MALTA CLAIMS STATE CROWN

Fatigue from a double-overtime semi-final game last Friday and an eight point deficit at halftime would not stop Malta from becoming the 2017 State B Champions in Billings Saturday night.

Despite trailing five minutes into the fourth quarter, Malta found the grit to overcome the Anaconda Copperheads in a 54-51 win in the State B Championship game.

"I don't even know how to describe it," said Malta senior guard Nate Costin, who hit a game winning bank shot in the championship game. "I'm literally on cloud nine right now. It just feels amazing."

Malta was led by Junior Taylor Matthews, who had a 16 point, 12 rebound double-double. Costin was able to score 15 points and Hunter Love added nine points, while being 3-of-3 from three point range.

"It's pretty amazing," Matthews said. "It has sunk in that we are State Champs. We have been working hard every single day and finally have achieved what we wanted to achieve and we are where we wanted to be."

The win came after Malta had outlasted the Loyola-Sacred Heart Rams 90-88 in a double-overtime thriller in which Malta senior Ostin Welch broke Malta High School's three point record of nine treys made in a single game.

"There is no way to describe the feeling I have right now," Welch said after the Championship win. "It's just amazing. I can't even describe it."

The Mustangs were also tasked with facing the Lame Deer Morning Stars in the opening round and defeating them 74-69. Costin led the charge with 39 points, 25 of which came in the first half. He had five treys and was also award the State B Tournament MVP. Welch added twenty points and Matthews added ten points and 16 rebounds. Matthews was named to the State B All Tournament Team with first team honors and Welch received second team honors.

In the championship, Malta had fallen behind early, giving up a seven point run to Anaconda who effectively used their height advantage in the paint and midrange. Anaconda would go up 12-9 by the end on the first quarter.

Malta would open up the second quarter by giving up a pair of baskets before Ostin Welch hit a trey to close the gap 16-12 at the 6:50 mark. Anaconda would knock down the next three field goals, giving them a 23-12 lead. After the seven point run, Landon VanWichen would knock down a free throw to stop the run. Malta had only scored four points at the 1:50 mark in the second, by that time Anaconda was up 25-13 with their largest lead of the game.

Malta's only other points would come on a pair of free throws converted by Matthews. The halftime score was 25-15.

The Mustangs only made 5 of their 20 attempts (25 percent) from the field in the first half. The team was 14-of-29 (48 percent) from the field in the second half.

"We got shocked," Matthews said talking about the height of their opponents. "We went into the locker room and Coach said shoot like we practice. I calmed down, came out and just shot like I normally do."

Welch, who was 9-of-14 from three point range one night prior, admitted it was a rough start but he and his team were not ready to give up.

"Everybody has a bad half," Welch said. "We realized that and we were getting great shots, we just couldn't put them in. So we knew if we came out the second half and worked our hardest, not letting them get second chance rebounds and put our shots in – like we knew we can and wanted to – that we could win this game and we did."

Malta's offense began to roll in the third despite trailing as much as 12 points. At the midway point, Ostin Welch was able to grab a 50-50 ball and take it coast to coast for a layup. Flustered after the fast break, Anaconda turned the ball over on a traveling violation forced by Love.

Matthews would score on a layup a couple of possessions later, making the score 36-29. Anaconda would respond on the other end and would continue flirting with an eight point lead before Matthews brought the lead down to six on a pair of made free throws. The score was 40-34 at the end of the third quarter.

Welch would score the first shot of the fourth with a bank shot, making it a four point game before Bishop knocked down a clutch trey in front of Malta's bench, making it a one point game. The score was 40-39 Anaconda.

"I've only hit five all year," Bishop said with a laugh. "It's open so I might as well take it."

Bishop had struggled shooting low percentage shots all season and despite the pressure he found the courage to pull the trigger. He shared his thinking as he pulled up to make the shot.

"Just don't miss," Bishop said.

After Bishop's shot, Anaconda threw the ball away, added fuel to an already fired up Malta crowd with 6:26 remaining.

Matthews was able to give Malta the lead on a layup, roughly two seconds after their inbound pass. The score was 41-40 in Malta's favor. Anaconda was charged with an offensive charge the next possession but would eventually score on a layup.

Anaconda would eventually grab a three point lead before Matthews would get to the charity stripe and knock down a pair of free throws. The score was 44-43.

Anaconda would respond with a layup and would eventually build their lead to six points with a little over three minutes remaining. The score was 49-43

N. Costin would score on consecutive drives, which included a steal and fast-break bucket after a made layup. The score was 49-47.

On the other end Matthews would force a steal that was picked up by Love. Love would hit a three pointer off of a driving assist from Welch to give Malta a 50-49 lead.

"Defense," N. Costin said. "We put on the press. We put on some pressure. We got in their faces, we got some steals, we got some momentum and we got it done."

The trey was Love's third of the night; he was perfect from three point range despite the situation. He shared his thoughts while taking his shots.

"Just shoot the ball," Love said. "I was pretty calm. I usually don't get nervous much."

Matthews would pick up a pair of late fouls sending Anaconda's Braxton Hill to the line. Hill would tie the game for Anaconda at 50 all. Hill would miss the second but Anaconda would grab the rebound.

On the next possession, Welch would a steal with 1:40 remaining and get it to N. Costin who would bank in a fast break short-range jumper, giving Malta a two-point lead.

Bishop would immediately steal an inbound pass in which he was fouled on a layup attempt. Bishop would knock down both free throws, giving Malta a 54-50 lead.

Anaconda's Mikalatos would hit his first one-and-one after drawing the foul that would be Matthews' final foul, but Anaconda would fail to make a bucket. The Copperhead were held without a field goal in the final three minutes and eleven seconds, the last attempt was a missed layup attempt that senior Blake Sjostrom, who was subbed in for Matthews was able to knock away after the attempt.

"I knew I just had to keep my composure and just work my butt off and be as aggressive as I can be to help secure the win," Sjostrom said. "It felt good once I heard that buzzer ring. It was the greatest feeling in the world."

Malta's semi-final game against the Loyola-Sacred Heart Rams ended in double-overtime despite Malta giving up a 14 point lead late in the fourth quarter.

"That was a very good team," Mustang Head Coach David Costin said. "We battled them the first weekend of the season and we got a two-point win then, but in regulation."

Coach Costin shared his thoughts on the team's longest game of the year, including the key to their victory.

"I think, just a lot of heart," Coach Costin said. "We're leg weary. We're still weary from that Divisional Tournament. We had to work hard to get out of there and it just comes down to a will to win. If they want it they have to go get it because it's out there for them."

Malta was led by N. Costin who scored 33 points and had three steals. The game was won by way of a trey from Welch who had 29 points and a Malta record-setting nine treys on 15 attempts.

"It was just a tight game and I knew I had to make my threes to keep us going," Welch said. "That's all I was thinking about, putting it in the hole."

Welch was fully aware of how many he hit.

"I was counting them as I was making them," Welch said. "It's a terrible thing to say but I was."

He had no clue that he set a new school record.

"I didn't even know what the school record was, I was just like holy! Another one! Another one!"

Despite posting their highest offensive score of the season, Malta struggled from the charity stripe, only knocking down 19-of-33 attempts in the second half and overtime periods. They knocked down 27-of-50 field goal attempts

"Ostin Welch knocked down some clutch threes and we did a good job attacking ourselves, getting to the free throw line, just wish we would have knocked down some more free throws," N. Costin said.

Loyola gave Malta fits offensively with starters Jack Lincoln scoring a game high 37 points before his fourth quarter foul out and Fisher Richardson adding 23 points.

"They are really good at attacking off of the dribble," N. Costin said. "They are all quick, they are all strong and they can all shoot it. I think maybe our legs got to us but we held in there."

Knowing he would be in his first championship game, Costin described what the team would need to do to bring a trophy home to Malta.

"It's going to take patience on offense, good defense, we are going to have to board well and we are going to have to play our hearts out," N. Costin said.

Coach Costin shared his approach to conserving energy for the championship game.

"We will get off of our feet for as much as possible," Coach Costin said. "Feed them some food."

Even without the energy, the now three time State Champion Head Coach believed that Malta would match up well with Anaconda.

"I think the good thing about tomorrow is that they are a big team that is very deliberate," Coach Costin said. "I don't think we are going to see a lot of the full court pressure and as many quick trips up and down the floor. I would like to put some pressure on them but I don't know if we are going to have the legs to do it, especially for four quarters, so it may be something we put on occasionally after timeouts."

Winning the semi-final game put Costin and the Mustangs in a position that they've never been in during their high school years; the state championship game.

"It feels awesome," N. Costin said. "It feels really, really awesome. I can't even describe it."