Malta's Seventh Grade Girls Undefeated

The Malta Middle School seventh grade girls basketball team hosted their first and only home game of the basketball season last Tuesday, November 21.

That night they defeated Harlem 40-25. Malta’s seventh grade team is 11-0 this season. The PCN caught up with Ali Retan and Hadley Hammond after the win. Retan was asked about the team’s run and what has been the key to their run.

“Our teamwork and working together on defense,” Retan said. “Good defense, offense. Working our cuts, playing our plays, adjusting to different situations.”

Malta was led by Rhiaunna Simonson who had 13 points.

“She really gets open and tries really hard,” Hammond said of Simonson. “She’s good at the game and can get open whenever she wants. We usually just feed the ball to her and she gets the baskets that we want.”

Miracle Love had 12 points. Kendle Lankford had seven points, Hadley Hammond had six points, and Addison Arnold had two points.

Hammond was asked about the team’s win and what went well that day.

“I was just trying my best and made sure to play good defense, get some steals, and block out,” Hammond said. “We have been practicing boxing out a lot, but we have to get a little better at that.”

Malta outscored Harlem 6-4 in the first period. Malta outscored Harlem 14-4 in the second quarter thanks in part to Simonson and Lankford scoring five points a piece. Malta also outscored Harlem 10-8 in the third quarter and 10-9 in the fourth quarter.

Harlem played tough and scrappy on both sides of the ball. Retan was asked how they were able to slow things down.

“We really can’t get caught up in their game,” Retan said. “We make sure that we play our game. We don’t play down or up. We do what we need to do to get what we do to get what we need to get it done.”

She also said that they made sure that they put pressure on Harlem’s ball-handlers.

Retan was also asked how the team stays composed when calls don’t go their way.

“We really get encouraged by our teammates,” she said. “We have to remember that you have to move on from (the call) and can’t let it mess up your game.”

Malta’s Jamboree team will be playing in Poplar on Saturday, December 2. There will be a NE Middle School Tournament in Malta at 9 a.m. on Saturday, December 9.