By Ryan Divish/Havre Daily News Sports Editor/rdivish@havredailynews.com
The Big Sandy High Pioneers aren't used to playing basketball at 8 in the morning, they're used to going to school.
However, the Pioneers shook off the early wake-up call to defeat the Denton Lady Trojans, 50-43, in Thursday's loser-out games at the Northern C Divisional Girls Basketball Tournament in Great Falls.
After scoring just 33 points the day before, Big Sandy scored half of that in the first quarter, grabbing a 16-15 lead. The Pioneers stretched the lead to 34-28 at halftime and were able to hold off Denton in the final two quarters.
Big Sandy forced Denton into 23 turnovers, leading to 15 points. The Pioneers also held the Lady Trojans to 33 percent shooting from the field and 14 percent from 3-point range.
Kacy Herron led Big Sandy with 17 points, while Naomi Williams added 13 points and five rebounds.
Jenessa Todd score the bulk of Denton's points with 18 points and eight rebounds.
Big Sandy will take on the Rocky Boy/Grass Range loser on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Sunburst will take on the loser of the Chester/Geraldine game at 8 a.m.
Big Sandy 50, Denton 43 (lo)
Big Sandy 16 18 8 8 - 50
Denton 15 13 8 7 - 43
Big Sandy - Sandy Zeiger 0 1-2 1, Kacy Herron 7 3-5 17, Naomi Williams 5 3-4 13, Sarah Yirsa 2 0-0 4, Shaylana Pearson 3 0-2 6, Jessica Amsbaugh 1 1-2 4, Morgan Darlington 0 0-0 0, Mikki Hammons 2 0-0 5. Totals: 20 8-15.
Denton - Jennessa Todd 7 4-5 18, Denice Musick 3 2-2 8, Emily Linker 3 2-3 9, Barbara Todd 2 0-0 4, Amanda Johnson 0 0-0 0, Breanna Todd 1 2-2 4, Michelle Melton 0 0-0 0, Megan Bronec 0 0-0 0. Totals: 16 10-12.
Total fouls - Big Sandy 13, Denton 14. Fouled out - Pearson. Three-pointers - Hammons 1, Amsbaugh 1, Linker 1. Rebounds - Big sandy 27 (Williams 5), Denton 37 (J. Todd 8).
Sunburst 55, Centerville 36 (lo)
Centerville 7 11 12 6 - 36
Sunburst 9 16 12 18 - 55
Centerville - Samantha Halko 0 0-0 0, Danielle LaRocque 2 0-0 4, Nikki Voegel 4 0-0 10, Jessica Dunn 4 2-2 10, Rachael Dammen 2 0-0 6, Keighty Peters 1 0-0 2, Heather Ingman 0 0-0 0, Sarah McCale 2 0-0 4, Tawni Guisti 0 0-0 0. Totals: 15 2-2.
Sunburst - Rachel Kleinert 5 3-4 16, Kendra Hovland 5 3-4 16, Kallie Johannsen 1 0-0 2, Rachel Schulze 2 0-0 4, Cassie Meyers 3 0-0 7, Darcey Johannsen 2 2-2 6, Amanda Bock 0 0-1 0, Kate Christiaens 0 0-0 0, Teagan Kearns 0 0-0 0, Raynee Pace 2 1-2 5, Jesse Wallewien 0 0-0 0, Kayla McCoy 0 0-0 0. Totals: 20 9-13.
Total fouls - Centerville 12, Sunburst 11. Fouled out: None. Three-pointers - Voegel 2, Dammen 2, Kleinert 3, Hovland 2, Meyers 1. Rebounds - Centerville 35 (Voegel 8), Sunburst 35 (Meyers 7).
