Bears repeat as 9C champions

Make it back to back for Box Elder boys basketball. In the District 9C Boys Basketball Tournament at Havre High Gymnasium this past Friday night, the Bears repeated as district champions with an 88-65 victory over the Chester-Joplin-Inverness Hawks in the title game.

It was a tight game in the first quarter, but the Bears pulled ahead for a 24-22 lead over the Hawks. The Bears then took control in the second quarter to take a 45-32 lead into halftime. In the second half, the Bears pulled away to secure the 9C title.

Tracen Jilot led the Bears with 33 points while his teammate Tuarie Stiffarm-Rosette scored 30 points. Along with winning the 9C, the Bears improved their overall record to 20-0 and qualified for the Northern C Divisional. Cooper Streit led CJI with 22 points as the Hawks fell to 17-3 but also qualified for the Northern C Divisional.

Before the championship game, the Fort Benton Longhorns and Turner Tornadoes competed in the 9C consolation game to determine who would finish third in the tournament and clinch that last spot to head to the Northern C Divisional. With the season on the line, Fort Benton defeated Turner, 67-53.

The Longhorns had a strong start taking a 20-11 lead in the first quarter. But Turner responded by cutting the deficit to 32-26 heading into halftime. The Longhorns did not lose momentum as they took a 48-36 lead into the fourth, where they eventually pulled away for the win.

Truman Giese led the way with 20 points for the Longhorns while his teammates Eli Arganbright and Kelton Vielleux scored 10 points each. With the win, the Longhorns advance to the Northern C Divisional with an overall record of 9-13. Trent Billmayer led Turner with 19 points as the Tornadoes' season came to an end with an overall record of 13-9.

Fort Benton made it to the consolation game after defeating Big Sandy, 66-52, in a loser-out game earlier Friday. The Longhorns had a slow start as they fell behind, 18-11, in the first quarter. But they responded in the second quarter to tie the game, 32-32, heading into halftime.

In the third quarter, the Longhorns took control to take a 56-41 lead. The Longhorns then held steady in the fourth to win and stay alive in the tournament. David Olson led Fort Benton with 17 points while his teammate Brett Evans scored 12 points. Lane Demontiney scored 19 points as his Big Sandy Pioneers saw their season come to an end with an overall record of 7-14.

The Turner Tornadoes qualified for the consolation game after defeating North Star, 59-46, in a loser-out game earlier Friday. The Tornadoes stormed out of the gates taking a 19-4 lead over the Knights. By halftime, Turner had stretched the lead to 34-18.

The Knights tried to come back in the second half, but the Tornadoes held them off to stay alive in the tournament. Ryan Doyle led Turner with 21 points while his teammate Carson Maloney contributed 12 points in the winning effort. Kaden King led North Star with 13 points as the Knights' season came to an end with an overall record of 9-11.

The Box Elder Bears, CJI Hawks and Fort Benton Longhorns will next compete in the Northern C Divisional Tournament in Great Falls this week. At the Great Falls Four Seasons Arena this Wednesday, Fort Benton will play at 4 p.m. and Box Elder will play at 5:30 p.m. Then Thursday, CJI will start the tournament with a game at 4 p.m.

Fort Benton 66, Big Sandy 52, LO

BS - 18 14 9 11 - 52

FB - 11 21 24 10 - 66

BS - Lane Demontiney 19, Aidan Morsette 12, Eyon Sherburn 7, Karter Jurenka 7, Ryder Galbavy 5, Eli Dixon 2. 

FB - David Olson 17, Brett Evans 12, Eli Arganbright 10, Kellan Diekhans 10, Kelton Vielleux 10, Truman Giese 8. 

Turner 59, North Star 46, LO

TUR - 19 15 5 20 - 59

NS - 4 14 11 17 - 46

TUR - Ryan Doyle 21, Carson Maloney 12, Trent Billmayer 11, Tate Beck 10, Ty Beck 5. 

NS - Kaden King 13, Carter Campbell 9, Parker Hansen 7, Riese Sattoriva 6, Gavin Clawson 5, Dirk Wolery 4, Kage Peterson 2.

Fort Benton 67, Turner 53, Consolation

FB - 20 12 16 19 - 67

TUR - 11 15 10 17 - 53

FB - Truman Giese 20, Brett Evans 14, Eli Arganbright 10, Kelton Vielleux 10, Kellan Diekhans 9, Brock Grossman 4. 

TUR - Trent Billmayer 19, Ryan Doyle 15, Carson Maloney 14, Tate Beck 3, Ty Beck 2. 

Box Elder 88, CJI 65, Championship

CJI - 22 10 21 12 - 65

BE - 24 21 25 18 - 88

CJI - Cooper Streit 22, Karson Pulst 17, Elijah Sanders 13, Adam Grammar 5, Ryland St. John 4, Ben Syrbe 2, Dane Grammar 2. 

BE - Tracen Jilot 33, Tuarie Stiffarm-Rosette 30, Matthias Blackbird 13, Alex Four Colors 6, Julian Henry 3, Santana Wells 2, Kenny Helgeson 1.