M-ettes Defeat Reigning Champs, Fall to Huntley Project

The Malta M-ettes split a pair of weekend games in Lewistown at the Fergus Tip-Off, but the team's win was over the Reigning State B Champion Baker Spartans.

The M-ettes opening game was a 41-66 loss to the Huntley Project Red Devils on Friday, December 6. They defeated the Baker Spartans the next night 47-46.

The M-ettes are scheduled to travel to Shelby this weekend. They are set to face Florence-Carlton on Friday, December 13, at 7:30 p.m. They are also scheduled to face Thompson Falls on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 10:30 a.m. They will also see the Havre Blue Ponies in Havre on Tuesday, December 17, at 6 p.m.

In the M-ettes' win over Baker, Malta trailed by as much as 14 points.

Malta junior Denvyr Tuss led the charge with a 18 point, 19 rebound double-double. Ten of Tuss' points came in the fourth quarter.

Junior Neva Jacobson had a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double. She also had a game-leading five assists. Kendall Clausen had six points, ten rebounds and two steals. Kelbie Nelson had six points and four rebounds. Emree Stuart had three points and two rebounds. Kylie Bishop had two points.

Malta lost the turnover battle, surrendering the ball 31 times, while forcing 13 turnovers. Malta did win the battle of the boards, outrebounding Baker 52-to-38.

Baker found their rhythm early, outscoring Malta 16-6 in the first quarter. The M-ettes fought back, outscoring the Spartans 15-13 in the second quarter. The score at halftime was 29-21 in favor of Baker. Both squads scored 12 in the third quarter.

The M-ette went into the fourth quarter trailing 33-41, an offensive rebound followed by a layup by Tuss, made the score 35-41. Teams struggled to score early in the fourth and Tuss would be the next to score again two minutes later making the score 37-41.

During a timeout, a technical foul was assessed on Baker. Tuss made both free throws. 39-41. Both teams would struggle to score for another drought before a layup by Nelson tied the game 41-41 with 3:15 remaining in the game.

Baker's offense woes continued, as they were unable to score on the next possession. Nelson found Tuss for a layup on Malta's next possession and the M-ettes took their first lead of the game with 2:40 remaining.

Tuss added to Baker's frustration with a block on the next possession.

Baker forced a turnover and Avery O'connor earned a trip to the free throw line. She tied the game 43-all.

A couple of possessions later, a Tuss putback layup gave Malta a 45-43 lead with 1:15 remaining. She then forced a missed layup on the defensive end.

O'Connor hit a deep trey with 15 seconds left in the game, putting Baker up 46-45.

Coach Hammond called a timeout with 6.8 seconds left in the game.

Busted coverage left Kendall Clausen wide open in the paint on the inbound pass from Neva Jacobson. Clausen made the open eight foot shot, giving Malta the lead and the win, 47-46.

In Malta's loss to Huntley, the M-ettes were led by Tuss, who had a 20-point, 18-rebound double-double. She also had three blocks.

Stuart had 10 points and six rebounds. Jacobson had nine points, three steals, and two assists. Nelson had two points and three rebounds.

Huntley took a 24-10 lead after the first quarter and didn't look back, outscoring Malta in each period. 10-9 in the second quarter, 19-17 in the third quarter, and 13-5 in the fourth quarter.