Hi-Line Boys: Chinook, North Star win key 9C affairs

As the high school boys basketball season continues across the Hi-Line, several schools were unable to continue along with it. Teams such as the Harlem Wildcats, the Box Elder Bears and the Hays-Lodge Pole Thunderbirds had several games canceled or postponed last week because of COVID-19 issues. While their absence meant fewer games took place last week, Hi-Line basketball did continue elsewhere.

Last Thursday, the Chinook Sugarbeeters faced the Big Sandy Pioneers in a District 9C matchup. While the Pioneers have been having a strong season, it was the Sugarbeeters that emerged victorious with a 59-38 win.

Hi-Line basketball continued Friday night with a game between the Fort Benton Longhorns and the Turner Tornadoes. It was a competitive game with the Tornadoes leading, 17-14, at the end of the first quarter. The Longhorns fought back in the second quarter but they trailed, 28-27, at halftime.

The Longhorns continued to crawl their way back as they took a 41-38 lead at the end of the third. The Tornadoes tried to reclaim the lead but the Longhorns held them off for the conference victory. Jacob Giles led the Longhorns with 15 points and Andrew Ballantyne chipped in 10 points in the win. Trever Kimmel led Turner with 18 points in the loss.

The Rocky Boy Stars also played Friday night, where they won, 66-32, against Choteau. The Stars jumped out early as they led, 18-6, at the end of the first quarter. The Stars then exploded on offense in the second quarter to take a 44-14 lead into halftime. The Stars slowed down in the second half, but they were able to cruise to victory.

The slate ended Saturday with a couple more Hi-Line games. The Chester-Joplin-Inverness Hawks played Saturday and they won, 64-23, against the Turner Tornadoes. The Hawks set the tone early as they jumped out to a 17-3 lead in the first quarter. They kept up their pace as they led, 41-9, at halftime. The CJI defense continued to dominate in the second half as the Hawks pulled away for the win. Bryce Kammerzell led the Hawks with 14 points while Kyle Harmon scored 12 in the win. Ryan Doyle scored six points to lead Turner.

After their win Friday, the Fort Benton Longhorns were unable to keep up their play Saturday as they lost, 49-39, to the North Star Knights. The Knights played well over the first three quarters to slowly create separation on the scoreboard. The Knights built themselves a 14-9 lead at the end of the first quarter and then they led, 31-17, at halftime. The Knights maintained momentum in the third quarter as they led, 43-26, heading to the fourth. The Longhorns played better in the fourth, but they could not erase the deficit.

Thursday

Chinook 59, Big Sandy 38

BS - 10 10 10 8 - 38

CHI - 14 12 15 18 - 59

Friday

Fort Benton 49, Turner 48

FB - 14 13 14 8 - 49

TUR - 17 11 10 10 - 48

TUR - Trever Kimmel 18, Carson Maloney 10, Trent Billmayer 10, Ryan Doyle 8, Charlie Calvert 2.

FB - Jacob Giles 15, Andrew Ballantyne 10, Tim Lane 6, Jackson Schmele 6, Sam Smith 3, Landis Arganbright 3, Mateo Socorro 3, Brock Grossman 3.

Rocky Boy 66, Choteau 32

RB - 18 26 18 4 - 66

CHO - 6 8 12 6 - 32

Saturday

CJI 64, Turner 23

TUR - 3 6 8 6 - 23

CJI - 17 24 16 7 - 64

CJI - Bryce Kammerzell 14, Kyle Harmon 12, Karson Pulst 9, Braden Mattson 8, Nate Nelson 7, Blake Harmon 6, Adam Grammar 4, Pat Dahlin 3, Ty Backen 1.

TUR - Ryan Doyle 6, Carson Maloney 5, Trent Billmayer 4, Trever Kimmel 4, Tate Beck 2, Caleb Zellmer 1, Charlie Calvert 1.

North Star 49, Fort Benton 39

NS - 14 17 12 6 - 49

FB - 9 8 9 13 - 39