GREAT FALLS – Cord Schneider scored 20 points, Isaac Bell added 17 and the Chinook Sugarbeeters defeated Hays-Lodgepole 66-45 for a Northern C boys basketball divisional championship.
For a school with as much athletic success as Chinook, it might come as a surprise that it’s been more than 30 years since the Sugabeeters boys basketball team has advanced to the state tournament.
According to coach Mike Seymour, this is the first time Chinook has advanced past divisionals since they won the 1986 Class B state title.
Jeremy Pretty Paint led the Thunderbirds with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Chinook’s win sets up a Northern C challenge game between Hays-Lodgepole and Winnett-Grass Range Sunday at the Four Seasons Arena at 2 p.m.
The Rams won the consolation final against Belt, 32-31 in overtime. Trailing 31-29 with seconds left, Zane Stahl hit a game-winning 3-pointer to keep his team’s season alive.
