Hi-Line Girls Basketball Roundup

Big Sandy's Mateila Cline (right) drives past a Highwood defender during a girls basketball game at the Big Sandy Tournament on Thursday night.

Rocky Boy's Leigha Onco dribbles up the floor during a Native American Classic girls basketball game Friday in Havre.

The high school girls basketball season started with a big bang this weekend on the Hi-Line. From Havre to Big Sandy to Chester, gyms were packed with fans as basketball made its triumphant return and marked the beginning of what will be an exciting next three months.

The season officially got underway on Thursday night with the Big Sandy Pioneers trouncing the Highwood Mountaineers, 54-39 at the Big Sandy Tournament. The Pioneers got 17 points each from Mateila Cline and Shayna Gilead, while Molly Herron added 10 in the season-opening win.

Friday morning marked the first of two days action at the Native American Classic at the MSU-Northern Fieldhouse in Havre.

The Harlem Wildcats opened their season on a high note, taking down close rival Hays-Lodge Pole 56-48 in an exciting game. Jay Lynne Allen, Monique Doney and Tesche Ereaux each scored 13 points to lead the Cats, while the 9C Thunderbirds got 17 points by Kallie Martin and 15 each from Kristie Runsabove and Chanel Doney in the loss.

Things did go well for the 9C Box Elder Bears Friday as they thumped the Browning JV's 56-31 at the NAC. Brandi Buffalo scored 11 points and 13 Bears reached the scoring column in the easy win for the Bears.

In the third local girls game Friday at the NAC, the Class B Rocky Boy Morning Stars were upset by 10C power Valier, 44-38. Rocky Boy trailed by double digits in the fourth quarter, and a 12-7 run late wasn't enough to overcome the Panthers. Sabrina LaForge led the Morning Stars with 10 points and eight rebounds in the loss.

Back in Big Sandy on Friday, the Chinook Sugarbeeters opened the new season with a hard-fought 35-29 win over Roy-Winifred. A 17-7 run in the second quarter gave the Beeters and cushion and they held on from there. Taryn Norby scored 13 points and Makhayla Farmer added 11 in the win.

Things didn't go as well for the North Star Knights Friday in Big Sandy. The Knights fell to Highwood 47-40 in their season opener. Lisa Carlon led North Star in scoring with 16 points in the tough loss. Big Sandy also defeated Power in the last game of Friday night's action at the Big Sandy Tournament.

At the Chester/J-I Tournament, the powerful C/J-I Hawks opened the new year with an impressive 57-20 win over the Fort Benton Longhorns. The Hawks saw 11 players score, led by Macky Sangwin's 12 points. Kate Graff added 11 in the easy win.

Back in Havre Saturday, the NAC continued with three more girls games, including Box Elder running past former 9C rival Rocky Boy, 69-36 in the nightcap. The Bears jumped out to a 28-14 first-quarter and never looked back.

Aricka Wolf Chief scored a game-high 19 points and Brandi Buffalo added 11 for the Bears. The Morning Stars got 10 points from Sabrina LaForge.

HLP got its first win of the season by dominating the Heart Butte Warriors 63-38 Saturday morning. Shakayla Whitecow led three T-Birds in double figures with 19 points. Rival Harlem wasn't as fortunate as the Wildcats fell to Valier, 53-38 in the third girls game at the NAC Saturday. Coco Moore scored 16 points for Harlem in the losing cause.

Saturday was also exciting at the Big Sandy Tournament as Chinook improved to 2-0 with a thrilling 61-60 win over the Denton Trojans. Chinook trailed 34-28 at halftime and was down heading to the fourth quarter, but a 19-13 in the run and some late heroics propelled the Beeters to an exciting win.

Makhayla Farmer scored 23 points and grabbed 19 rebounds, while Taryn Norby added 11 poiints for the Beeters.

Saturday was also a day of redemption for the North Star Knights in Big Sandy. The Knights rebounded from a tough Friday loss to beat the Dutton-Brady Diamondbacks 57-34. The second quarter was the difference for the Knights as they went on a 24-7 run to take a commanding lead. Shelby Lipp scored 15 points and Lisa Carlon added 13 in the win.

Thursday

Big Sandy 54, Highwood 39

Highwood 7 6 15 11 — 39

Big Sandy 11 13 16 14 — 54

Highwood — Raina O'Leary 19, Denise LaFontaine 8, Georgiana Smith 1, Rosie O'Leary 3, Sarah Clark 3, Mikela Grove 3, Brianna Bowman 2. Totals: 14 8-25.

Big Sandy — Katie Owen 2, Mateila Cline 17, Molly Herron 10, Shanya Gilead 17, Leela Engle 4, Brooke Leader 2, Shelby Gasvoda 2. Totals: 21 10-15.

Total fouls: Highwood 17. Big Sandy 19. Fouled out: none. 3-point goals: LaFontaine 2, R. O'Leary 1, Cline 2, Gilead 1.

Friday

Chester/J-I 57, Fort Benton 20

Fort Benton 7 3 4 6 — 20

Chester/J-I 16 22 15 4 — 57

Fort Benton — Molly Bailey 6, Kinsey Claassen 4, Katy Allen 2, Bailey Hulme 8. Totals: 7 6-18.

C/J-I — Stine Haaland 5, Macky Sangwin 12, Megan Han 2, D. Haaland 4, Nikole Wolfe 5, Brittnee Theei 4, Haley Hadmon 2, Kate Graff 10, Jenny Ghekiere 5, Joleyn Woods 5, Caitlin Vinson 3. Totals: 23 7-10.

Total fouls: Fort Benton 8, C/J-I 17. Fouled out: none. Three-point goals: Haaland 1, Wolfe 1, Woods 1, Vinson 1.

Big Sandy 48, Power 17

Power 6 4 0 7 — 17

Big Sandy 8 15 16 9 — 48

Power — Alex Perry 2, Maggie Leigland 7, Kennedy Miller 7, Alicia Murray 1. Totals 7 3-4.

Big Sandy — Katie Owen 2, Mateila Cline 22, Molly Herron 6, Shanya Gilead 10, Brooke Leader 2, Leela Engle 4, Abby Gregory 2. Totals: 21 3-10.

Total fouls — Power 15, Big Sandy 11. Fouled out — none. 3-pointers — Cline 2, Gilead 1.

Chinook 35. Roy-Winifred 29

Chinook 5 17 4 9 — 35

Roy-Winifred 4 7 9 9 — 29

Chinook — Haley Swank 4, Taryn Norby 13, Emily Dennis 4, Makhayla Farmer 11, Kayla Hanson 3. Totals: 14 7-12.

Roy-Winifred — Kym Brown 3, Shelby Smith 10, Hayley Siroky 4, Ranki Wichman 4, Arley Knerr 4, Danyce McClure 4. Totals: 8 12-25.

Total fouls: Chinook 21, Roy-Winifred 13. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None. Three point goals: Norby 2, Brown 1.

Box Elder 56, Browning JV 31

Box Elder 11 16 16 13 — 56

Browning JV 3 11 5 12 — 31

Box Elder — Crystal Stamper 8, Aricka Wolf Chief 10, Brandi Buffalo 11, Catlin Gamble 10, Breanna Matt 3, Stephani Southerland 1, Alicia Wolf Chief 2, Lauren Four Colors 2, Michell Winchell 2, Kaylee Raining Bird 4, Lelain Gardipee 2, Krista Chiefstick 1. Totals 23 11-29 56.

Browning — Rayann Green Madison 2, Rachel Hepter 4, Mynidi Gallagher 4, Linsey Wagner 6, Mariah Deroucher 2, Shelsay St. Godard 2, Jenny Jo Tailfeather 6, Tyeyanna Belcourt 2. Totals 12 4-21 31.

Total fouls: Box Elder 17, Browning 25. Fouled out: Deroucher. 3-point goals: Hepter 1.

Harlem 56, Hays-Lodge Pole 48

Harlem 12 21 11 12 — 56

HLP 9 12 11 16 — 48

Harlem — Jay Lynne Alan 13, Tesche Ereckene 13, Coco Moore 7, Kikki Horn 7, Vanessa Horn 3, Monoque Doney 13. Totals 20 6-15 56.

HLP — S. Whitecow 11, K. Runsabove 15, K. Martin 17, C. Doney 15. Totals 19 5-10 48.

Total fouls: Harlem 11, HLP14. Fouled out: none. 3-point goals: Alan 1, Ereckene 3, K. Horn 1, V. Horn 1, M. Doney 1, Martin 4.

Highwood 47, North Star 40

North Star 10 7 15 8 — 40

Highwood 13 11 9 14 — 47

North Star — Haylee Anderson 2, Lisa Carlon 16, Taylor Warren 7, Tylynn Rettig 2, Shelby Lipp 13. Totals: 19 1-15.

Highwood — Raina O'Leary 20, Denise LaFontaine 2, Jorganna Smith 6, Sarah Clark 6, Mikaela Grove 13. Totals: 21 3-10.

Valier 44, Rocky Boy 38

Valier 15 11 11 7 — 44

Rocky Boy 10 8 8 12 — 38

Valier — Brittney Steele 2, Stephanee Bullchild 2, Abbie Bouman 12, Shannell Davis 17, Tully Eagle Specker 8, Deidre Wheeler 1, Jamie Espeseth 2.

Rocky Boy — Sabrina L. 10, Teannae S. 9, Taneel S. 5, Leigha O. 5, Leah L. 7, Jaelynn O. 2.

Total fouls: Valier 10, Rocky Boy 18. Fouled out: none. 3-point goals: Davis 1.

Saturday

Chinook 61, Denton 60

Chinook 17 11 14 19 — 61

Denton 17 17 13 13 — 60

Chinook — Talya Johnson 2, Alana Smith 5, Haley Swank 6, Taryn Norby 11, Emily Dennis 2, Makayla Farmer 23, Kayla Hanson 6, Tavin Schneider 2, Mikenda Seymour 4. Totals: 26 9-16.

Denton — Shelby White 15, Shyla Geottemoeller 26, Landra Lucas 19. Totals: 18 20-26.

Total fouls: Chinook 19, Denton 15. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None. Three point goals: Geottemoeller 4.

Hays-Lodge Pole 63, Heart Butte 38

Heart Butte 5 4 29 9 — 38

HLP 19 15 6 23 — 63

Heart Butte — Taylor Boss Ribs 11, Ashley Heavy Runner 2, Chantel White Quills 1, Shinell Day Chief 3, Justice Runnign Crane 6, Mishayla After Buffalo 2, Shayanna England 3, Tylun Boss Ribs 2, Cierra Lindberg 8.

HLP — S. White Cow 19, K. Runs Above 14, K.Martin 3, C. Doney10, B.Messerley 1, O. Gray 5, T. Zander 3, B. Kirkaldie 2, Bailey Doney 6.

Box Elder 69, Rocky Boy 36

Box Elder 28 14 15 12 — 69

Rocky Boy 14 5 9 8 — 36

Box Elder — Crystal Stamper 5, Aricka Wolf Chief 19, Jaylin Parker 3, Brandi Buffalo 11, Breanna Matt 8, Alicia Wolf Chief 2, Lauren Four Colors 2, Michelle Winchell 6, Jonni Bacon 3, Krista Chiefstick 2, Catlin Gamble 3. Totals 25 15-27 69.

Rocky Boy — Sabrina L. 10, Teannae S. 5, Teneal S. 6, Leigha O. 6, Jaelynn OC 3, Raven S. 2, Marquita W. 4. Totals 13 7-12 36.

Total fouls: Box Elder 15, Rocky Boy 21. Fouled out: Teneal S.

3-point goals: Stamper 1, A. Wolf Chief 2, Parker 1.

North Star 57, Dutton-Brady 34

North Star 8 24 18 7 — 57

Dutton-Brady 8 7 7 12 — 34

North Star — Sarah Human 2, Mackenzie Hansen 4, Haylee Anderson 3, Delainey Spicher 3, Lisa Carlon 13, Taylor Warren 5, Tylynn Rettig 8, Shelby Lipp 15, Whitney Wedland 2, Kassidy Hansen 2. Totals: 26 4-17.

Dutton-Brady — Shannon Habel 6, Savanah Timmerman 6, Samantha Cox 2, Lacey Jones 1, Taylor Reeve 7, Sierra Johnson 8, Aubree Hitchcock 4. Totals: 12 7-17.

Valier 53, Harlem 38

Valier 7 17 15 14 — 53

Harlem 14 8 12 4 — 38

Valier — Brittney Steele 2, Stephanee Bullchild 6, Abbie Bouman 17, Shaanel Davis 14, Turq Eagle Specker 10, Steena Eagle Specker 4. Totals 22 8-18 53.

Harlem — Jaylynn Allen 10, Tesche Ereaux 8, Coco Moore 16, Rikki Horn 2, Shayna Fatter 2. Totals 16 4-5 38.

Total fouls: Valier 6, Harlem 17. Fouled out: Allen. 3-point goals: Allen 2, Bullchild 1.

Box Elder's Crystal Stamper (right) goes past a Browning defender during a Native American Classic girls basketball game Friday evening at the MSU-Northern Fieldhouse.