M-ettes have first cancellation of year

With their game against the Shelby Lady Coyotes being canceled, the Malta M-ettes Basketball team only had one opponent; the Poplar Lady Indians, who they defeated 61-15 in Poplar.

"The key to our win was to put pressure on the ball and play good defense, especially against their post player," M-ette Allison Kunze told the PCN.

The M-ettes are scheduled to play Harlem, in Harlem, on Friday, January 22, at 8 p.m. Malta is then slated to travel to Wolf Point on Saturday, January 23, to take on the Lady Wolves at noon.

In Malta's win over Poplar, the M-ettes were led by Allison Kunze and Maddie Williamson who each scored 16 points. Kunze also had nine points and two steals. Williamson had three steals. Erica Smith had 14 points. Justine Lamb had four points, eight rebounds, and two steals. Kylee Nelson had four points and three steals in her 2021 debut. Kylie Hunter had four points and a team-leading five assists. Lauren Tuss had three points. Addy Anderson had six rebounds.

According to Kunze, the team was disappointed that the game against Shelby was canceled.

"We kind of wanted to play," Kunze said.

Though the M-ettes were unable to face Shelby, the group seemed entertained with the boys game, a game that had everyone in the Malta High School Gymnasium on the edge of their seats in the fourth quarter. Ultimately the Mustangs lost 44-40.

"The boys game was very good, it was close and exciting," Kunze said.

This week, Kunze believes that the M-ettes will work on a new defense, but she declined to say what the defense was called.