M-ette Basketball 2024-25

The Malta M-ettes are hoping to build on the success of last season, a year where the team was able to overcome doubters by punching their ticket to state by winning the team's fifth consecutive Northern B Title.

This year's M-ettes have retained most of their talent from last season, which ended in the State B consolation semifinals in Billings.

Junior Neva Jacobson, one of Malta's returning All-State athletes was asked about the team's goal for this year.

"I know one of our goals is obviously to win state, and I think we have a chance at it this year, since we're more experienced," Jacobson said. "We have a lot of experienced players, good players. And once we start playing as a team, we play really well together, so that'll give us good chances at state."

The team will be without Elly Anderson, Addy Ulrich, and Giona Lamb, who all graduated last spring.

This year's team welcomes back one senior, Kelbie Nelson, who has plenty of starting experience.

The M-ettes welcome back six juniors including Neva Jacobson and Denvyr Tuss, who were both 2024 All-State selections.

The junior class also includes Hailey Welch, Kylie Bishop, Emree Stuart, Brooklyn Knowles, and Kendall Clausen.

The sophomore class consists of Emma Ereaux, Tailynn Wilke, and Caitlyn Lankford.

The freshman class consists of Klohie Zeiger, Addison Benson, Jayda Wyse, and Kayla Ottinger.

The eighth grade class consists of Hadley Hammond, Miracle Love, Kendle Lankford, Ali Retan, and Rhiaunna Simonson.

So far, the 2024-25 M-ettes are 4-3. Most recently, the team defeated the Fairview Lady Warriors 59-39 on Friday, January 3 but fell 48-40 to the Roy-Winifred Lady Outlaws on Saturday, January 4.

In Malta's win over Fairview, Jacobson led the M-ettes with 29 points and seven steals. Stuart had 11 points, eight rebounds, four steals and three assists. Clausen had ten points, eight pass deflections, four rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Tuss had five points and seven rebounds. Welch had two points and two steals and Bishop had two points and two steals.

The game against Fairview was Malta's first home game of the season. Stuart was asked how it felt to host a game, despite it coming so late in the season.

"It's good," Stuart said. "It's good to finally get back into the swing of things back into basketball season and have our first home game come with a good win, a 20 point win."

Jacobson was asked what the key to their victory was.

"I think we're all eager to play again since we haven't played in like almost a month, so we're really looking forward to playing together and play as a team and I think that helped us win," Jacobson said.

Malta's defensive success led to 22 points off of forced turnovers and several fast break layups for Jacobson.

"It feels really good," Jacobson said. "Last year, we weren't really in the same mindset and we were all connected, but I think this year we're more connected, so we're always looking for each other in the open passes."

Stuart was asked what the team worked on during winter break.

"We worked a lot on a new press, a 32 press, which I think we did really well today for a while until they got spread out," Stuart said. "But I think we just all played really well together and now we are more experienced this year than we were last year. And so we're all playing together a lot, well, a lot better."

In Malta's loss to Roy-Winifred, the M-ettes were led by Tuss who had a 14 point, 13 rebound double-double and two blocks.

Nelson had 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Jacobson had eight points and three steals. Stuart had six points, 12 rebounds, and three steals. Welch had two points.