Pioneer boys split pair to open 9C slate

The tests are coming early for the Big Sandy boys basketball team and results in the opening weekend of District 9C play were mixed.

The Pioneers (3-1, 1-1) split their first pair of league games with a 68-53 defeat Friday at Chinook before a thrilling 77-63 victory in a virtual track meet against Hays-Lodgepole.

The Saturday night contest in their home gym provided no shortage of firepower. With a 49-31 halftime lead, the Pioneers were on pace to threaten the century mark before things slowed down just a tad to conclude the contest.

"That's their game," Pioneers coach Thomas Dilworth said of...