Hi-Line Boys: Big Sandy boys off to a blazing fast start

Before they take time off for the holidays, high school boys basketball teams across the Hi-Line were hoping to play strong to end 2021. Over the course of the last week, some teams have solidified themselves while others are still searching to find their identities.

Last Tuesday, the Big Sandy Pioneers continued their strong start to the season with a 48-44 win on the road at Fort Benton. Through the first three quarters of the night, the Pioneers and Longhorns went back and forth. The Longhorns held a slim advantage with a 19-17 lead at halftime and then a 31-28 lead at the end of the third quarter.

But the Pioneers stormed back as they outscored the Longhorns, 20-13, in the fourth quarter to pull out the win. Lane Demontiney led Big Sandy with 17 points while Brayden Cline scored 16 and Wylee Snapp scored 10. In the losing effort, Cody Evans led the Longhorns with 15 points.

The Pioneers continued their strong play Friday night with a 44-40 win on the road at Chinook. The Pioneers started strong with an 11-4 lead at the end of the first quarter, but the Sugarbeeters came back to stay in the game. The Pioneers were able to hold on for their win to remain undefeated early in the season. Snapp led Big Sandy with 16 points while Cline scored 12. In the loss, Toby Niederegger led the Sugarbeeters with 11 points.

Many other Hi-Line schools played Friday. At home, the Harlem Wildcats suffered a 58-46 loss to Malta. Early on, the Wildcats battled as they led 23-22 at halftime. But Malta outscored Harlem, 36-23, in the second half to pull away for the win. R.J. Ramone led Harlem with 19 points in the loss.

In Chester, the CJI Hawks defeated Box Elder, 73-49. The Hawks jumped on the Bears early for a 17-8 lead at the end of the first quarter. Over the rest of the game, the Hawks pulled away for the win. Blake Harmon led the Hawks with 30 points while Karson Pulst scored 15 and Kyle Harmon scored 11.

At home, the North Star Knights defeated Hays-Lodge Pole, 51-39. The Knights started strong with a 16-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Thunderbirds tried to battle back but they could not make it a game. As a team, the Knights shot 35.1 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from the free-throw line. Rhett Wolery led the Knights with 13 points. Tyshawn Shambo led the Thunderbirds with 24 points but the Thunderbirds shot below 30 percent from both the field and the free-throw line.

After their loss Tuesday night, the Fort Benton Longhorns responded at home with a 71-34 win over Turner. After a tight first quarter that only saw Fort Benton lead 18-16, the Longhorns shut down the Turner offense to pull away for the win.

Hi-Line basketball continued Saturday. At home, Rocky Boy suffered a 67-57 loss to Shelby. The Stars did not fall too far behind, but they were never able to come back to retake the lead. Joe Demontiney led Rocky Boy with 21 points in the loss.

Big Sandy remained undefeated Saturday with a 54-38 home win over Hays-Lodge Pole. After falling behind, 14-13, at the end of the first quarter, the Pioneers took control of the game to pull away for the win. Cline had a great performance with 27 points and Shambo had 18 points for the Thunderbirds.

The CJI Hawks also continued their strong play with a 50-42 win on the road at Turner. The Hawks took an early advantage with a 15-7 lead to end the opening quarter. But the Tornadoes outscored the Hawks over the next two quarters to get back in the game. A solid fourth quarter from the Hawks allowed them to hold on for the win. Braden Mattson led the Hawks with 20 points and Ryan Doyle scored 16 for Turner.

Fort Benton won its second game in two days with a 49-47 road victory over North Star. The Knights started the game strong taking a 17-8 lead over Fort Benton in the first quarter. But the Longhorns outscored the Knights, 26-14, over the next two quarters to take the lead. The Knights tried to come back in the fourth but the Longhorns held on to win.

As a team, the Longhorns shot 39.5 percent from the field and they went 10-for-18 from the free-throw line. Andrew Ballyntine led them with 14 points. While they shot 37.8 percent from the field, the Knights excelled from deep shooting 50 percent from the field. Rhett Wolery led the Knights with 20 points in the loss.

The Harlem Wildcats were able to rebound Saturday with a 71-64 win over Poplar at home. In a neck-and-neck game, Ramone had a huge game for the Wildcats as he scored 52 points to lead them to victory.

On Monday, Big Sandy destroyed DGS, behind 29 from Lane Demontiney and 26 by Braydon Cline. while Turner also upended Dodson 54-49.

Tuesday

Big Sandy 48, Fort Benton 44

BS - 11 6 11 20 - 48

FB - 10 9 12 13 - 44

BS - Lane Demontiney 17, Brayden Cline 16, Wylee Snapp 10, Kody Strutz 5.

FB - Cody Evans 15, Andrew Ballyntine 8, Landis Arganbright 6, Jacob Giles 5, Tim Lane 4, Jackson Schmele 4, Jon Strongbear 2.

Friday

Big Sandy 44, Chinook 40

CHI - 4 12 15 9 - 40

BS - 11 10 11 12 - 44

CHI - Toby Niederegger 11, Oskar Pula 10, Brendan Fetter 6, Jackson Nordboe 2, Braxton Inman 2, Levi Jensen 2, Hunter Molyneaux 1.

BS - Wylee Snapp 16, Brayden Cline 12, Lane Demontiney 5, Kody Strutz 5, Rusty Gasvoda 5.

Malta 58, Harlem 46

MAL - 9 13 19 17 - 58

HAR - 9 14 12 11 - 46

MAL - Connor Tuss 19, Rex Williamson 16, Jared Eggebrecht 12, Stockton Oxarart 6, Treyton Wilke 5, Jonathan Siewing 4, Kaden Bishop 2, Seth Siewing 1.

HAR - RJ Ramone 19, Tyler Cichose 10, Deshon Shambo 7, Amari Stanley 5, Marty Stewart 3, Lance Morgan 2.

Chester-Joplin-Inverness 73, Box Elder 49

BE - 8 11 10 20 - 49

CJI - 17 18 22 16 - 73

CJI - Blake Harmon 30, Karson Pulst 15, Kyle Harmon 11, Braden Mattson 7, Pat Dahlin 5, Ty Backen 3, Bryce Kammerzell 2.

North Star 51, Hays-Lodge Pole 39

HLP - 6 12 9 12 - 39

NS - 16 9 14 12 - 51

HLP - Tyshawn Shambo 24, Brandon Castillo 5,Cash Messerly 4, Daniel Henry 4, Jacoby Ball 2.

NS - Rhett Wolery 13, Gavin Spicher 11, Gavin Clawson 9, Ty Hansen 7, Garrett Spicher 6, Michael Berg 5.

Fort Benton 71, Turner 34

TUR - 16 7 6 5 - 34

FB - 18 17 24 12 - 71

Saturday

Shelby 67, Rocky Boy 57

SHE - 10 20 15 22 - 67

RB - 8 15 13 21 - 57

SHE - Rhett Reynolds 24, Trenton Emerson 15, Taylor Parsons 14, Randon Richman 5, Aidan Torgerson 5, Kyle McDermott 3, Kolby Lohr 1.

RB - Joe Demontiney 21, Sean Gibson 14, Tayce St. Pierre 13, Ben Crebs 9.

Harlem 71, Poplar 64

POP - 12 20 19 13 - 64

HAR - 16 21 16 18 - 71

POP - Dennis Redeagle 16, Delray Lilley 16, Kaniel Ricker 12, Geordie Medicine Could 8, Preston Ogle 6, WIlliam Youngman 6.

HAR - RJ Ramone 52, Deshon Shambo 8, Marty Stewart 4, Moses Lawrence 2, Devon Deney 2, Amari Stanley 2, Lance Morgan 1.

Big Sandy 54, Hays-Lodgepole 38

HLP - 14 2 8 14 - 38

BS - 13 7 16 18 - 54

HLP - Tyshawn Shambo 18, Jacoby Ball 6, Brandon Castillo 6, Devontae Sullivan 4, Daniel Henry 4.

BS - Brayden Cline 27, Wylee Snapp 10, Lane Demontiney 7, Kody Strutz 5, Samuel Cox 2.

CJI 50, Turner 42

CJI - 15 7 13 15 - 50

TUR - 7 9 16 10 - 42

CJI - Braden Mattson 20, Blake Harmon 10, Karson Pulst 10, Bryce Kammerzell 6, Nate Nelson 4.

TUR - Ryan Doyle 16, Trevor Kimmel 10, Charlie Calvert 8, Carson Maloney 7, Trent Billmayer 1.

Fort Benton 49, North Star 47

FB - 8 14 12 15 - 49

NS - 17 4 10 16 - 47

FB - Andrew Ballyntine 14, Jackson Schmele 9, Cody Evans 8, Jacob Giles 8, Sam Smith 3, Mateo Socorro 2.

NS - Rhett Wolery 20, Garrett Spicher 11, Gavin Clawson 7, Ty Hansen 7, Michael Berg 2.