Finally it's Big Sandy's turn

It's been a long time coming. And on Saturday night the Big Sandy Pioneers finally walked away with the boys District 9C championship. The Pioneers defeated the Chinook Sugarbeeters 65-53 at the Havre High gymnasium. The Pioneers have been in the championship game for four straight years. But losing to North Star three years ago and Rocky Boy the last two, the Pioneers were more than happy to take over as the top team. "It's our turn," Big Sandy head coach Roy Lackner said. "We moved up the food chain." Senior Corbin Pearson has been a part of the last four championship games, and was pleased to finally bring the championship back to Big Sandy. "Four years it's been," Pearson said. "And all our hard work finally paid off for us. It was the last chance for us (seniors), and it's an awesome feeling." The matchup between the Beeters and Pioneers has been close every time this season. They met twice in the regular season, and though the Pioneers swept, they led by only four at halftime the first time, and two points at the half the second. This time around the game started in similar fashion. The Pioneers took a 12-10 lead after the first eight minutes. And leading by only two again, the Pioneers took a 26-24 lead into the lockerrooms at the half. In the first half the Beeters stuck around because of their 3-point threat. They were 5-of-13 from behind the arc, with Dylan MacLean knocking down three and Chris Haider knocking down two. "They were supposed be watching 22 (Dylan MacLean) at all the times," Lackner said. "And they didn't even know where he was at. That was a topic of conversation at halftime." Whatever Lackner said at the half worked. The Beeters came out dry in the third quarter. They hit one trey to start, but finished with only nine third quarter points. "When you go up against the size of kids they have," Chinook head coach Chris Daniels said, "it's hard to do that all night long. I think that when your legs get tired you have to adjust your shot a little bit. But when your legs go your shot goes." It was the winding-down point for the Beeters, but the Pioneers were just getting started, putting up 20 third quarter points. "The third quarter has been strong against them for us," Lackner said. "And that's what made the difference for us. We planned on going inside, and if they missed a couple of threes they were going to have to catch up." Offensively, the Pioneers looked to take advantage of their size as well as pushed the ball harder than in the first half. Pearson, Brumwell and Taylor Ophus combined for 18 third-quarter points, giving the Pioneers the 46-33 lead. "I don't know why," Lackner said. "But they (Chinook) weren't getting back on defense. We got about four layups that helped us a lot." The fourth quarter belonged to the Pioneers as well. They only outscored the Beeters 20-19, but their lead was already big enough to come away with the win. MacLean had an outstanding game for the Beeters, shooting 5-of-13 from three, 8-of-18 from the field and racking up a game-high 26 points. Haider landed 13 points, while Lane Schmitt and Taylor Erskine both added five a piece. For the Pioneers it was Brumwell leading the way with a double-double. He netted 25 points but also dominated the boards for 20 rebounds, nine offensive and 11 defensive. Pearson managed 21 points, and Ophus landed 15 with six rebounds. "It is a very special feeling," Brumwell said. "We had a heart breaking past couple years, but we worked really hard this year and still have divisionals and hopefully state. We aren't completely satisfied yet." The Pioneers will gear up for the upcoming divisional tournament, while the Beeters district tourney isn't over yet. Tonight at 6 the Beeters will return to the Havre High gymnasium where they will face the North Star Knights in the challenge game. The Knights came back to take third on Saturday afternoon. "North Star isn't going to give it to us," Daniels said. "Charlie Robinson is a phenomenal coach and he will have something ready for us." Big Sandy's next game will be Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in the first round of the Northern C tournament in Great Falls.