Chinook, MT – Thursday night Chinook and Rocky Boy both played their first conference games of the season. The Sugarbeeter girls fell 47-44 and boys pulled out a 63-54 win.
Chinook girls tipped off late on Thursday night but got off to a hot start to claim a 10-4 lead after the first eight minutes. In the second quarter it was more of the same as coach Jill Barta’s Sugarbeeters pushed their lead to eight at halftime 22-14.
In second half Rocky boy flipped the script and outscored Chinook 18-7 in the third quarter to lead 32-29. In the fourth Chinook trailed by 10 points 46-36. before a late push from the Sugarbeeters brought them within three after a made triple at the buzzer by Chinook senior Neva Lowe. The Sugarbeeters fall to 1-3 in coach Barta’s home debut.
Lowe finished with 14 points right behind freshman Charley Nissen with 15 points to lead all scorers. Rocky boy was led by senior center Joosie Mitchell with 14 points.
In the nightcap the Chinook boys also got off to a hot start jumping out to 21-11 lead in the first quarter on the back of three made triples and 11 points from junior guard Ryan Bell. Rocky boy was able to stay within reach on 13 first half points from Aeron Gopher trailing at the intermission 32-21.
In the second half the Sugarbeeters got hot again and pushed their lead to 18 points. However, a late game surge from the Rocky Boy Stars saw a ounce dawning deficient cut to just three points midway through the fourth. Chinook struggled to score early in final period until Sugarbeeter forward Jamison Nordboe scored all of the teams eight total points in quarter to push Chinook past Rocky Boy 63-54 and claim their first win of the year (1-2).
Ryan Bell led Chinook in scoring with 22 points while Nordboe put up 21 points of his own and senior Britt Powell chipped in 12. Rockey boy was spearheaded by Aeron Gopher who put up 33 points to lead the game in scoring. Rocky Boy junior center Direk Small was the only other double figure scorer with 11.
The Sugarbeeters are in Shelby December 19th for their second conference game. The girls play at 4:30 and the boys tip off at 6p.m.
