M-ettes off to strong 3-0 start

The Malta M-ettes’ 2015-16 campaign is starting where last season ended, unblemished. The returning state champions are 3-0 despite a change in their typical playing schedule. The team defeated Class C’s Belt Huskies and Class B’s Fairfield Lady Eagles last weekend at the Three Forks Invitational.

Fairfield has won four of the last five State B titles, while Belt has won three of the last four State C Titles.

“The weekend went really well,” Coach Nate Hammond told the PCN. “We played probably the two toughest teams down there. One is a powerhouse in B and the other is a powerhouse in C.”

Being the defending state champions, Malta didn’t enter the weekend as confident as one may think.

“Early in the season when you play real good competition, usually you’re a little bit nervous because you haven’t really measured yourself very well and you haven’t seen those other teams play at all,” Coach Hammond said. “We weren’t sure what to expect going in and that creates a little bit of anxiety.”

Malta first defeated Fairfield on Friday afternoon 55-46.

The team was led by junior Sophia Stiles who had 24 points and six steals, while only turning the ball over once. She had three treys.

Marley Manoukian had 11 points, four assists and three steals. Jada Nicholson had nine points. Eva Harms had four points. Hailey Nicholson had three points, seven rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Adrianna Bibeau and Shay Garfield had two points a piece.

Malta had 25 points off of 23 turnovers. Malta’s field goal percentage was 39 percent, the team was 4 of 14 from three point range.

In the team’s Saturday afternoon 50-33 win against Belt, Malta was led by Stiles who had 19 points and four blocks. She had three treys. H. Nicholson had 15 rebounds and five points. Manoukian had 10 points, four assists and three steals. J. Nicholson had nine points. Garfield had four points and six rebounds. Bibeau had three points.

Malta was outscored on points off of turnovers with Belt scoring 14 and Malta five, however the M-ettes only sent Belt to the charity stripe twice. The M-ettes hit 14 of their 22 attempts at the line.

“They settled for a lot of outside shots,” Coach Hammond said. “When you’re not driving to the rim, it’s hard to draw fouls.”

After the wins against the powerhouse teams they’ve faced this year, Havre included, Malta felt a little relief.

“I think they were happy,” Coach Hammond said. “They were happy that the weekend turned out well and happy to feel like we are improving a little bit.”

He went on to say that the team saw a few different defenses in Three Forks, which will benefit the team in future games.

This week, the M-ettes will face familiar teams as they take on 2B opponents Harlem this Friday in Malta, Poplar in Poplar on Tuesday and Wolf Point in Malta on Wednesday.

The team hopes to do well in these district games before Winter Break.

“Hopefully we’ll get conference wins this week,” Coach Hammond said. “That would be real nice. It would make the kids feel good.”