Lady Chiefs take home tourney title, Elks take home third place
Cherokee High School hosted their annual Cherokee Invitational Tournament January 7-9.
The Cherokee Lady Chiefs and Buffalo Bison took home top honors in this year’s tournament.
The Lady Chiefs defeated Billings on day one by a score of 78-12. Cherokee outscored Billings 27-0 in the first, 18-6 in the second, 16-6 in the third and 17-0 in the fourth.
Leading the Lady Chiefs was Abby Guffy with 25 points. Also scoring were Gracie Leslie, 17; Riley Hensley, 8; Macy Goodwin, 5; Madison Wheeler, 4; Jadin Hall, 4; Raylen Weve, 4; and Bridget Wilhite, 3.
In game two, they faced the Timberlake Lady Tigers. Cherokee won the ball game 61-38 by ouscoring the Lady Tigers 19-9 in the first, 16-6 in the second, 15-5 in the third and were outscored by Timberlake 11-18 in the fourth.
Leading the way for the Lady Chiefs was Guffy with 22 points. Also scoring were Wilhite, 17; Leslie, 14; Hall, 2; Schanbacher, 2; Goodwin, 2; and Hensley 2.
Samantha Phillips led the Lady Tigers with 12. Also scoring were Aowyn Seek, 10; Natalee Green, 7; J’Cee Zimbelman, 3; Amaya Ullrich, 2; Kinlie Judd, 2; Kilynn Gaff, 1; and Henslee Powell, 1.
The Lady Chiefs advanced to the championship game to play the Buffalo Lady Bison.
Cherokee jumped out to a 14-7 lead at the end of a the first quarter, but a big second quarter saw that lead increase to 37-15 at halftime. Buffalo outscored Cherokee 11-9 in the third quarter to cut the lead to 46-26 going into the final quarter. The Lady Chiefs sealed the victory, outscoring the Lady Bison 16-10 in the fourth.
Leading the Lady Chiefs was Leslie with 18 points. Also scoring were Guffy, 17; Goodwin, 10; Hall, 6; Wilhite, 4; Gaby Solis, 4; Kacie Eshleman, 4; and Wheeler, 1.
For their efforts, Leslie and Wilhite were named to the Cherokee Invitational All-Tournament Team and Guffy took home the Most Valuable Player hardware.
On the boys’ side of the bracket, Buffalo took home top honors after defeating Kremlin-Hillsdale 47-29 on day one, Timberlake 57-48 on day two and Cherokee 44-26 on championship Saturday.
In the Timberlake game, the score was tied at 11 at the end of the first, but a big second quarter gave Buffalo the 32-21 lead at half. Timberlake fought back and trailed 36-33 going into the fourth quarter where Buffalo outscored the Tigers 21-15 to advance to the championship game.
Leading the Tigers was Merric Judd with 25 points. Also scoring were JJ Pippin, 13; Colten Lormand, 4; Chase Pierce, 3; Dylan Schlup, 2; and Cade Redding, 1.
The championship game featured the Bison and the Cherokee Chiefs. Buffalo came away with the 44-26 victory by outscoring Cherokee 11-3 in the first, 14-12 in the second, 8-5 in the third and 11-6 in the fourth.
Leading the way for the Chiefs was Gabe Wyatt with 9. Also scoring were Damien Ramirez, 5; Ruston James, 4; Noah Leslie, 3; Jade Jantzen, 3; and Damein Lobato, 2.
The Chiefs advanced to the championship game by beating Billings 70-16 in game one. They outscored their opponent 17-4 in the first, 24-4 in the second, 18-0 in the third and 11-8 in the fourth.
Leading the Chiefs was Noah with 11. Also scoring were Ramirez, 10; Jantzen, 7; Lobato, 7; Kai McHenry, 6; Wyatt, 6; Kolby Roberts, 5; Colby Roach, 3; and Treavor Green, 3.
On day two, the Chiefs faced the Burlington Elks. Cherokee won 47-44. The Chiefs led 10-4 at the end of one, 23-11 at halftime, the lead was cut to 32-25 going into the fourth, where Burlington outscored Cherokee 19-15.
Leading for the Chiefs was Wyatt with 15 points. Also scoring were James, 9; Roberts, 7; Ramirez, 7; Roach, 4; Green, 4; and Jantzen, 1.
Leading the way for the Elks was Preston Paschall with 25. Also scoring were Ky Smith, 10; Jared Peffly, 3; Paden Allen, 3; and Weston Allen, 3.
The Elks advanced to face the Tigers in the third place game with Burlington winning 61-57. Timberlake led 18-8 after one, 33-24 at half, 50-45 going into the fourth where a big quarter by the Elks saw the Tiger lead erase and them trail after Burlington outscored them 17-7.
Leading the way for the Elks was Smith with 32 points. Also scoring were Paschall, 15; P. Allen, 6; Peffly, 4; W. Allen, 2; and J.C. Crusinberry, 2.
Leading the Tigers was Redding with 22 points. Also scoring were Judd, 16; Schlup, 8; Pippin, 5; Cameron Brewer, 5; and Lormand one.
Cherokee’s Wyatt and James were named to the All-Tournament Team along with Paschall from Burlington and Judd from Timberlake.
Championship
Girls
Cherokee 62, Buffalo 26
C 14 23 9 16 – 26
B 7 8 11 10 – 62
CHS: Leslie, 18; Guffy, 17; Goodwin, 10; Hall, 6; Wilhite, 4; Solis, 4; Eshleman, 4; Wheeler, 1.
Boys
Buffalo 44, Cherokee 26
B 11 14 8 11 – 44
C 3 12 5 6 – 23
CHS: Wyatt, 9; Ramirez, 5; James, 4; Leslie, 3; Jantzen, 3; Lobato, 2.
Third Place
Girls
K-Hillsdale 47, Timberlake 38
K 9 16 5 17 – 47
T 9 16 7 6 – 38
THS: Seek, 16; Phillips, 10; Ullrich, 6; Gaff, 4; Judd, 1; Zimbelman, 1.
Boys
Burlington 61, Timberlake 57
B 8 16 21 17 – 61
T 18 15 17 7 – 57
BHS: Smith, 32; Paschall, 15; P. Allen, 6; Peffly, 4; W. Allen, 2; Crusinbery, 2.
THS: Redding, 22; Judd, 16; Schlup, 8; Pippin, 5; Brewer, 5; Lormand, 1.
Consolation
Girls
Game was cancelled.
Boys
Alva JV 51, P-Creek-Hunter 49
Seventh Place
Girls
Cherokee JV 29, Billings 16
Boys
Kremlin-H 70, Billings 20
Day Two
Girls
Alva JV 50, Cherokee JV 16
Cherokee 61, Timberlake 38
C 19 16 15 11 – 61
T 9 6 5 18 – 38
CHS: Guffy, 22; Wilhite, 17; Leslie, 14; Hall, 2; Schanbacher, 2; Goodwin, 2; Hensley, 2.
THS: Phillips, 12; Seek, 10; Green, 7; Zimbelman, 3; Ullrich, 2; Judd, 2; Gaff, 1; Powell, 1.
Buffalo 56, K-Hillsdale 40
P-Creek-Hunter 71, Billings 16
Boys
Alva JV 66, K-Hillsdale 59
Buffalo 57, Timberlake 48
B 11 21 4 21 – 57
T 11 10 12 11 – 48
THS: Judd, 25; Pippin, 13; Lormand, 4; Pierce, 3; Schlup, 2; Redding, 1.
Cherokee 47, Burlington 44
C 10 13 9 15 – 47
B 4 7 14 19 – 44
CHS: Wyatt, 15; James, 9; Roberts, 7; Ramirez, 7; Roach, 4; Green, 4; Jantzen, 1.
BHS: Paschall, 25; Smith, 10; Peffly, 3; P. Allen, 3; W. Allen, 3.
P-Creek-Hunter 71, Billings 16
Day One
Girls
K-Hillsdale 57, Cherokee JV 11
K 14 18 16 9 – 57
C 2 6 2 1 – 11
CHS: Anna Alvarez, 4; Sophie Cantellay, 4; Bethany Landrum, 2; Maryanne Heim, 1.
Buffalo 34, Alva JV 32
Cherokee 78, Billings 12
C 27 18 16 17 – 78
B 0 6 6 0 – 12
CHS: Guffy, 25; Leslie, 17; Hensley, 8; Schanbacher, 8; Goodwin, 5; Wheeler, 4; Hall, 4; Weve, 4; Wilhite, 3.
Timberlake 36, PCH 27
Boys
Cherokee 70, Billings 16
C 17 24 18 11 – 70
B 4 4 0 8 – 16
CHS: Leslie, 11; Ramirez, 10; Jantzen, 7; Lobato, 7; McHenry, 6; Wyatt, 6; Roberts, 5; Roach, 3; Green, 3.
Buffalo 47, K-Hillsdale 29
Timberlake 59, Alva JV 44
T 20 14 27 8 – 59
A 8 12 6 18 – 44
THS: Pippin, 18; Redding, 13; Judd, 11; Brewer, 10; Schlup, 6; Lormand, 4; McCoy, 3; Severin, 2; Gwinn, 2.
Burlington 51, PCH 36
B 14 20 2 15 – 51
T 6 8 10 12 – 36
BHS: Paschall, 26; Allen, 10; Smith, 8; Peffly, 5; Crusinbery, 2.
