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2015
9C DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
February 2015
www.havredailynews.com
9C girls tourney is wide open Powerful Chinook out to defend its 9C crown George Ferguson
Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com There’s always an air of excitement surrounding the District 9C girls basketball tournament. For towns across the Hi-Line, it’s the biggest week of the school year. But the 2015 9C tournament might have even more hype surrounding it than ever before. That’s because, for the first time in years, the tourney will include eight teams, as Chester/J-I, a former 9C stalwart, and the Fort Benton-Geraldine Longhorns, have been added to the league, and with the Hawks and Longhorns, a new era will begin this week inside the Havre High gymnasium. Not only is it a new era, but this year’s 9C tourney should be exciting for another reason, too. For the first time in quite some time, the tournament is truly wide open. The 9C has been a deep league all season long, and going into this week’s tourney, any one of five teams could come out on top, while three teams will punch their tickets to next weekend’s Northern C Divisional in Great Falls. Chinook Sugarbeeters It’s been a season to remember so far in Chinook. The Beeters come into this week’s tourney as the two-time defending 9C champions, and the No. 1 overall seed as Chinook claimed its fourth straight regular season 9C title. Now, back in Havre to defend their crown, it will be an emotional week for the Beeters, as they continue to honor former head coach Charlie Robinson. The last time Chinook played in the HHS gymnasium, Robinson was guiding the Beeters to a win over North Star in the 9C championship game last February, Robinson passed away last July, and Chinook has marched on in his honor. But emotion is only part of
what makes the Beeters the favorite to three-peat this week. Chinook also has one of the top players in Class C in Katelyn Neibauer, who leads the 9C in scoring and rebounding. The Beeters, of head coach Mollie Rose, are also a veteran group, as the likes of Brooke Nicholson and Hannah Weber, as well as sophomores Brooke Elliot, Kelsey Mathon and Taylor Neibauer all have 9C experience behind them. And that blend of talent and experience will make Chinook very tough to beat this week.
The Hawks are paced by the ultra-talented Allix Goldhahn, who averages close to 17 points per game. But C/J-I can also be balanced, too. Madeline Woods and Peyton Cole can both score in double figures, while Kristina Dahinden and Kylee Vinson give the Hawks even more depth and athleticism. “I am presently surprised with where we are at,” coach Goldhahn said. “I thought we would be in the 5-6 spot going into the season, but we started out well and have gotten better and better as the season has gone on.”
Fort Benton-Geraldine Longhorns
North Star Knights
The first season in the 9C started with uncertainty for Fort Benton. But, a co-op with Geraldine and a fantastic start has led to the Longhorns being one of the top teams in the league. FB-G has been right on the heels of Chinook in the league standings all season long, and in their first 9C tourney, the Longhorns have a shot to cut the nets down. Under head coach Cassie Scheffelmaier, the Longhorns lost just twice in their first 16 games of the season, and a big reason why is their diversity. FB-G can play inside and out, and they have three starters averaging in double figures. The Longhorns are led by Cassidy McCarthy, who averages 14 points per game, while sisters Makae and Coya Nack each average around 13 points per night. And while the Longhorns don’t have the experience of playing in the pressure-packed 9C tourney yet, they have talent and depth, and that will take them far this week. Chester/J-I Hawks Experience is something C/J-I lacks, too. But the Hawks have made up for it in other ways in their first year back in the 9C. Veteran head coach Pat Goldhahn’s team doesn’t boast a senior, but it hasn’t mattered much. C/J-I, which long dominated the 10C, has fit right in the 9C landscape, and this week, there’s no reason to think C/J-I doesn’t have what it takes to win a district championship.
The Knights are no strangers to 9C tournament success. In fact, they’ve played in five straight 9C title games. But the 2014-15 season has been one of ups and downs for what is still a deep and talented North Star squad. “We have had our ups and downs a little bit, we have had a lot of injuries but we know we can play with anyone in the district,” North Star head coach Griff Bye said. “We knocked off Chinook, so we feel very good that if we are healthy, we are as good as anyone.” On any given night, North Star can be as good as anyone in the field. The Knights have a ton of talent, led by seniors Mackenzie Hansen and Tylynn Rettig. Together, the senior duo is playing in their fourth straight 9C tourney. Fellow senior Alissa Borlaug has also come on strong this season, and junior Sheridan O’Neil is one of the best post players in the district. So, like Bye said, if the Knights are healthy, and have all their pieces in place this week, they are a definite threat to be right back in the championship game Friday night.
See 9C Girls Page 4 Havre Daily News/Jake Shane Chinook's Katelyn Neibauer is surrounded by the Box Elder defense during a 9C girls g a m e i n J a n u a r y. T h e Sugarbeeters enter this week as the defending 9C champions, while the Bears hope to make some noise at the HHS gymnasium.
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2015
February 2015
9C DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
www.havredailynews.com
Everybody chasing the mighty Bears Defending state champs headline a new-look 9C boys tourney
of the better defenders and rebounders in the league. Yet, he will not have to do everything by himself as he is surrounded by a solid group of players that includes Ian McIntosh, Cody McCracken, Zach Schelin and Wade Schneider. Chinook, which is led by veteran head coach Mike Seymour, lost twice to the Bears this season but went 3-1 against HLP and C/J-I, which bodes well for their chances of finishing in the top three this week in Havre.
Chris Peterson
Havre Daily News sports writer gferguson@havredailynews.com When it comes to Class C district basketball tournaments in Montana, nobody does it better than the 9C. And thanks to some new arrivals to the district tournament, the always exciting tournament should be better than ever in 2015. Once again, the Box Elder Bears, the defending Class C boys basketball champions, are the class of the league and will be that until someone proves otherwise. Yet, there is a number of contenders ready for a chance to knock them off, including Hays-Lodge Pole, Chinook and Chester/J-I. And with three berths in the Northern C Divisional tournament on the line, the competition will be intense. Box Elder Bears There is not much to say about Box Elder, other than the Bears are the clear heavyweight in the district. The Bears have just one loss on the season, which came to Highwood in December and have cruised through district play, easily dispatching of contenders like HLP, Chinook and C/J-I. Head coach Jeremy Macdonald once again has constructed one of the deepest and most talented teams in Class C basketball with the likes of Brandon The Boy, Jerrod Four Colors,
Hays-Lodge Pole Thunderbirds
Havre Daily News/Jake Shane Box Elder's Clayton Morsette Jr., left, and Chinook's Lane Seymour go head-to-head during a District 9C boys game last month in Box Elder. The Bears are the two-time defending 9C champions, while the Beeters lead a group of teams trying to knock the Bears off this week in Havre. Clayton Morsette Jr. and Jake Jones among others headlining things for the Bears. The Bears are the most explosive offensive team in the district with multiple front-line players but they are more than just a one trick pony and play suffocating man-to-man defense. Knocking them off their perch atop the 9C will not be easy and will take a herculean effort to pull off. "We are just going to take
things one game at a time," Macdonald said. "We want to do something that no other team from the Chippewa Cree reservation has done and that's win two straight state titles. But before we can get to divisionals or state, we need to make sure we take care of business at districts." Chinook Sugarbeeters
Knocking off Box Elder may
be difficult for Chinook, but after finishing second in the 9C tournament a year ago, the Beeters are optimistic about their chances of making a return trip to Great Falls for the Northern C. One thing the Beeters have going for them is the stellar play of senior forward Lane Seymour, who may be on his way to an AllState season. On the hardwood, Seymour can do it all. He is a talented scorer, who is also one
If there is one team in the 9C with the offensive firepower to hang with the Bears of Box Elder, it might be the T-Birds, who possess a slew of talented players in their own right, headlined by Sterling White Cow, Tyson Shambo, Frank Runs Above and Tough Snow. In addition to having a talented roster, the T-Birds also boast a championship level coach in Charlie Ereaux, who led HLP to a state championship back in 2007. Ereaux knows what it takes to win come tournament time and after his team missed a chance to move onto to divisionals last season, the T-Birds will be ready to make their mark in 2015. Despite suffering back-to-back losses late in the season, the TBirds rallied and finished strong in district play, bringing in some much needed momentum to the tournament. They may not be a favorite to win it but it would be a slight upset if HLP did not advance past the 9C to divisionals. Chester/J-I Hawks
â– See 9C Boys Page 4
Follow all the 9C action with the Havre Daily News 9C fans can get complete coverage of the 2015 District 9C boys and girls tournaments with the Havre Daily News. Each day, the HDN sports pages will be filled with full game coverage and feature stories from all the 9C action. Fans can also get full coverage on Twitter and postgame updates and more at www. havredailynews.com. Then, in Monday's Hi-Line Sports Roundup, the HDN will have wall-to-wall coverage from all of the weekend's action at the 9C tourney.
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2015
9C DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
February 2015
www.havredailynews.com
9C Girls: Good teams compete for Northern C spots
9C Boys: 9C tourney now has eight teams in the field
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Box Elder Bears Box Elder could be the surprise team in the field this week. The Bears finished at .500 in one of the toughest districts in Class C, and they have some impressive wins, including beating North Star and Highwood among others. But, with three teams going to divisionals, Box Elder, under longtime head coach Joel Rosette, will have to spring at least one upset this weekend to move on. The Bears are certainly capable of doing so. Offensively, Box Elder can score in the 70s or 80s, and that makes them very tough to beat. They’ve also developed depth and balance this season which makes them tough to defend. Leilani Gardipee and Alicia Wolf Chief lead the way for Box Elder’s guard-oriented attack. Together, they average nearly 30 points per game. But the talent and scoring doesn’t stop there. Tyrah Gopher and Tia Russell can also score in double figures, while Krista Chief Stick has been playing since she was a freshman, and Misty Baker and Sayra Long Fox give the Bears even more depth and talent when they’re on the floor. So, as tough as the 9C tourney will be this week, Box Elder is that team that no one wants to face. The Bears are dangerous and talented, and they’ll be a tough out for sure. Turner Tornadoes It’s been a record-setting season in Turner. The Tornadoes have won nearly three times as many games as they did last season. But as much success as Turner has had this winter, success in the 9C tourney won’t come easy. Certainly, the goal for Turner is to win its first 9C game in more than a decade. And the Tornadoes have the team to pull it off. Led by sophomore Ella Billmayer, as well as sisters Kristina, Rylee and Raegan Conlan, and sophomore Rennay Watkins, Turner has its most talented and productive team in years. The Tornadoes have been very strong on offense all season long, and if
Havre Daily News/File Photo Turner's Ella Billmayer handles the ball during a 2014 9C girls game at the HHS gymnasium last February. The Tornadoes are much-improved heading into this week's 9C tourney in Havre. they can play stout defense this week, then winning a game, or two at the district tournament is something that just might be within their grasp. Hays-Lodge Pole Thunderbirds Being competitive in the 9C tournament is something that has eluded the Hays-Lodge Pole girls for some time. And it may elude them again this week. HLP has struggled for much of the season, and numbers is a big reason why. The T-Birds lack depth, and they lack even more in tournament experience. But in the 9C tourney, anything can, and usually does, happen and, led by Tia Zander, Rayleigh Kirkaldie and Kennessa Shambo, the TBirds will set out to make something big happen this week. Big Sandy Pioneers
Last year, the Big Sandy boys stumbled to a rare winless season. This winter, the Big Sandy girls come into the 9C tourney still searching for that first win. Big Sandy, a once dominant program in the 9C, has felt the sting of the numbers game, as the Pioneers lack both depth and experience. Senior Abby Gregory leads the way for the Pioneers, but after Gregory, Big Sandy will play in the 9C tournament with mostly freshmen, and little to no tourney experience. Still, one thing the Pioneers have done all season is continue to fight and continue to grow. Maddie Reichelt and Jenna Leader have come on strong for the Pioneers, as has the rest of the freshmen class. And with nearly the entire team returning next season, this week in Havre will be an outstanding learning experience for the young Big Sandy squad.
C/J-I is one of two newcomers to the 9C for the 2014-15 season and this week will be the first time that the Hawks have competed in the 9C tournament. Yet, head coach Spencer Satori and his crew are no stranger to postseason play after qualifying for divisionals out of the District 10C a season ago and feel good about their chances of qualifying for divisionals again this year. The Hawks managed to finish in the top half of the competitive 9C this season thanks in large part to the play of their star player Justin May. May, who is an exceptional all-around athlete, has been a dominant scorer and eclipsed the 30-point multiple times this season. C/J-I also boasts Brandon and Corey Richter, who are also solid players who can be counted on to provide consistent scoring. This season, the Hawks finished fourth in the league and while they were not able to beat Box Elder or Chinook head-tohead, they do own a victory over HLP, proving they are capable of beating a top team from the district. "We just need to focus on the first team we are going to play" Satori said. "Whether it be Fort Benton-Geraldine or North Star in the first round, we need to focus on them and can't look any further than that. We are hoping to get to divisionals, that's the goal of every single team that goes there, but we have to come in every single night. It's Northern C basketball and anyone can beat anyone on any given night." Fort Benton-Geraldine Longhorns The other team that is new to the 9C this season is Fort Benton-Geraldine, which will take part in the tournament for the first time along with C/J-I. The Longhorns, who are led by head coach Tyler Pasha are a relatively young team that have had an up and down season in their inaugural year of competition in the district. Yet, after Fort Benton and Geraldine co-opted before the start of the season, the growing pains were to be expected. However, the team is far from devoid
of talent as FB-G boasts Ben Hulme, Toren Andreason and Sean Bronec among others. FB-G is a dark horse candidate to make it out of the district tournament but, as we all know, anything can happen in the postseason and, with a winnable first-round game against either C/J-I or HLP, there is a chance that FB-G could surprise. But at the very least, they should come away with at least a win or two over the course of the week. North Star Knights Another team that will have its work cut out for them are the North Star Knights. The Knights have battled injuries all season long and partly due to that, they have not played as well as expected in the preseason. "The 9C is a top heavy tournament," said North Star head coach Walynn Burgess, who once played at Montana State University-Northern under head coach Shawn Huse. "It makes it hard when you have the defending state champions in your district but one through six, there are some good teams and anyone can beat anyone. Even the bottom two teams are capable of stepping up and beating someone." The Knights, who have missed senior Jaxon Simonson for the most of the year. do have a slew of talented players such as Devon Miller, Gavin Spinler and Payton Peterson. The biggest key for the Knights might just be having all hands on deck when the 9C tournament rolls around. Right now, they are being overlooked but, if they can get healthy and get hot, anything is possible.
gives the team hope of pulling a first-round upset. Turner Tornadoes Another proud program that has seen hard times of late is the Turner Tornadoes, who finished near the bottom of the district standings again this season. Yet, even though Turner found the winners circle just a handful of times in 2014-15, head coach Curt Welsh's team does have some talent and is at least a threat to steal a game at some point in the 9C tournament. Lucas Reed, Brett Van Valkenburg and Tristian Billmayer pace Turner in scoring. Yet, the biggest goal for the Tornadoes coming into the season and this tournament will just be to win a game in the postseason, which hasn't happened for a few years now. While competing against Box Elder, HLP and C/J-I may be difficult, Turner is not far behind FB-G, North Star and Big Sandy and definitely has a chance to win a tournament game, which would be a viewed as a highly successful run in the tournament for the Tornadoes.
Big Sandy Pioneers Even though the 2014-15 season has been less than stellar for the Pioneers, the few wins the team managed this year were a vast improvement over the winless season Big Sandy endured during 2014. Big Sandy is a young team led by head coach Ronnie Simpson, who used to play basketball at MSU-N. But the Pioneers do have some solid players such as Geno Menard, Kyle Strutz and Laurence Alderdice that at least
Havre Daily News/Jake Shane Toren Anderson and the Fort Benton-Gerladine Longhorns will try to make some noise in their first-ever 9C boys tournament this week in Havre.