As a result of CJI winning the consolation and not playing the runner-up at the Northern ‘C’ basketball tournament, the Hi-Line Hawks were able to challenge 9C rivals Fort Benton for their spot at State on Monday night in Great Falls. The Longhorns were up for the challenge and dominated, winning (54-39).
CJI got off to a tremendous start, scoring the first seven points of the basketball game. The Longhorns answered with an (8-2) run to close the quarter and trailed, (10-8). From there, it was all Fort Benton , going on a heater to finish the job.
Eli Arganbright played one of the best games in a Longhorn uniform, scoring 14 points from the second quarter on. He was joined in double-figures by Truman Giese’s 13 and Isaiah Smith’s 11. Ryland St. John scored six points in the first quarter and six for the rest of the game. Dane Grammer also recorded 12 in the loss for the Hawks.
Fort Benton will be one of two 9C teams to play in the MHSA State Class ‘C’ basketball tournament, which gets going on Thurs., Mar. 12. Fort Benton will have the later game at 5pm that day against the top seed from the Southern ‘C’. Box Elder is the No. 1 seed out of the North and will play the No. 2 Southern seed at noon that day. Coverage of Box Elder and Fort Benton’s run at state will be carried on New Media Broadcasters stations.
