Poplar Drops Opening Game At Divisional

The Poplar Indians were outscored by Rocky Boy, 74-48, in the first round of the Northern B boys’ basketball divisional tournament in Glasgow on Thursday, Feb. 24.

The Indians were able to keep up with Rocky Boy early in the contest. A basket by Dennis Red Eagle put Poplar up by a 5-2 margin.

After a three-pointer by Rocky Boy’s Sean Gibson, Poplar’s Delray Lilley scored for a 7-5 advantage with 5:18 left in the opening quarter.

The Stars then struck for eight straight points highlighted with a four-point play by Ben Crebs.

After a free throw by Red Eagle, Rocky Boy accounted for the next seven points including five by Joe Demontiney for a 20-8 margin.

Two free throws by Geordy Medicine Cloud pulled Poplar to 24-12, but the Stars ran off the last seven points of the quarter including a three-pointer by Demontiney for a 31-12 advantage.

Rocky Boy increased its lead to 37-14, but the Indians fought back with a threepoint play by Red Eagle and a fast-break hoop by Kaniel Ricker for a 37-19 score with 5:47 left in the half.

The Stars outscored Poplar by a 10-4 margin the rest of the half for a 47-23 lead.

A drive by Allen Russell, a basket by Lilley and a three-pointer by Ricker got the Indians off to a good start in the third quarter, but Rocky Boy held a 61-34 advantage at the end of the period.

Poplar’s top scorers were Red Eagle with 18 and Lilley with nine points.

Also scoring were Ricker with seven, Russell with six, Joe Bear with four, Preston Ogle with two and Medicine Cloud with two.

Leading Rocky Boy were Crebs with 24, Demontiney with 20 and Gibson with 15.