The Mighty Malta Mustangs!

On Tuesday, August 6, a large group of former Malta Mustang basketball players met at "The Red Door" in Billings, Montana, to honor Coach Bill Ryan on his 89th birthday. It was under Coach Ryan's leadership that the Malta Mustang basketball team won their first ever State Championship in 1971. In 1972 they repeated this feat and the 3M Company claimed "back to back" State Championships.

The Mighty Malta Mustangs, a name coined by the Great Falls Tribune sports writer Rich Ferrell became the "3M Company" and in the early 70's all Class B basketball teams in the state of Montana knew the name. Under the coordination of Babsie Bishop a surprise birthday party was held to honor Coach Ryan. Bishop was a player under Coach Ryan both those championship years and many other former players were present at the celebration, including Lynn and Dick Mavencamp, Duane Walker, Bud Slade, Dwayne Simanton, Brian Robertson, Craig Stiles, David "Digger" Hanson, Bill and Mike Cole.

Robertson's mother was a writer for the Phillips County Newspaper back in the 1970's and maybe she can tell the story as well as anyone. After the State Tournament in 1972 she wrote, with the headline reading: "We're No. 1...Again" "Boy-o-Boy we'll be talking about this tournament for years. Add to it the excitement of the divisional and last year's accomplishments and you have two years of basketball the Malta fans will never forget."

Mrs. Robertson was correct, because "they are still talking about it" 53 years later. The accomplishments of Coach Ryan's teams are too numerous to mention here in this article but let it be said, in three seasons, 1969-70, 1970-71, & 1971-72, the 3M Company lost only three games. And it was that first loss to Baker that may have sparked the ultimate drive to motivate the Mighty Malta Mustangs to go on to earn "back to back" State Championships with Coach Ryan at the helm.

On Sunday morning, March 21, 1970, the Billings Gazette had their Sports page bannered with this headline: "Baker Upsets Malta, 60-57." Gazette Sports Editor Norm Clarke wrote: "Darkhorse Baker staged another dramatic second-half comeback to stun unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Malta, 60-57 Friday night in the semifinals of the State Class B Tournament."

As inspirational writer "William A. Ward" said, "Adversity causes some men to break, others to break records." It is no doubt that the adversity of that loss to Baker drove Coach Ryan and his boys to break records. Defeat can be the biggest motivator.

What a great joy for me to witness this celebration for Coach Ryan, I was kind of like a mouse in the corner, watching the players and coach laugh and relive memories and it was close to home, for 53 years ago I was that little kid in the bleachers keeping stats as I watched the Mighty Malta Mustangs win their second State Championship.