Hi-Line Basketball: Weather interrupts final week of December

In the final week of play in 2022, several Hi-Line basketball teams looked to head into their holiday break on a high note. Starting Monday night last week, the Rocky Boy boys basketball team looked good as it defeated Harlem, 69-51, at home.

Joe Standing Rock led the Stars with 29 points while Teague Stump scored 20 points in the winning effort. With the win, the Stars headed into their holiday break with a 4-1 record. On the other hand, the Harlem Wildcats are 0-5.

The Turner boys basketball team played against Dodson Monday last week on the road. In a back and forth affair, the Tornadoes pulled out a 65-58 victory. In the first quarter, the Coyotes got out ahead to take a 17-15 lead.

The Tornadoes responded in the second quarter to cut their deficit to 35-34 at the half. The Tornadoes then dominated the third quarter to take a 52-43 lead into the fourth. The Coyotes tried to come back in the fourth, but Turner held on for the win.

Trent Billmayer led Turner with 19 points while both Carson Maloney and Charlie Calvert both scored 18 points in the game. The Turner Tornadoes now head into their holiday break with a 4-1 record.

Several girls basketball teams also played Monday last week. On the road, the Harlem girls basketball team defeated Rocky Boy 54-47. The Wildcats started strong as they took an 11-6 lead in the first quarter.

By halftime, the Wildcats stretched their lead to 23-17. Rocky Boy tried to stay in the game as it cut Harlem's lead to 35-30 to end the third. But the Wildcats held on in the fourth to win. Harlem now has a 1-4 record this season while Rocky Boy falls to 1-4.

The Turner girls basketball team opened its week on Monday with a 41-36 loss to Dodson at home. The Tornadoes started the game well enough with a 9-8 lead in the first quarter. But the Coyotes took control in the second to take a 23-16 at halftime.

The Coyotes continued to play well in the third as they took a 35-25 lead into the fourth. The Tornadoes tried to come back in the fourth but they could not break through. Bridget Reed led Turner with 10 points in the loss as the Tornadoes fell to 1-4 on the year.

There was more Hi-Line basketball last Tuesday with some games in Chester. The Chester-Joplin-Inverness boys basketball team had a good showing as it defeated Sunburst 71-37.

After a 10-10 tie in the first quarter, the Hawks dominated the second quarter to take a 35-21 lead. The Hawks continued their dominance in the third to extend their lead to 56-29 as they cruised to victory in the fourth quarter.

Many Hawks had strong nights against Sunburst. Blake Harmon led the team with 19 points while Karson Pulst scored 16 points. Nate Nelson scored 11 points while Braden Mattson contributed 10 points. With the win, the Hawks improved to 4-1.

The CJI girls basketball team also had a good showing with a 54-36 win over Sunburst. After trailing 13-10 early on, the Hawks took control to take a 24-17 lead at the half. The Hawks continued to play well in the third to stretch their lead to 42-22 to then coast the rest of the way.

MaRae Small led the Hawks with 17 points while Brynn Kammerzell scored 15 points. The Hawks have now improved their record to 3-2 on the season.

Because of extremely low temperatures this week, several Hi-Line basketball teams have either canceled or postponed their games that were scheduled. The Box Elder boys and girls basketball teams had to postpone their games against Turner and North Star this week.

The Hays-Lodge Pole boys and girls basketball teams also had to reschedule their games against Fort Benton and Chinook to the other side of the new year. The Rocky Boy boys and girls basketball teams did not play their games against Cut Bank this week.

Hi-Line basketball will return in early January as many teams will start setting themselves up for the postseason. Hopefully after the new year, warmer temperatures will allow these young athletes to compete as they build toward their goals this season.

Monday

Rocky Boy boys 69, Harlem 51

RB - Joe Standing Rock 29, Teague Stump 20, Kellen Colliflower 10, Phoenix Henry 4, Domitri Standing Rock 2, Jayden Gopher 2.

Turner boys 65, Dodson 58

TUR - 15 19 18 13 - 65

DOD - 17 18 8 15 - 58

TUR - Trent Billmayer 19, Carson Maloney 18, Charlie Calvert 18, Ryan Doyle 8, Tate Beck 2.

DOD - Junio Stiffarm 25, Mickey James 24, Tanner Ball 8.

Dodson girls 41, Turner 36

DOD - 8 15 12 6 - 41

TUR - 9 7 9 11 - 36

DOD - Emma KillEagle 25, Emma Fetter 4, Jean KillEagle 4, Jean Turnsplenty 4, Ireland Stiffarm 2, Ireland Cole 2.

TUR - Bridget Reed 10, Dakota Krass 7, Meridian Snider 4, Cassidy Grabofsky 4, Ali Doyle 4, Natalie Richman 3, Hannah Richman 2, Modesty Chamberlain 2.

Harlem girls 54, Rocky Boy 47

RB - 6 11 13 17 - 47

HAR - 11 12 12 19 - 54

Tuesday

CJI boys 71, Sunburst 37

SUN - 10 11 8 8 - 37

CJI - 10 25 21 15 - 71

SUN - Conlan Kerfoot 19, John Buckley 9, Connor Sullivan 7, Virgil Manthey 2.

CJI - Blake Harmon 19, Karson Pulst 16, Nate Nelson 11, Braden Mattson 10, Ty Backen 6, Adam Grammar 5, Pat Dahlin 4.

CJI girls 54, Sunburst 36

SUN - 13 4 5 14 - 36

CJI - 10 14 18 12 - 54

SUN - Tara Robbins 14, Claire Bucklin 14, Ella Samsal 6, Katie Hout 2.

CJI - MaRae Small 17, Brynn Kammerzell 15, Aaliyah Standiford 9, Jayla Ramberg 6, Sydney Hawks 6, Maddi Maki 1.