Chris Peterson
Havre Daily News
cpeterson@havredailynews.com
After claiming third place at the District 9C tournament, the Box Elder Bears needed Hays-Lodge Pole to upset North Star in order for the Bears to be able to challenge. On Saturday night the Bears got their wish as North Star lost, setting up a challenge game tonight at 6.
“We are just relieved that we have another chance to move on,” Box Elder head coach Gus Bacon said. “We have great leaders on the team like Aaron Henry that didn't let the team quit or lose focus, and now we have a chance to redeem ourselves.”
Box Elder earned third place with a win over Rocky Boy on Saturday afternoon.
The Stars got off to a solid start, holding Box Elder to just six points in the opening quarter and took an early 11-6 lead.
But Box Elder exploded for 30 points in the second quarter, and at halftime the Bears led the Stars 36-23.
Rocky Boy tried to rally in the second half, but the deficit was too big and the Bears were just too much for the Stars to overcome, as they fell 71-56.
Steve Arca posted a game-high 26 points in the win for the Bears, and Henry added 11 points. Lakota Oats scored 18 points to lead the way for the Stars. Bryant Eagleman contributed 16 points.
The first loser-out game Friday afternoon at the HHS gymnasium was between Rocky Boy and the Turner Tornadoes. Rocky Boy flew out of the gates and the Stars took a 15-5 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Rocky Boy onslaught continued in the second quarter. The Stars outscored Turner 25-9 to take a commanding 40-14 halftime advantage.
Rocky Boy extended its lead by four points in the third quarter, and despite a small rally in the final minutes by Turner, the Stars rolled to a convincing 77-57 win to advance to the consolation game.
Ivan Whitford led the way for the Stars with 21 points and Oats pitched in with 15 points. Chad Jones scored a game-high 31 points for the Tornadoes, and Dalton Cornell contributed with 16 points.
In the night session Friday, the Bears, who had been upset by Hays-Lodge Pole the night before, took on the Big Sandy Pioneers in loser-out action.
The Bears got off to a hot start and took an early 22-16 lead after a hot- shooting first quarter.
Big Sandy answered the Bears shot for shot in the second quarter, but the Pioneers couldn't make up any ground and trailed 43-37 at halftime.
In the second half, Box Elder pulled away from the Pioneers, as the Bears scored 53 second-half points on their way to a 98-86 victory, moving them into the consolation game against Rocky Boy.
Henry scored 22 points in the win, and Arca pitched in with 17 points for the Bears. Justin Willis scored a game-high 23 points for Big Sandy. Tonight's District 9C boys challenge game between Box Elder and North Star will tip off at 6 at the HHS gymnasium.
Friday
Stars 77, Tornadoes 57 (lo)
Rocky Boy 15 25 17 20 - 77
Turner 5 9 13 30 - 57
Rocky Boy - Ivan Whitford 21, Guy Johnson 11, Lakota Oats 15, Kyle Standing Rock 2, Rodney Turn Toes 2, Justin Big Knife 3. Totals: 23 16-31.
Turner - Colin Jones 2, Taylor Fouts 2, Chad Jones 31, Logan Fouts 2, Ryan Hauser 2, Dolton Cornell 16. Totals: 20 13-17.
Fouls - Rocky Boy 14, Turner 19. Fouled out - Cornell, Chad Jones. 3-pointers - Chad Jones 3, Cornell 2, Whitford 3, Eagleman 3, Oats.
Bears 98, Pioneers 86 (lo)
Box Elder 22 21 27 26 -98
Big Sandy 16 21 23 26 -86
Box Elder - Steven Arca 17, Aaron Henry 22, Dustin Bacon 18, Lane LaMere 11, Mike Sangrey Jr. 8, Jayson Hawk 10, Austin Whitford 5, Joel Parker 5, Nathan Gardipee 2. Totals 41 7-12.
Big Sandy - Justin Willis 23, Jon Sheehy 5, Lawrence Jappe 11, Chris LaBuda 8, Karl Osterman 13, Darin Ray 14, Kyle Danreuther 11. Totals 35 9-16.
Total fouls - Box Elder 18, Big Sandy 19. Fouled out - Arca. 3-pointers - Henry 6, Sangrey 2, Parker, Willis 2, Lawrence, LaBuda 2, Danreuther.
Saturday
Box Elder 71 Rocky Boy 56 (3rd)
Box Elder 6 30 18 17 -71
Rocky Boy 11 12 19 14 -56
Box Elder - Steven Arca 26, Aaron Henry 11, Dustin Bacon 10, Lane LaMere 2, Mike Sangrey 8, Jayson Hawk 8, Austin Whitford 8, Joel Parker 3. Totals 29 13-25.
Rocky Boy - Ivan Whitford 10, Lakota Oats 18, Bryant Eagleman 16, Guy Johnson 7, Louis Sutherland 1, Rodney Turn Toes 4. Totals 22 8-14.
Total fouls - Box Elder 16, Rocky Boy 22. Fouled out - Sangrey, Whitford, Johnson. 3-pointers - Whitford, Oats, Eagleman 2.
