M-ettes defeat Lady Wolves 60-19

The Malta M-ettes ended the calendar year on the same note that they started, with pure dominance. The team defeated Wolf Point and Poplar pretty convincingly before Winter Break started. For the whole calendar year the M-ettes have not lost a game.

In Wednesday's win against the Wolf Point Lady Wolves, the M-ettes played stout defense, not allowing Wolf Point to score over ten points in any given period, including a fourth quarter shutout, where the team did not give up a single point.

The team was led by junior Sophia Stiles, who scored 19 points and had seven rebounds, six assists and five steals.

Hailey Nicholson had 10 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Jada Nicholson had nine points, seven rebounds and three steals. Marley Manoukian had five points, three assists and three steals. Adrianna Bibeau, Mary Kalal and Eva Harms had four points apiece. DeeDee Johannesen had three points and Shay Garfield had two points.

Malta jumped out to a 9-2 lead early in the first quarter, then they saw some resistance as Wolf Point was able to tie things up right away. That was the closest the Lady Wolves would come as the M-ettes would go on a 12-0 run and eventually shut down Wolf Point's offense with presses and traps.

It was a physical game, especially towards the end. The M-ettes shot 11 free throws in the fourth quarter alone.

"It's just like any other game," Bibeau told the PCN. "You just deal with it and fight back."

Malta would also defeat Poplar last Tuesday. The score was 68-17.

"The kids came out and played hard again, like they usually do," M-ette Head Coach Nate Hammond said. "Poplar did a pretty good job in the first and second quarters but we kind of wore them down."

Hailey and Bibeau are seniors this season and both are leaders on the team.

"I didn't expect my high school years to go by as fast as they have," Hailey said.

Though Bibeau hasn't been in a starting role this year, she has logged quite a few minutes.

"It hits you really hard," Bibeau said. "You're just walking down the hallway and you're not in the other hallway anymore because you're in the senior hallway now."

Going into break the M-ettes were able to stay undefeated.

"It feels really good," Hailey said. "I feel like we've accomplished a lot. We started strong and I think it will be good to have a little break and come back strong against Havre and get to our goal."

The ultimate goal she spoke of is another state title. Nicholson knows that in order to repeat, the team has to improve.

"What we do is good, but we could do even better than what we've done," Hailey said.