Brenden buzzer beater shocks Scotties

What. A. Shot.

The Malta Mustangs shocked the Glasgow Scotties and those in attendance last Thursday, January 27, with a last-second, game-winning three-point, buzzer-beater heaved up by freshman Bohdi Brenden. The Mustangs defeated Glasgow 44-43.

"I didn't think that it was going to go in at the start but as soon as it started to fall, I thought that it was going in," Brenden said.

The win came after the team suffered a 68-51 loss to Havre last Tuesday, January 25, in Havre.

Malta is scheduled to face the Rocky Boy Stars on Thursday, February 3, at 4:30 p.m. They will then travel to Roundup to face the Panthers on Saturday, February 5, at 4 p.m.

In their win over Glasgow, the Mustangs were led in scoring by junior Jared Eggebrecht, who scored nine points. Freshmen Treyton Wilke and Brenden each had seven points which were all scored in the second half. Rex Williamson, Kaden Bishop, and Jonathan Siewing each had five points. Carson Ottinger and Stockton Oxarart each had three points.

"It feels good," Williamson said. "It always feels good to beat Glasgow. It wasn't easy but I am just glad that we got it done."

Malta trailed 18-14 going into halftime against Glasgow, and wouldn't take the lead until a layup by Siewing put them up 26-25 with 1:25 remaining in the third quarter. Malta would expand their lead up to 31-27 before the conclusion of the quarter.

Glasgow would take the lead with 5:18 remaining in the fourth quarter thanks to a trey from Scottie captain Bergen Miller, which capped off a 7-0 run by Glasgow.

Glasgow would maintain their lead in spite of a couple of forced turnovers by Malta. Malta was down 39-34 with 2:34 remaining.

Brenden sank a pull-up midrange jumper with 2:03 remaining, making the score 39-36. Wilke stole the pass on the ensuing inbound pass and converted the layup, closing the score to 39-38.

Glasgow's leading scorer Riley Smith was later fouled and converted the single bonus free throws, putting Glasgow up 41-38 with 1:46 remaining.

Malta would not score on the next possession, but on Glasgow's possession, a five-second violation would be called near halfcourt as Glasgow tried to run the clock down. Malta was awarded the ball with 33.6 seconds remaining.

Ottinger, a sophomore who plays in the post, knocked down a clutch trey to tie the game 41-all with 16 seconds remaining. Glasgow then called a timeout.

On the next possession, Glasgow's Wyatt Babb sank a euro-step layup, putting Glasgow up 43-41 with less than six seconds remaining.

Then came Brenden's shot, on what looked like a broken play. Brenden launched a deep, contested three-point shot with less than a second remaining, and it went in!

Brenden was later asked about the win, and how they were able to pull it out.

"We were jumping the ball, getting steals, and everybody just played as a team," Brenden said.

Williamson was asked about the team's effort in the final minutes, which put Malta in a position to win the game.

"We knew that we had to do something pretty quick and soon, so I am glad that the freshmen stepped up and got it done," Williamson said.

Williamson was asked about Glasgow and what made them tough to play that night.

"Honestly, we just have to box out," Williamson said. "Their boards kept them in it."

Eggebrecht led Malta in their loss to Havre with 11 points. Wilke and Williamson each had nine points.

Malta was outscored by the Blue Ponies in three of four quarters, but the real damage was done in the second quarter, when they outscored the Mustangs 26-11.

"We kind of got kicked in the face, we just let them go on big runs," Brenden said.

Williamson said that the team did not play at their pace in the loss to Havre.