The Billings Hotel Senior Classic is the first high school boys’ basketball showcase to get going this offseason and there were some New Media Broadcasters listening area kids competing.
After just winning its second consecutive MHSA State Class ‘C’ title the Box Elder Bears sent their top three scorers in Tracen Jilot, Tuarie Stiffarm-Rosette, and Dreyden Anderson. They were coached by Fort Benton’s Hardy O’Hara and assisted by Timothy Rosette Jr. Kellan Diekhans of Fort Benton was also on the roster.
The North ‘C’ team that comprised of these players won their first game on Thursday against Central ‘A’, (94-68) with Stiffarm-Rosette leading the way in scoring at 23 points. Jilot contributed 21, while Anderson had 19. Chester-Joplin-Inverness’ Nate Nelson was playing for Central ‘A’ and had 18 in the loss.
On Friday, the trio would lose their first game of the tournament, (72-68) to the Class ‘AA’ south team, which eventually went on to win the competition. It was Jilot who had a team-high 15 in this one, followed by Anderson’s 14. Stiffarm-Rosette contributed 10 and Turner’s Carson Maloney had nine points.
Later that day, same quartet would be in the leading scorers column as Class ‘C’ North was officially eliminated by Class ‘AA Central, (102-90). Jilot ended his campaign with 26, while Stiffarm-Rosette had 15. Maloney was in the stat sheet with 11 and Anderson finished with 10.
The North ‘B’ team was coached by Chinook’s Bill Bell. It also featured Sugarbeeters wing player Carson Nissen, who led the team with 21 points in its only victory of the tournament, a (93-66) win over Central ‘A’.
