday morning when the Pioneers bounced back from the semifinal loss to Chinook with a wild, 74-65 overtime win over Box Elder. Ryan Roth hit a huge 3-pointer to put the Pioneers in front in OT, and eventually, Big Sandy would outscore the Bears 11-2 in the extra frame.

Box Elder had used a 25-12 run in the fourth quarter to propel themselves into the lead late in the contest, but Roth and Clint Darlington made lunch plays and free throws to help send the game into OT. Darlington finished with 25 points and 19 rebounds, while Roth added 16 and Kade Strutz had 15. In Box Elder's final game of the season, the Bears got 23 points by Tyus LaMere, while Malique Rosette added 15.

In the other loser-out game Friday, CJI continued its exciting 9C run with a 48-42 win over North Star. The Hawks outscored the Knights 20-4 in the third quarter and stayed in the lead from there. Kyle Harmon and Spencer Richter combined for 28 points for CJI, while North Star was led by Gavin Spicher's 13 points.

Now, Big Sandy (11-9) will represent the 9C as the third seed in the Northern C Divisionals this week at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls.

Big Sandy 45, CJI (3rd)

Big Sandy 11 9 11 14 – 45

CJI 10 8 3 9 – 30

Big Sandy – Brock Proulx 2, Ryan Roth 8, Kody Strutz 2, Clint Darlington 14, Parker Proulx 2, Kade Strutz 17. Totals: 18-38 6-10 45.

CJI – Bryce Ghekiere 2, Andrew Woods 5, Kyle Harmon 12, Spencer Richter 1, Bryce Kammerzel 5, Trevin Grammar 2, Kealy Haaland 3. Totals: 9-35 10-15 30.

3-Pointers: Ryan Roth 2, Kade Strutz 1, Andrew Woods 1, Bryce Kammerzel 1. Fouls: Big Sandy 13, CJI 14. Fouled out: Kealy Haaland.

CJI 48, North Star 42, LO

Chester-Joplin-Inverness 11 7 20 10 - 48

North Star 7 15 4 16 - 42

CJI - Lane Fisher 1, Andrew Woods 3, Kyle Harmon 17, Spencer Richter 11, Bryce Kammerzel 6, Kealy Haaland 5, Caden Woods 5.

North Star - Austin Hansen 7, Caden Rettig 9, Garrett Spicher 3, Payne Ditmar 2, Hayden Massar 6, Gavin Spicher 13, Rhett Wolery 2.

3-pointers: Harmon 3, Richter 3, Hansen 1, Rettig 2, Spicher 1), Fouls: CJI 17, North Star 22, Fouled out: Massar.

Big Sandy 74, Box Elder 65 OT, LO

Big Sandy 16 12 18 17 11 - 74

Box Elder 14 13 11 25 2 - 65

Big Sandy - Brock Proulx 6, Ryan Roth 16, Kody Strutz 5, Clint Darlington 25, Parker Proulx 7, Kade Strutz 15.

Box Elder - Jayden Jilot 3, Gabe Saddler 2, Zander Parisian 2, Kadyn Duran 5, Tyrus LaMere 23, Malique Rosette 15, Tayce St. Pierre 1, King Ragged Rob 2, Chris Burns 13.

3-pointers: Roth 2, Kody Stutz 1, Kade Strutz 1, Duran 1, LaMere 3, Rosette 4, Burns 1), Fouls: BS 20, BE 20; Fouled out: Parker Proulx; Technical Foul: Saddler.