By Tiffany L. Rehbein
The Chinook Sugarbeeters made some runs for the lead, but came up short in a 61-49 loser-out game against the Manhattan Tigers at the State Class B tournament at Belgrade Friday.
A red-hot Rhiannon Braun went 11-for-14 from the field and poured in 19 points to lead Manhattan to the victory.
Chinook committed 30 turnovers in the game. Some, in turn, led to 17 Tigers' points.
In the third quarter, Kelsie Whitney, a 3-point gun for the 'Beeters all season, nailed a shot from beyond the arc to cut the Tigers' lead to six points.
Whitney scored a team-high 13 points in the loss, including shooting 3-for-5 from 3-point land.
In the fourth, senior Katie Hoffman hit a 3-pointer and pulled the Sugarbeeters within eight points, but Manhattan slowly closed the door en route to the victory.
Hoffman finished with nine points in the game, including two treys in the contest.
Renda Birky, Chinook's inside power, finished with 10 points in the effort.
Chinook, who entered the state tournament as the third-seed from the Northern Division, finished the season with a 15-13 record.
Malta, the No. 1 seed from the north, won the State Class B title, defeating Conrad, the No. 2 seed from the north, 53-46.
Manhattan was defeated by Frenchtown in the consolation game 64-61 Saturday night.
Manhattan
19
12
16
14
--61
Chinook
10
13
12
14
--49
Manhattan -- Jodie Bos 2-6 0-1 4; Michelle Droge, 2-5 1-2 7; Breeanna Robinson, 3-14 3-4 9; Rhiannon Braun, 11-14 4-5 26; Alexis Huyser, 2-4 3-4 7; Katie Geiger, 1-1 0-0 2; Brittany Shallcross, 0-1 0-0 0; Sam Zieglowski, 2-3 2-2 6; Rachael Heideman, 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-48 13-18.
Chinook -- Katie Hoffman, 3-8 1-2 9; Kelsie Whitney, 5-10 0-0 13; Renda Birky, 4-7 2-2 10; Kelly Acra, 2-5 0-0 4; Amanda Schoen, 3-4 0-2 6; Katie Malsam, 1-3 2-2 5; Caroline Moores, 1-2 0-2 2. Totals; 19-39 5-10.
