By Tiffany L. Rehbein
The Big Sandy Lady Pioneers proved why they are 21-0 and the No. 1 team in the state of Montana with an opening round 61-26 romp over the Winifred Red Raiders Thursday.
The Pioneers erupted for 22 first-quarter points in the afternoon game at the CMR Fieldhouse in Great Falls.
Ten of the Pioneers' 12 players scored in the game.
Senior Sasha Ritter, who has led the team offensively all season, and Amy Silvan both tallied 11 points to lead the Pioneers' attack.
Ritter tallied two 3-pointers, both in the first quarter, in the victory, while Silvan and Tiffanie Jamieson chipped in one trey in the contest.
But Big Sandy put the stop on Winifred in the second quarter, when the Red Raiders were held to zero points in the quarter.
Big Sandy went into the locker room with a 37-12 lead.
Even scoring throughout the third quarter kept the Pioneers ticking on points to the scoreboard.
Jamieson scored her three points, Kristi Upham notched two of her eight points, Eryn Darlington tallied two of her five points, and Celeste Darlington scored three of her seven points in the quarter.
In the fourth, Kathryn Bitz came to life on the perimeter, scoring six of her eight points in the final eight minutes of play.
Lindsey Danreuther chipped in two points and Jillian Johnsrud added two of her four points in the quarter.
Winifred (16-8) was led by Cari Seilstad who scored eight points in the loss.
Big Sandy went 11-for-17 from the free throw line in the contest. Head coach Roy Lackner collected his 401st career win with the victory.
The Pioneers will face the Belt Huskies Friday. Belt routed the Sunburst Refiners 73-33 in the opening-tournament game. Belt, who also put 11 players in the score book, was led by Rachel Keaster who scored 14 points.
The two teams did not meet during the regular season, however, Belt handed Chester, the No. 1 seed from the District 10-C, its only loss of the season via a 76-68 score.
Winifred will play Sunburst, while Centerville (18-5) will play Blue Sky (13-10) in loser-out action.
En route to more semifinal play, the Denton Trojans (21-1) defeated the Centerville Miners, 52-37, while the Chester Coyotes (20-1) defeated Blue Sky, 79-36.
Chester, who has been off from game action for two weeks, shot 51.4 percent from the field.
Jamie Graham, who sat out of the divisional tournament with an injury, led the Coyote attack with 15 points.
Michelle Van Dyke, who has been a constant all year for the Coyotes, hit 7-of-9 shots from the field and tallied 14 points. She also grabbed nine rebounds in the effort.
Carlane Jensen and Heidi Cicon, the tall trees for Chester, also had double figures with 12 points.
Emily Tranberg also pulled down seven board in the contest for the Coyotes.
Blue Sky was led by Jessica Patrick with 10 points. She also tallied eight rebounds in the effort.
Lindsey Letang, who has played strong all season, notched six boards in the game.
Big Sandy
22
15
10
14
--
61
Winifred
12
0
8
6
--
26
Big Sandy -- Sasha Ritter, 1-2 4-3 11; Tiffany Jamieson, 0-1 3-0 3; Jessica Carl, 1-0 0-0 2; Kristy Upham, 4-0 0-0 8; Eryn Darlington, 2-0 2-1 5; Celeste Darlington, 3-0 1-1 7; Amy Silvan, 3-1 3-2 11; Kathryn Bitz, 4-0 0-0 8; Jillian Johnsrud, 1-0 2-2 4; Sheena Darlington, 0-0 0-0 0; Lindsey Danreuther, 0-0 2-2 2; Haley Grubb, 0-0 0-0 0; Totals: 19-4 17-11 61
Winifred -- Jennifer Case; Kalin Econom; Jessica Knox; Laura Stulc; Tara Mackling, 1-0 0-0 2; Candee Meckling, 2-0 0-0 4; Sheila Donsbach, 1-0 2-2 2; Kinder Willson, 0-0 2-2 2; Karla Wickens, 1-0 1-1 3; Jena Heggem, 1-0 0-0 2; Davin Udelhoven, 1-0 0-0 2; Cari Seilstad, 4-0 0-0 8; Totals: 11-0 5-4 26
Blue Sky
10
9
7
10
--36
Chester
25
21
18
15
--79
Blue Sky -- Katie Spicher 3-9 0-0 7; Carlye Redding 1-7 1-4 3; Naomi Lipp 1-4 0-0 2; Hanna Warhank 1-2 0-0 2; Lindsey Letang 1-7 0-1 2; Cassidy Han 0-5 3-4 3; Jessica Patrick 5-10 0-1 10; Natalie Strissel 2-6 1-2 5; Ashlee Lincoln 1-1 0-0 2; Heather Wendland 0-2 0-1 0. Totals: 15-53 5-13.
Chester -- Trisha Hilton 2-3 0-0 4; Megan Mattson 0-6 1-4 1; Devan Lalum 3-8 0-0 6; Carlane Jensen 4-8 4-6 12; Maci Tempel 4-7 0-0 8; Jamie Graham 7-10 0-0 15; Heidi Cicon 6-8 0-0 12; Emily Tranberg 1-2 0-0 2; Marci Tempel 0-1 1-2 1; Chasi Buffington 0-1 0-0 0; Katie Engstrom 2-7 0-0 4; Michele VanDyke 7-9 0-0 14. Totals: 36-70 6-12.
Total fouls: Blue Sky 15, Chester 15. Fouled out: Non. Three-pointers: Spicher 1, Graham 1.
Rebounds: Blue Sky 37 (Patrick 8, Letang 6); Chester 44 (VanDyke 9, Tranberg 7).
