Charlo goes 2-0 at 13-C Tip-Off Tournament
The Lady Vikings showcased their firepower, scoring 108 points in their first two games of the season at the 13C Tip-Off Tournament in Hamilton on Dec. 6-7. On Saturday, Charlo put up a 57-31 victory against Philipsburg, scoring 21 points in the second quarter.
“It felt good to see them enjoy a couple of victories to start the season off,” Charlo Head Coach Jeff Buck said. “It also gave me some good insight into our competitors before the regular season starts.”
Charlo held the Lady Prospectors to six points in the second quarter for a 31-16 halftime lead. They finished strong with an 11-4 run in the fourth quarter.
Seeley McDonald led the Lady Vikings with 18 points while Brielle Zempel had 14 points and Maziey McDonald was the third Charlo player in double digits with 10. GG Hawk wasn’t far behind with nine points.
“My expectations for the season is that they hold up the legacy of Lady Viking Basketball by always giving a 100 percent and representing themselves and their school in an honorable way,” Buck said. “If they do those two things, we will have a successful season.”
Opening up the tournament on Friday, Charlo’s defense clamped down on Victor, shutting the Lady Pirates out in the third quarter en route to a 51-12 victory.
The Lady Vikings led 30-7 at halftime and allowed just five points in the fourth quarter. Brielle Zempel was the top scorer with 20 points, while Avery Coleman had 10 points and GG Hawk posted seven.
Victor didn’t reach double digits in the game until the fourth quarter and was led by Asia Parks’ six points. Zempel hit nine field goals and outscored Victor herself. The Lady Vikings were 12-for-23 from the free-throw line.
According to Buck, the game confirmed “what I already knew.”
“My girls are going to play as a team. They are going to work hard and celebrate each other's successes and never get down on each other's failures,” he said. “We definitely need to fine-tune some of our offensive sets, but I think if nothing else, we worked out some of our beginning-of-the-season nerves and maybe gained some confidence.”
For the 2025 campaign, Seeley McDonald is a returning senior captain and all-state player.
“She will have an impact every game, whether it is through her play or her leadership skills,” Buck said.
Brielle Zempel is a junior and third-year starter. Buck said she has a lot of experience and has a fiery playing style that ups the teams aggressiveness.
Madison Harris, GG Hawk, Maizey McDonald, and Avery Coleman will round-out Charlo’s first six players and promise to make the Lady Vikings competitive against anyone they play.
“There are more teams now, so it's a bigger challenge to move on to divisionals at the end of the season,” Buck said. “I am not sure I like only getting to play a team once in the regular season. Part of the chess match is making the adjustments for the second time you play them in the regular season.”
At Hamilton
CHARLO 57, PHILLIPSBURG 31
Charlo - 10 - 21 - 15 - 11 - 57
P-burg - 10 - 6 - 11 - 4 - 31
CHARLO SCORING – Seeley McDonald 18, Brielle Zempel 14, Maizey McDonald 10, GG Hawk 9, Maddison Harris 2, Avery Coleman 2, Rogue 2.
CHARLO 51, VICTOR 12
Charlo - 19 - 11 - 19 - 2 - 51
Victor - 3 - 4 - 0 - 5 - 12
CHARLO SCORING - Brielle Zempel 20, Avery Coleman 10, GG Hawk 7, Maddison Harris 6, Maizey McDonald 6, Laila Stinson 2.