TOP-RANKED: Fort Benton boys roll

Fort Benton and Big Sandy kicked off the District 9C Boys Basketball Tournament semifinals at the Havre High School Gymnasium Thursday afternoon. And after their first game of the tournament got canceled, No. 1 seed Fort Benton got after it early to coast to a 63-40 victory.

"We were excited to be on the floor," Fort Benton head coach Tyler Pasha said. "The boys were ready to roll and it's nice to be back in Havre."

The Longhorns and Pioneers played competitively through most of the first quarter as the Longhorns built themselves a 12-7 lead with 2:30 remaining in the first quarter. That's when the Longhorns turned it up on both sides of the court to score 11 straight points to end the period.

The Pioneers, who made a Cinderella run at the 9C a year ago, were more competitive in the second quarter but the Longhorns' defense was too stingy to break through, resulting in 14 first-half turnovers for Big Sandy.

"We've got long arms, we're fast up and down the floor. We did a great job of getting in passing lanes, making them uncomfortable," Pasha said. "They weren't able to make those nice easy passes that they've been able to do all season."

In addition to their defense, the Longhorn offense was efficient as they shot 52.9 percent from the field. Leading the offense was senior Hayden Diekhans, who led the team with 21 points on 9-for-11 shooting.

"We knew we had to get to the rim," Diekhans said. "Got our things going with layups and dunks, work inside out. That's how it works."

The loss for Big Sandy means the Pioneers will play today against Chester-Joplin-Inverness at the Havre High Gymnasium at 3:30 p.m. It will be a loser-out game, so the winner will stay alive for a chance at the consolation trophy and bid to the divisional tournament and the loser will be eliminated. Big Sandy head coach Thomas Dilworth believes that his team will be prepared and should not be too disappointed in how they played against Fort Benton.

"I think outside of that four minutes in the first quarter, we played right with them," Dilworth said. "I'm pleased with what our boys did tonight. They didn't give up, they were fearless when things didn't go their way. They'll be ready to play."

This game was the first for Fort Benton as Hays-Lodge Pole had to drop out of their matchup Tuesday night. Fort Benton now gets a rematch with Chinook in the championship game.

Chinook and Box Elder were scheduled to play Thursday night at Havre High but COVID-19 issues within the Box Elder program forced the game to be canceled. Since the issues were within the Box Elder program, they have to forfeit the game and Fort Benton will face Chinook in the championship game.

The Box Elder boys basketball team is currently in limbo on whether they will play in the 9C Tournament. If they are cleared to play, they will play North Star tonight at 6 p.m. at the Havre High Gymnasium. If not, they will have to forfeit that game as well and be eliminated from the tournament.

That leaves Chinook as Fort Benton's opponent for the championship game Saturday night. Both teams will be looking to add to their program's legacy in this tournament, as Fort Benton is the defending tournament champion and Chinook won it the three years before them.

Pasha hopes to have his team prepared because he knows Chinook head coach Mike Seymour will have his team ready.

"They're coached by Mike Seymour, who is a great coach and will have them prepared," Pasha said. "We've got to come out, not have as many turnovers as we did tonight. Be a little bit more focused and be ready to go on Saturday."

Fort Benton and Chinook will fight for the District 9C Boys Basketball Tournament championship Saturday night at 6 p.m. at the Havre High School Gymnasium.

Fort Benton 63, Big Sandy 40, SF

Big Sandy 7 11 11 11 - 40

Fort Benton 23 16 14 10 - 63

Big Sandy - Servin Hiembinger 0, Rusty Gasvoda 4, Lane Demontiney 5, Kody Strutz 14, Eli Dixon 2, Brayden Cline 4, Samuel Cox 0, Wylee Snapp 4, Cooper Taylor 7, Ryder Galbavy 0, Kade Strutz 0, Jake Darlington 0.

Fort Benton - Devin Bird 7, Landis Arganbright 0, Jace Thompson 10, Morgan Axtman 4, Jacob Giles 2, Nick Marias 0, Hayden Diekhans 21, Tim Lane 3, Cody Evans 6, William Ulery 2, Jackson Schmele 6, Andrew Ballantyne 2.