Hi-Line Girls BB: Chinook, Box Elder open the season with wins

The high school basketball season is here, and the first full weekend of the new season saw Hi-Line teams traveloing to preseason tournaments all over Montana.

Action started on Thursday at the NDN Shootout in Billings, the Box Elder girls opened the season with a 65-16 win over Two Eagle River. Tayleigh Sunchild and Ariel Gopher combined for 25 points for the Bears.

Chinook also opened its season Thursday night with a 70-42 win over Class B Cut Bank at the Shelby Tournamernt. Hallie Neibauer scored 27 points and Bree Swanson chipped in with 15 points as the Sugarbeeters outscored the Wolves 36-18 in the second half.

In Billings on Friday, Harlem fell to Huntley Project 78-10 in the season-opener, while Rocky Boy knocked off Lodge Grass 61-60 in Billings as well. Jayci Demontiney and Amiya For Souls combined for 46 points in the thrilling win.

Also in Billings, Hays-Lodge Pole edged Lame Deer 56-54. The Thunderbirds trailed by four at halftime and eight going into the fourth quarter, then outscored the Morning Stars 19-9 down the stretch for the win. Nina Fox led four players in double figures with 16 points; Alliya Pretty Paint and Angela Blackcrow netted 11 each, and Shaunte Hawley scored 10. Paris Not Afraid poured in 18 points for the Morning Stars, with Asia two Moons adding 14.

The North Star Knights were all victorious on Friday in Harlowton as they beat the host Engineers 60-35, while Fort Benton fell to North Country, 61-26.

Saturday's tournament action continued as Big Sandy defeated Sunburst 63-42. Eva Yeadon led the way with 18 points as the Pioneers downed the Refiners. Jaihven Baumann added 13 points, with Eva Wagoner contributing 11. Big Sandy used a 22-8 third-quarter surge to pull comfortably ahead. Ella Samsal had 16 points for Sunburst, with Nikki Nau adding 10.

Chinook was also victorious Saturday night as the Class C Suarbeeters thumped Class B Shelby 66-32. Hallie Neibauer scored 30 points, while Bree Swanson added eight points as did Torin Cecile.

Fort Benton also lost a tough game to Melstone Saturday night, 44-41. Sasha Corder scored 19 points in the loss, while Emerson Giese chipped in with 14. In Cascade, CJI also was routed by Cascade 76-50.

Thursday

Box Elder 65, Two Eagle River 16

Two Eagle River;;3;2;8;3;-;16

Box Elder;;20;19;16;10;-;65

TWO EAGLE RIVER: Sarah Gardipe 7; Naeloni Cahoo 6; Olivia Brueggeman 3.

BOX ELDER: Tayleigh Sunchild 13; Ariel Gopher 12; Melyah Oats 11; Cheyenne Windy Boy 7; Adaia Ragged Robe 7; Talyna Bacon 5; Kierra Chase 4; Leah Morsette 3; Wapan Blackbird 2.

Chinook 70, Cut Bank 42

Chinook;;16;18;19;17;-;70

Cut Bank;;14;10;12;6;-;42

CHINOOK: Neibauer Hallie 27; Bree Swanson 15; Alexus Seymour 11; Torin Cecrle 7; Mya Berreth 4; Hannah Schoen 2; Sami Malsam 0; Anna Terry 0.

CUT BANK: Makenna Burke 10; Kendra Spotted Bear 9; Aliyah Cruz 6; Darci Littrell 6; Madison Baker 4; Destini Anderson 4; MacKenzie Johnson 3.

Friday

Huntley Project 78, Harlem 10

Huntley Project;;27;19;22;10;-;78

Harlem;; 5;3;2;0;-;10

HUNTLEY PROJECT: Paige Lofing 32; Ivy Grimsrud 17; Teagan LaRoche 14; Hadley Kautz 5; Maddison Akins 5; Keely Ban 3; Lily Zimmer 2; Shyanna Harman 0; Avery Gerdes 0; Kyann Dean 0; Jayona Thomas 0; Haedyn Simonson 0; Nevaeh Morales 0; Rebecca Middleton 0.

Harlem - N/A.

Rocky Boy 61, Lodge Grass JV 60

Lodge Grass JV;;10;11;12;27;-;60

Rocky Boy;; 15;17;11;18;-;61

ROCKY BOY: Jayci Demontiney 26; Amiya Four Souls 20; Kalelee Henderson 4; Tatianna Demontiney 4; Kale Windy Boy 3; Gigi Many Bears 3; Kise Seaton 1.

Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale 61, Fort Benton 26

Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale;;19;12;10;20;-;61

Fort Benton;;4;13;6;3;-;26

North Star 60, Harlowton-Ryegate-Judith Gap 35

North Star;; 21;13;17;9;-;60

Harlowton-Ryegate-Judith Gap;;7;5;11;12;-;35