Pioneering into the semis: Big Sandy handles CJI

After another deep postseason run in football, the Big Sandy boys basketball team is trying to do the same thing on the hardwood.

And the Pioneers started that quest off right by beating the Chester-Joplin-Inverness Hawks 53-39 Wednesday night in the first round of the District 9C boys tournament at the Havre High gymnasium. The win moved Big Sandy on to the semifinals in the tournament, where the Pioneers will play Chinook tonight.

Pioneers' head coach Thomas Dilworth was proud of the work his team put in the game against Chester-Joplin-Inverness.

"CJI is a really well-coached team," Dilworth said. "We knew they were going to come back and battle us. Rebounding was the key to the game. If we can eliminate their second chance opportunities, we win that game. That was the key to the game, what we wanted to do and we did it."

For CJI head coach Joe Horel, the game showed that even though his team fell, they still are fighting strong and hungry for a chance to go to divisionals.

Big Sandy rebounded very well, Horel said.

"We didn't box out as good as we should have," he added, "but we work hard and don't give up. That's been our biggest strength all year. It doesn't matter what the score is, they just keep fighting."

The first quarter of the game opened with the Pioneers starting hot, with Ryan Roth and Clint Darlington dropping some baskets on a quick run to lead 8-2. Andrew Woods and Spencer Richter answered with some scores, but Roth ended off the quarter with a pair of free throws to lead 14-6.

The second stanza saw Roth continue to add points for Big Sandy, but Kealy Haaland and Caden Woods started to come alive to put up some baskets to try and keep CJI in the game. Still, the Pioneers pushed their way further into the lead, with Kade Strutz and Darlington leading the charge to end the first half up 29-13 over the Hawks.

After the break, Kyle Harmon opened the third period with a nice unanswered 6-0 run to cut Big Sandy's lead, but Darlington and the Pioneers pushed further ahead. CJI then went back and forth with Big Sandy to cut the lead to 10, but eventually the Pioneers still led 39-27 going into the fourth.

The Hawks and Pioneers kept up the to and fro in the fourth quarter, with Darlington continuing to impress with more points for the Pioneers, while the Hawks kept pushing to cut the lead. In the end, Big Sandy stayed ahead enough to claim victory.

Darlington led the Pioneers with 21 points, followed by Roth with 16. Caden Woods led CJI with 11 points and Kyle Harmon followed up with eight.

Darlington was pleased with the results against the Hawks tonight.

"We did exactly what we wanted in the first half," Darlington said. "Then we came out a little slow in the second half, but it went well."

Big Sandy (11-8) will now face off against the No. 2 Chinook Sugarbeeters in the second semifinal game of the boys district 9C tournament, with the winner moving on to the championship game and a trip to the Northern C Divisional next week.

CJI (8-11) had to face Hays-Lodge Pole in a loser-out game this morning to try and stay alive.

Big Sandy 53, Chester-Joplin-Inverness 39

Big Sandy 15 15 10 14 – 53

CJI 6 7 14 12 – 39

Big Sandy – Ryan Roth 16, Wyle Snapp 2, Kody Strutz 2, Clint Darlington 21, Parker Proulx 2, Jeremiah Genereux 2, Kade Strutz 8. Totals: 20-59 1-7 53.

CJI – Bryce Ghekiere 2, Andrew Woods 2, Kyle Harmon 8, Spencer Richter 6, Bryce Kammerzel 5, Kealy Haaland 5, Caden Woods 11. Totals: 12-28 3-16 39.

3-pointers: Ryan Roth 1, Kyle Harmon 1, Spencer Richter 1, Bryce Kammerzel 1. Fouls: Big Sandy 14, CJI 17. Fouled out: none.