The Pioneers would open their final week of the regular season on the road against the Thunderbirds of Hays-Lodgepole. The Pioneers would come out hot offensively and jump out to an early 17-7 lead after one-quarter of basketball. The Pioneers would knock down some threes, and the tough pressure defense would force many turnovers and would extend the halftime lead to 13 with a score of 34-21. In the second half of play, the hot shooting and solid defense continued as the Pioneers continued to help extend their lead after three quarters with a 57-27. The Pioneers would continue to roll and get many players in the scoring column. Final Score Big Sandy 81 Hays Lodgepole 49. Braydon Cline led the Pioneers with 30, Lane Demontiney added 20, and Kody Strutz added in 12.
The Pioneers would travel to Turner for one of the two final 9C conference contests on Friday. The Pioneer’s defense would jump out in lockdown defense, not allowing a basket in the first 4 minutes of the contest, and would jump out to a 14-0 lead. The Tornadoes would finally get the offense going, get a few baskets to go in the first, and cut the Pioneer lead to just 7 with a score of 17-10. In the second quarter, the defense would stay solid, and the offense would find ways to work the ball inside and get the easy baskets to extend the lead to 16 points at the halfway point of the contest, with a score of 32-16. In the second half, the Pioneers would continue to work hard on both ends of the floor and continue to work the ball inside and take advantage of the smaller Tornadoes. In the fourth quarter of play, the whole Pioneer bench got some experience as every player would enter the contest, and the Pioneers would earn the victory with a final score of 61-43. Braydon Cline led the Pioneers with 25, and Lane Demontiney would add in 10.
The game would decide the conference’s winners in Saturday’s contest against the CJI Hawks. The Pioneers were up to the task in a high-intensity contest in Chester, which is a hard place to play. They jumped out quickly, thanks to a deep three from just across the halfcourt line that banked in to give the Pioneers some momentum and the 17-6 lead after one-quarter of basketball. In the second quarter of basketball, the Pioneers would come out a little flat and would be in a little bit of foul trouble, which would not benefit the Pioneers as three three-point baskets would go in for the Hawks and would give them the 26-24 lead at the halftime break. In the second half, the Hawks would be the team that would come out and play, but the Pioneers would continue to fight but would fall a little bit short. Final Score CJI 57 Big Sandy 48. Lane Demontiney’s 16 points would lead pioneers, Sophomore Cooper Taylor, who put in some great minutes, put in 13, and Wylee Snapp added 11. The Pioneers would finish the regular season 15-3 and 11-3 in conference play. The Pioneers will take the second seed in the District Tournament, face the Hays-Lodgepole Thunderbirds on Wednesday the 16th at 7:30 p.m., and come out and support your Pioneers in Havre. Go Pioneers!
