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Chinook's Scott Schmitt (right) drives in for a layups during a District 9C boys challenge game between the Beeters and the North Star Knights Monday night at the Havre High gymnasium. Chinook won, advancing to the Northern C on Wednesday afternoon.
Chinook's Barry Murnion scoops a shot during Monday night's 9C boys challenge game at the Havre High gymnasium.
There was a challenge game in District 9C boys basketball on Monday night, but when it was all said and done, nothing changed in the final seedings.
All weekend long the Havre High gymnasium in Havre was home to the 9C basketball tournament. But the action didn't stop this weekend, as on Monday, the No. 3 North Star Knights challenged the No. 2 Chinook Sugarbeeters in the hopes of a Northern C tournament birth.
But after the Beeters grabbed the No. 2 spot on Saturday with a loss in the championship game, the Beeters held onto the second place finish with a 57-42 win over the Knights on Monday. The Knights defeated the Box Elder Bears on Saturday to reach the challenge game.
"This win felt great," Chinook head coach Mike Seymour said. "The kids are excited and we will savor this win for one knight before we get ready for Highwood (at the Northern C in Great Falls.)"
Chinook took an early lead on Monday night, and never let up. They were in control from start to finish, and did so from solid play on both sides of the ball. The offense exploded for 19 points in the first quarter, but the defense was just as impressive, as they held the Knights to just nine first quarter points.
From then on, the Beeters cruised to through the final buzzer
The Beeters' biggest concern was North Star's Jordy Donoven. He hit several big shots to keep the deficit from getting too far out of hand. In the first quarter he hit two consecutive three-pointers to bring the gap to 11-8. He had another trey in the second frame and his five points kept the Knights within 10 at the break.
But as much as Donoven did and is capable of, the Beeters were well prepared, and never allowed his actions to spark any major runs. Donoven's 13 first half points were matched by 11 second half points, finishing with 24 total, but there were no more double digit scoreres for the Knights.
"He is such a great player and makes everything happen for them," Seymour said. "We were well aware of that, and we knew that we had to key on him. He creates for everybody else, we tried to help on Jordy (Donoven), and when the shot went up we made sure to box out, and when he gave the ball up we knew we could put pressure on the rest of their guys and hope he didn't get a touch again."
After holding a 10-point lead at the half, the Beeters went on to score 28 second-half points on route to the 15 point win. And the Beeters had got big time shooting from a guard of their own as well.
Scott Schmitt had a great game for the Beeters. He matched a lot of key shots from the Knights with big shots of his own. He was 5-of-11 from the field, and was 3-of-7 from behind the 3-point arc, finishing with a team him 16 points.
"That was it," Seymour said. "He hit big threes. Scott (Schmitt) played a great floor game, and in these types of games he has been good about stepping up and knocking down key shots when we needed him."
Dylan Surber and Grant Tilleman also helped in the Beeters win, as they both finished with 12 points each. And for the Knights, they got seven points from Karsont Donoven and six from Shelby Sizemore.
The Knights' season has come to an end, though they made a tremednous run this past week in Havre, playing five games over six days.
The Beeters will continue on to the Northern C tournament this weekend in Great Falls. Chinook will face powerhouse Highwood in the first round. The 2012 Northern C, which also includes Big Sandy, will start Thursday in Great Falls.
C
North Star's Jordy Donven (right) flies in for a layup during a District 9C boys challenge game against Chinook Monday night in Havre.
Chinook 57, North Star 42
North Star 9 10 7 16 — 42
Chinook 19 10 12 16 — 57
North Star — Jordy Donoven 24, Karston Donoven 7, Shelby Sizemore 6, Donovan Ulmen 2, Cooper Spicher 2, Quinn Spinler 1
Chinook — Scott Schmitt 16, Grant Tilleman 12, Dylan Surber 12, Zach Molyneaux 7, Brandon Riphenburg 6, Barry Murnion 4.
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