Division Champs!!!

The Malta M-ettes were able to overcome their rival Fairfield and win the 2017 Northern B Divisional Championship despite trailing for most of the game.

The win would give Malta their third Northern B Championship in the last three years.

"It was definitely a different thing," M-ette senior guard Sophia Stiles said about the come from behind win. "We haven't really had to do that this year, but I think it was a good experience."

Despite cruising to the championship game by defeating Shelby 59-21 in the opening round and then taking out Choteau 52-24 in the semi-finals, the M-ettes played arguably their toughest game of the season in the Glasgow High School Gymnasium on Saturday night, defeating Fairfield with their only lead coming by way of a fast-break steal-layup by M-ette senior Sophia Stiles.

"I have no idea what was going through my mind," Stiles said. "When she was dribbling, I decided that I wanted the ball. So I took it from her and then I went and scored."

Stiles led Malta with 22 points, 15 of which were scored in the fourth quarter. Jada Nicholson scored 11 points and Taylor Gilkerson scored eight points off of the bench.

Fairfield was led by post player Natalie Klinker who put up a game leading 24 points. Alli Goldhahn scored 11 for the Eagles.

Prior to their 21-12 run in the fourth quarter, Malta trailed the majority of the game with Fairfield holding on to a three possession lead throughout most of the game. Still, the M-ettes stayed the course, led by Stiles, who never lost faith in her team.

"I always have great confidence in our team and in our ability, so I never for one second thought that we were going to lose the game," Stiles said.

Stiles, the 2016 Gatorade Player of the Year, only scored one second quarter bucket before halftime but the M-ettes were able to keep pace with the Eagles, tying the game 20-20 before half-time.

Scoring eight of Malta's 14 second quarter points, sophomore Taylor Gilkerson played a huge role, knocking down two treys and a two point field goal while also forcing turnovers on defense.

"I just go in there and try to work my hardest and outwork everyone in there," Gilkerson said. "Tonight it really worked."

Last Saturday's Championship win was the first divisional title game in which Gilkerson had played significant minutes.

"It's awesome," Gilkerson said. "I grew up in Malta so it's kind of like you see the older M-ettes playing and you're like, oh I want to be one of those, so it's awesome to bring one of those (trophies) home and finally be an M-ette."

With starting post Shay Garfield facing foul trouble, Malta turned to senior Ella Schye who was then tasked with covering Klinker, who is listed at 6'2".

"I was just thinking, I really gotta work hard, try to box her out good and try not to let her get the ball," Schye said. "Just work hard."

Schye shared her thoughts on winning the Northern B title.

"It's really cool," Schye said. "It's just a lot of fun to work with everyone."

With only four minutes left in the fourth quarter and a three point lead, Fairfield played keep away from Malta and eventually grew their lead back up to seven.

With only 1:52 left in the game, Fairfield made it to the free throw line for their final one-and-one attempts.

Nicholson would score on a layup in the paint, while drawing a foul. She would miss the free throw, making the score 43-39.

On the next Fairfield possession, Malta would commit an incidental foul sending Fairfield's Kaitlyn Jones to the line. Jones was unable to convert the attempts.

Garfield was subbed back into the game and on the next possession Stiles would get to the charity stripe and knock down both attempts, the score 43-41

On Fairfield's next possession, Klinker would score on a layup, giving Fairfield a four point lead. Fairfield would get the ball off of a steal in which Klinker would attempt to go coast-to-coast. Klinker would not extend the lead due to a traveling violation, giving Malta the ball back with 1:06 remaining.

Behind 45-41, Stiles would score on a layup, despite strong defense from three Fairfield defenders, making the score 45-43. Flustered on the next possession Fairfield's inbound pass proved unsuccessful, giving the M-ettes the ball with 52.8 seconds.

Playing with four fouls, Garfield was able to tie the game by scoring on a layup while being closely guarded by Klinker. The score was 45-45.

Malta would knock the ball out of bounds on Fairfield's next possession near the Eagles' basket. The Eagles would take three attempts to inbound the pass but Klinker would score Fairfield's final bucket on a layup giving the Eagles a 47-45 lead with 25 seconds left.

Stiles would make it to the line for one-and-one attempts. She would knock down both shots, again tying the game, 47 all with 16 seconds left.

Stiles would then steal the ball from a Fairfield player and then convert the fast break layup while drawing the foul, putting Malta up 49-47, leaving 4.6 second on the clock. She would miss the free throw and Fairfield would call timeout with 4.0 seconds left, giving them one last chance.

Klinker would then miss a long layup attempt, while being guarded by Nicholson.

"Malta-Fairfield never disappoints," Nicholson said. "It's always close. We can never get an edge. It's never a blowout with them. Ever."

The M-ettes will have nearly two weeks without any games before they play in the opening round of the 2017 State B Tournament and before the tournament, Stiles shared a couple of things that the team may work on.

"Definitely work on our offense," Stiles said. "Box and one and triangle and two, we know they are coming. We have to figure out a way to still score even when we are getting guarded really well."