Daniels will guide Beeters
Chris Peterson Havre Daily News cpeterson@havredailynews.com
A season ago, the Chinook Sugarbeeters boys basketball team had to adjust to a new district, as Chinook dropped from Class B to Class C. This coming season, the team will have to adjust to a brand new head coach as former Havre High girl’s junior varsity coach Chris Daniels takes over for Warren Lybeck. “I am really excited about this opportunity,” Daniels said. “I am fired up about being able to coach this team and having the chance to build something in the next few years.” Daniels is a young, energetic coach who spent the last two seasons working under former Blue Pony head coach Jason Wirt, and helping to lead the Ponies to a 15- 6 record in 2005-2006, and a thirdplace finish at the Central A Divisional Tournament. Daniels has also coached both boys and girls basketball at the Havre Middle School as well as coaching the boy’s basketball team at Havre Central for a season. “I’ve had the chance to work under some great coaches,” Daniels said. “Now, I am going to take what I have learned and try to build a winning program.” Daniels was hired by Chinook Superintendent of Public Schools Jay Eslick. Eslick put in a recommendation to the Chinook Public School Board of Trustees who approved the hiring. “He has got a lot of enthusiasm,” Eslick said. “You can tell by sitting down with him that he loves basketball and he has a great knowledge of the game. He has a lot of youthful energy and that is something he is going to bring to the court everyday.”
The Beeters finished 7-5 in District 9C play and 9-9 overall during regular season. That record was good enough for third place in the Beeters’ inaugural season in the District 9C. However, the Beeters regular season success didn’t translate over to the post-season as they lost to Hays-Lodge Pole in the opening round of the 2006 District 9C Tournament in Havre, and Rocky Boy in the loser-out round, ending their season on a sour note. The Beeters have not won a game in the postseason since 2000, which is something Daniels is determined to change. “That is going to be one of our goals right off the bat this next season,” Daniels said. “Our goal is always going to be to make it to the state tournament and hopefully to win a state championship. But, it is not going to happen right away. We have to work hard and start taking steps in the right direction.” Having a coach stay with the Beeters’ program has been foreign to Chinook over the last decade, and Eslick is hoping, that if anything else, Daniels can provide that for the Beeters’ program. “We are hoping that Chris can bring some stability to our program,” Eslick said. “We need that to maintain some consistency and provide the kids with a good experience.” Daniels is a graduate of Havre High School, and he played varsity basketball for the Blue Ponies.
