Area teams thrive at NAC

The 2019 Native American Classic marked the start of the high school basketball season for a slew of local teams.

The two-day hoops extravaganza was played in Great Falls last Friday and Saturday.

BOYS

The Native American Classic in Great Falls has been the traditional opener for the many basketball teams that attend. There is no shortage of excitement for the crowd and the squads on the court.

But nothing was more exciting than to open the year with a two-overtime thrilling win against a rival squad. That is exactly what happened for the Rocky Boy High boys' basketball team last Friday. The Northern Stars defeated the Box Elder High boys basketball team 91-90.

Rocky Boy put up a big fight against Box Elder and the Bears fought back with just as much vigor. The two teams went back and forth throughout the entire game, making big shots and drives to the basket. The game was heated and intense for the Stars and Box Elder.

Rocky Boy opened with a first quarter spark and led the Bears 17-5, which continued for some time. But Box Elder responded well and managed to put the Stars in some hot water late in the game. At the end of the fourth, the teams were tied and went into the first overtime tied 71-71.

But one overtime period was not enough and the teams went into the second overtime at 81-81. As the period went on, Rocky Boy was down by a point with seconds ticking away. Then, Kellen Colliflower turned disaster into masterpiece with a rebounded shot into the net, sealing the Stars victory.

It was definingly a big way to start an exciting year of Rocky Boy basketball and despite the loss, Box Elder will have a lot to look forward to in the season with the performance they put up last Friday.

Both teams did very well on the court. Rocky Boy had great performances by Joe Demontiney and Ben Crebs. Demontiney scored 15 points and made two 3-pointers, while Crebs put up 35 points and five threes. Box Elder's big performances came from Kadyn Duran, who put up 19 points and three three-pointers, and Tyrus LaMere, who racked up 22 point and five threes.

Rocky Boy went a perfect 2-0 in the tournament, as the Stars beat St. Ignatius 60-57 on Saturday. Meanwhile, on Saturday, Box Elder fell to 0-2 with a loss to Kainai.

The Native American Classic in Great Falls had even more exciting games for the Hi-Line teams, including the Harlem High boys' basketball team, who picked up its first win of the season in a 72-58 win over the St. Ignatius Bulldogs last Friday.

The Wildcats put up a big game against the Bulldogs, putting forth big plays and making key shots to keep a good lead over St. Ignatius throughout the match. The first quarter was a great start for Harlem, leading the Bulldogs 22-9.

The second quarter saw St. Ignatius put up 19 points to try and respond to the Wildcats, which led to a closer score at the half 34-28, with Harlem still ahead. The third quarter produced another big performance by the Bulldogs to try and hash into the Wildcats' lead 49-36.

Despite the attempts to respond, St. Ignatius could not keep up with Harlem in the fourth quarter, where the Wildcats put up 23 points to the Bulldogs' 12. The big drive in the fourth led Harlem to take the win and start off 1-0 on the year.

Harlem had a big showcase on the court. Tyler Cichosz racked up 12 points and two 3-pointers, R.J. Ramone put up 22 points and three threes, while Brad Cichosz totaled 17 points and two three-pointers.

In a rivalry game Saturday, Harlem improved to 2-0 on the young season whrn the Wildcats edged Hays-Lodge Pole 67-56, Harlem got 19 points from Brad Cichosz in the win.

Rocky Boy 17 27 10 17 10 10 – 91

Box Elder 5 19 29 18 11 9 – 90

Rocky Boy – Joe Demontiney 15, Ben Crebs 35, Sean Gibson 2, Kellen Colliflower 4, Blake Cantrell 22, Keenan Gopher 9, Sarinas Mithlo 4.

3-pointers – Demontiney 2, Crebs 5.

Box Elder – Gabe Saddler 22, Tyrus LaMere 22, Kadyn Duran 19, Jayden Jilot 9, Jacen Corcoran 1, Tayce St. Pierre 11, Jayden Gopher 5.

3-pointers – LaMere 5, K. Duran 3, J. Gopher.

Harlem 22 12 15 23 -- 72

St. Ignatius 9 19 18 12 -- 58

Harlem -- Tyler Cichosz 12, RJ Ramone 22, Daniel Lawrence 7, Jehton Long Fox 4, Cassuis Johnson 2, Brad Cichosz 17, Trent Main 8.

3-pointers -- T. Cichosz 2, Ramone 3, Lawrence, B. Cichosz 2.

St. Ignatius -- John Komotios 4, Kolten Gardipee 1, Isaiah Nesawtywa 10, Ross McPherson 2, Ayden Rosenbaum 3, Jedi Christy 28, Layne Spidel 7, Kellen McClure 3.

3-pointers -- Komotios, Nesawtywa 2, Christy 3, McClure.

Kainai 85, Box Elder 62

Kainai 18 27 22 18 - 85

Box Elder 13 11 20 18 - 62

Kainai - Crying Hood 8, Crazybull 15, Chief Moon 13, Rear 12, Shouting 16, Okeynon 3, Blackwater 2, Blackwater 7, Big Sorrel Horse 4, Blackwater 5

Box Elder- Saddler 17, LaMere 16, Duran 2, Mithcell 3, Standing Rock 3, Jilot 9, Corcoran 1, St. Pierre 8, Gopher 1

3-pointers- Crying Head 2, Crazybull 3, Chief Moon , Blackwater, LaMere, Standing Rock, St. Pierre

Rocky Boy 60, St. Ignatius 57

Rocky Boy 12 21 18 10 - 61

St. Ignatius- 4 20 17 16 - 57

Rocky Boy- Demontiney 9, Crebs 20, Gibson 8, Standing Rock 9, Cantell 7, Baker 2, Mithlo 6

St. Ignatius- Komotis 2, LaFrombois 5, Nasevytewa 8, McPherson 2, Rosenbaum 6, Adams 4, Christy 28, Spidel 2

3-pointers- Nasevytewa, Christy 2, Demontiney 2, Crebs 2, Standing Rock 3

Harlem 67, Hays-Lodge Pole 56

Harlem 16 14 19 18 - 67

Hays-Lodge Pole 13 19 14 10 - 56

Harlem - B. Cichosz 19, T. Cichosz 13, Ramone 9, Lawrence 19, Main 5, Brockie 1, Johnson 1.

3-pointers - B. Cichosz 2, T. Cichosz 2, Ramone, Lawrence 5.

HLP - Werk 2, Grandchamp 3, Henry 12, T. Shambo 7, Brining Good 12, D. Shambo 10, Kirkaldie 10.

3-pointers - Henry 3, Brining,

GIRLS

There were even more great performances at the Native American Classic in Great Falls last Friday on the girls side. The Harlem High girls' basketball team had a great opening performance against the St. Ignatius Bulldogs, beating them 69-31.

The Wildcats outscored the Bulldogs in the first half with a heated performance and a lead of 24-4. St. Ignatius pushed back a bit, but Harlem kept up the drive and led the Bulldogs 34-17 at the half.

The Wildcat defense kept St. Ignatius to a very low game, holding the Bulldogs to another four-points in the third, while they put up 21. In the end, the Harlem girls pushed St. Ignatius back enough to win with a score twice as much as the Bulldogs.

The Wildcats had some big players on the court show up. Kristyn Kittson put up nine points and three 3-pointers, Taya Trottier racked up 22 points and three threes and L'Tia Lawrence totaled 15 points on the day.

Talk about bringing the thunder to the court.

That is exactly what the Hays-Lodge Pole girls' basketball team did against the Heart Butte Warriors last Friday in the Native American Classic in Great Falls, throttling the Warriors 57-16.

It is clear both the Thunderbird offense and defense put up great showcase on the court against Heart Butte. It says quite a lot when a team puts up 57 points and holds the opponent to just 16 points.

Jaedyn Chandler put up 19 points and two 3-pointers against the Warriors, Ella Messerly totaled eight points and two threes, while Kassi Perez, Sierra Chandler and Mulleeah Stiffarm all dropped seven points into the net. It was a big day and a great start to the Thunderbirds' year.

Now, HLP, 2-0, will look to continue the streak as the season progresses and the opponents get harder with the 9C district.

The Box Elder High girls' basketball team had a great start to its season as well, defeating the Rocky Boy High Northern Stars last Friday in Great Falls. The Bears put up a big show and won 51-39.

Box Elder will have a nice ride moving forward after beating Rocky Boy and having multiple players put up great performances, but so did the Rocky Boy squad.

Sarah Parisian racked up 18 points and two 3-pointers, while Annalise Johnson, Breanna Bacon and Aysia LaMere all totaled seven points. Meanwhile, Rocky Boys' Jaynah Gopher put up 15 points, while Sasha Coffee and Jeralyn Parker racked up eight points.

Rocky Boy rebounded to beat St. Ignatius on Saturday, while Box Elder also won and improved to 2-0.

HLP -- Ella Messerly 8, Kassi Perez 7, Sierra Chandler 7, Lakota PrettyPaint 1, Heidi Hughes 2, Tahtianna Morgan 6, Jaedyn Chandler 19, Mulleeah Stiffarm 7.

3-pointers -- Messerly 2, Perez, J. Chandler 2, Stiffarm.

Heart Butte -- Maniz Kennedy 4, Jodee Cree Medicine 8, Terra Calf Boss Ribs 2, Shay White 1, Michole Jorgenson 1.

3-pointers -- Cree Medicine 2.

St. Ignatius 4 13 4 10 – 31

Harlem 24 10 21 13 – 69

St. Ignatius – Karolyana Buck 2, Olivia Garland 7, Kooper Page 4, Courtney Mitchell 5, Sydney Brander 5, Azia Umphrey 8.

3-pointers – Umphrey.

Harlem – Kristyn Kittson 9, Gabi Bell 4, Alayna Hawley 2, Kailee Henry 13, L'Tia Lawrence 15, Taya Trottier 22, Chloe Messerly 2, Aria Owens 2.

3-pointers – Kittson 3, Henry, Lawrence, Trottier 3.

Box Elder 51, Rocky Boy 39

Box Elder -- Sarah Parisian 18, Maia Henderson 1, Annalise Johnson 7, Breanna Bacon 7, Brielle Sunchild 6, Aysia LaMere 7, Tayleigh Sunchild 5.

3-pointers -- Parisian 2, Johnson, B. Sunchild.

Rocky Boy -- Neferti Standing Rock 2, Sasha Coffee 8, Kirsten LaMere 3, Angela Gopher 3, Jaynah Gopher 15, Jeralyn Parker 8.

3-pointers -- Coffee, LaMere.

Rocky Boy 61, St. Ignatius 54

Rocky Boy 10 13 8 30 - 61

St. Ignatius 15 12 17 10 - 54

Rocky Boy- J Gopher 18, Arkinson 1, A Gopher 17, LaMere 8, Parker 17

St. Ignatius- Back 2, Garland 2, Pose 6, Carnie 5, Mitchell 4, Brandey 20, Umphrey 15

3-pointers- J Gopher,A Gopher 3, Carnie, Brandey 2, Umphrey 2.