Mustangs top Wolves in Malta

The Malta Mustangs split game last weekend winning their first game of the 2020 year 54-42 over the Wolf Point Wolves in Malta on Friday and losing 66-47 to the Havre Blue Ponies on Saturday.

In the team's win over Wolf Point, Malta went on a 15-0 run in the third quarter, led by junior Kooper Oxarart who sank three treys during the run. Oxarart led Malta in scoring with 22 points. His night included a total of four treys and was a perfect 8-of-8 outing at the free-throw line.

"A big key to that run was being patient," Oxarart said. "Once we got the ball moving, we would swing it four or five times to get open shots, step into a three and just drain it."

There were times that Oxarart had taken contested treys and in those moments he came up big, sinking a few contested threes. He was asked about shooting when the defense contests his shot.

"I'm just shooting the ball, not even thinking about them, just shooting and playing my game," Oxarart said.

Tanner Smith, who would be out of the team's game against Havre, scored nine points against the Wolves. He was asked about the key to the team's victory "Communication and patience," Smith said, confirming that those were two aspects of the game the team addressed during winter break. "We have a lot of turnovers when we take early shots."

Rex Williamson added seven points to the effort, Ben Costin scored six points, Connor Tuss had five points, and Pierce Mortenson had a very hard-earned four points in a physical game in the post.

"He steps in really good," B. Costin said of Mortenson. "He puts his body in there and gets good rebounds and it really helped to turn the tide with him getting those rebounds and getting a second chance at getting a bucket."

Costin was happy with how his team fought that night.

"We were more patient," Costin said. "The early shots were not falling but we got some later on. Kooper hit a lot of those threes and got us back into it."

Prior to the Mustangs' 15-0 run, the Wolves were aggressive with the three-point attempts, knocking down six in the first half on their way to a 25-20 lead going into halftime. Eventually, Malta's defense clamped down on the Wolf Point sharpshooters, not allowing any treys in the second half.

"We talked through screens because that's where they were getting most of their open shots," Oxarart said. "It was good defensive teamwork."

The game was originally scheduled to be played in Wolf Point, but the floor was not ready after having to be repaired over winter break. The athletes were happy to be able to host two home games.

"I was excited," Oxarart said of finding out about their surprise home game. "I was glad that I didn't have to ride on a bus for two-and-a-half hours to Wolf Point but it is what it is."

In Malta's loss to Havre, the Mustangs were led by B. Costin who had 17 points. B. Costin knocked down four treys. Oxarart had 11 points and two treys. Mortenson had seven points, Tuss had six points and Williamson had six points.

Havre's offense would not be denied in the first half, outscoring Malta18-9 in the first quarter and then 23-11 in the second quarter. Malta's best scoring would come in the third as the team was able to connect on five treys and one two-point field goal. It would also be the Mustangs' best defensive period, as the team allowed only nine points. Havre would squash the comeback attempt in the fourth, outpacing Malta 16-10.