Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Grant Tilleman, Chinook Basketball

Sugarbeeter Grant Tilleman makes a successful transition from football to basketball every year

There have been many big-time names to wear a Chinook Sugarbeeter basketball uniform over the years. And over the last couple of seasons especially, Grant Tilleman has made a strong case to be one of them.

Tilleman is a 6-3 senior who has made his mark on the gridiron and hardwood for the Beeters.

And with his final football season now behind him, Tilleman was a two-year varsity starter who claimed Class C All-Conference and All-State honors on both sides of the ball, a guard on offense and a nose guard on defense. He was also a part in the state championship the Beeters won in 2010. Now he's concentrating on hoops.

On the basketball court, Tilleman is just two weeks into his senior season. He has been a three-year starter for the Beeters, and Chinook is coming off of a solid season where the Beeters played at the Northern C tournament. Tilleman was also named All-Conference as a junior.

Chinook's Grant Tilleman takes the ball up strong during a District 9C boys basketball game last week in Chinook. The senior center has helped the Sugarbeeters to all kinds of success in football and basketball.

Tilleman also has hopes of continuing an athletic career at the college level. He was Academic All-Conference in football and basketball last season, and has already been in contact with the coaching staff at MSU in Bozeman, where he will hopefully play college football and continue his education to earn a degree in Ag Business.

Here's five questions with one of the biggest big men in Chinook.

HDN: What is it going to take for the Beeters to get back to the Northern C in Great Falls, and maybe even the state tournament this season?

Tilleman: "We have a good team, but we are really just focusing on controlling the tempo of each game and playing really good defense. I think that if we do that it will (give us the best chance at winning)."

HDN: Now that you are a couple weeks into the season, who is the team to beat in the 9C?

Tilleman: "You know, Box Elder is pretty good, and I think it has to be them. They have a very deep and good bench this season. They also have quite a few returning starters, and are all pretty tall and athletic."

HDN: What is your least favorite road trip to make during the regular season?

Tilleman: "We play a nonconference game in Geraldine, and that is not the most fun trip, it is long and cramped. And the gym is not fun to sit in after a while. They (Tigers) are a pretty good team, but it is mostly that drive and their gym that I don't like."

HDN: How do you mentally prepare for each opponent?

Tilleman: "In practice our coach (Mike Seymour) goes over each opponent and tells me what I have to do in the game, so I try to go out and do the same thing every time. Sometimes you have to make adjustments during the game, but most of the time we try to make sure are ready and have a main game plan."

HDN: Where have you grown the most in your post play since your freshman season?

Tilleman: "Just being able to use my body against the defense, and playing good defense myself. I think I am stronger inside."