Mustangs keep streak going, Now up to Five

The Malta Mustangs basketball team has now won five straight games after picking up a pair of wins against two Northern B opponents this past weekend.

The Mustangs defeated the Poplar Indians 63-59 on Friday, January 13, in Malta, and the Shelby Coyotes 64-49 on Saturday, January 14, in Shelby.

The Mustangs are scheduled to take on the Harlem Wildcats in Harlem on Thursday, January 19, at 5 p.m. They will then host the Wolf Point Wolves on Saturday, January 20, at 4:30 p.m.

During the Poplar game, the Malta Athletic Club along with Malta's Janine Tuss, and the winner of that night's 50-50 raffle donated money to Poplar student- athlete Quinn Sutherland and his family who were injured in a home explosion on Thursday, January 12, one night prior to the game.

In all, $1417.42 was raised for the Sutherland family who is in Denver receiving medical care, according to Tuss.

During the game against Poplar, Malta was led by Stockton Oxarart, who had 19 points and seven rebounds. Kaden Bishop had 13 points, five rebounds and one steal. Treyton Wilke had 12 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Bohdi Brenden had nine points, three assists, and one steal.

Though Malta was up 50-40, Poplar fought back and tied the game 59-59 with 56 seconds left in the game. A mid-range jumper by Oxarart put Malta up 61-59 with 43.5 seconds left. Wilke contested a late layup attempt causing the shot to rim out for Eggebrecht to grab the rebound. Wilke found Bishop for a layup with 9.3 seconds left to seal the game 63-59.

Malta led wire-to-wire in their win over Shelby. They were led by Oxarart who had 17 points, five rebounds, and three steals. Brenden had 13 points, four assists, and three steals. Wilke had 10 points and four rebounds. Bishop had nine points, six rebounds and four assists.