Malta Teams Both First in 2B Conference

The Malta Mustangs and M-ettes varsity basketball teams ended the regular season with matching 2B Conference Titles thanks to their undefeated play against their respective foe in the district.

The Mustangs are 16-2 overall (10-0 in 2B games), with those loses against Havre and Fergus, both Class A teams. The M-ettes had a record of 11-7 (10-0 in 2B games).

Both teams have earned a first round bye in the 2024 District 2B Tournament that is set to start on Wednesday February 14.

Mustangs

The Mustangs will face the winner of game one between the Fairview Warriors and Harlem Wildcats on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. The Mustangs first game will be on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

The Mustangs picked up three wins last week, including a 68-62 overtime victory over Havre on Tuesday, February 6, in Havre.

Malta hosted Poplar on Friday, and won 84-42, and then defeated Harlem 82-60 on Saturday, February 10.

The Malta teams had their senior night on Friday. That day, Mustang Carson Ottinger and manager Hunter Stolem were honored. M-ettes Elly Anderson, Giona Lamb, and Addison Ulrich were honored. Lamb and Ulrich were also honored as members of Malta High School's Pep Band as the school held its first Pep Band Senior Night. Pep Band members also included Bow SaintLouis, Megan Morser, and Ryder Raymond.

A fundraiser was also held for MHS student Bryce Allen and his family.

In Malta's win over the Blue Ponies, the Mustangs outscored Havre 9-5 in the final two minutes of regulation, courtesy of three treys from Bohdi Brenden, the last trey was a buzzer beater to send the game into overtime.

"Bohdi can go over the top of people with that jumpshot and keep good form," Malta Head Coach David Costin said. "He knocks a lot of those down. He had two or three during the season last year. He just seems to step up in those moments."

Malta then outscored Havre 7-1 in overtime, with senior Carson Ottinger drawing pivotal charges in the extra period.

"Those charges that he took were two huge plays when we needed them," Coach Costin said. "Kind of shifted the momentum back to us."

Brenden led all scorers with 23 points. He also had six assists and two steals. Dawson Hammond had 16 points, nine rebounds, and three steals. Treyton Wilke had 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Duke Williamson had a 13 point, 14 rebounds double-double. Ottinger had three points and six rebounds.

"What I really liked about that game is that we had four guys in double-digits," Coach Costin said.

Stockton Oxarart had his return to the court after missing the early part of the season due to injury.

"It was quite the game," Coach Costin said. "We jumped on them hard early. I thought our defense was tremendous. We were working so hard and then they got comfortable with what we were doing. But I couldn't ask for a better start than what we had."

Early shots were not falling in the third quarter, which allowed the Blue Ponies, who had trailed by as much as 19 to come back into the game.

"Everything that we did to them in the first half, they did to us in the second half," Coach Costin said.

Malta has split the season series with Havre and Fergus this year, two Class A Teams that they have struggled with in past years.

"It is good to have a good competitive game where we have to show mental toughness at the end," Coach Costin said. "It looked pretty bleak when we were down four at the end of that game. We didn't hang our heads there.

He said that showing that mental toughness is something they will have to do in the postseason, giving the team will have some tight games in the future.

In Malta's win over Poplar, Wilke had 26 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Brenden had 16 points, eight assists, and two steals. Mason Simanton had 10 points.

Williamson had seven points. Hammond had six points and seven rebounds. Oxarart and Kellen Murray both had five points.

The Mustangs were led by Williamson in their win over Harlem. Williamson had 18 points, nine rebounds, and seven steals. Simanton had 16 points and three rebounds. Wilke had 13 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Brenden had 11 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Hammond had nine points, four rebounds, and two assists. Oxarart had six points.

M-ettes

The M-ettes will play the winner of Fairview (6-12) and Harlem's (6-12) game which is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, in the semi-finals.

The M-ettes went 2-1 in their last week of the regular season. They lost 73-46 to the Havre Lady Blue Ponies on Tuesday, February 6, but bounced back to defeat the Poplar Lady Indians 64-58 on Friday, February 9, and the Harlem Lady Wildcats 65-39 on Saturday, February 10.

In Malta's win over Poplar Denvyr Tuss had a 24 point, 21 rebound double-double. Her 21 rebound game was one short of tying the school record of 22 rebounds set by All-Time M-ette rebound record holder Linda Mendel. Mendel set the single game record of 22 boards in 1984 against the Chinook Lady Sugarbeeters.

Jacobson had 16 points, five assists, and three steals. Jacobson also deflected 10 passes. Elly Anderson had 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Kendall Clausen had six points and four rebounds. Kelbie Nelson had six points, four assists, and three steals.

In Malta's win over Harlem, Tuss had a 16 point, 13 rebound double-double. Jacobson had 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Anderson had 13 points and three rebounds. Emree Stuart had six points and two steals.

In Malta's loss to Fergus, Jacobson had 13 points, three rebounds and three assists. Clausen had 11 points and six rebounds. Tuss had six points, eight rebounds, and four blocks. Stuart had six points and four rebounds.