Mustangs Defeat Harlem, Win in Overtime Against Poplar

The Malta Mustangs picked up a pair of wins last weekend as they defeated the Harlem Wildcats 80-56 in Malta on Friday, January 24, and then the Poplar Indians 79-74 in an overtime win in Poplar on Saturday, January 25.

The Mustangs are scheduled to host Roy-Winifred on Thursday, January 30, starting at 3 p.m. The night will serve as Malta's Senior Night. The Mustang seniors include Bohdi Brenden, Treyton Wilke, Kash Stiles, Mason Simanton, and Stockton Oxarart.

Malta will also travel to Fairview on Saturday, February 1, to face the Warriors at 1 p.m.

Junior Dawson Hammond led Malta in their win over Harlem with 19 points, five rebounds, and two steals.

Wilke had 18 points, six assists, and five rebounds. S. Oxarart had 11 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and three assists. Brenden had eight points, eight rebounds, four steals, and two assists.

S. Oxarart was asked what the key to their victory was.

"I think defense was the biggest thing," he said. "We got up and down the floor pretty fast. We got a lot of steals and we got a lot of fastbreak points. That was the key."

Simanton had seven points, four rebounds, four steals, and three assists. Kazner Oxarart had seven points and two rebounds. Regan Stuart had six points. Kruise Stiles had four points.

The teams both scored 17 points in the first quarter, but Malta outscored the Wildcats 23-15 in the second quarter, 21-13 in the second quarter, and 19-11 in the fourth quarter.

The Mustangs scored 24 points in transition and 19 off of the 18 turnovers that they forced.

Malta made 9-of-26 three point field goals (34.6%) and 21-of-43 of their two point attempts (48.8%). Malta scored 38 points in the paint, while Harlem scored 40.

Wilke was asked about the team's ability to find the bucket inside of the paint.

"We use pad work," Wilke said. "That's what we call it. We work on that all day in practice. We just use our body and our strength, pump fakes, and we go up strong."

Wilke was asked how they would be able to pick up a win over Poplar.

"Just stop their two main players and just play hard like we did tonight and we should get the W," Wilke said.

Malta trailed Poplar by double digits in the second half. A trey by Brenden tied things with 1:30 left in regulation, followed by a steal by Wilke in the next possession. Wilke would put Malta up 69-67 with 1:10 after making a layup in which he was fouled. He was unable to convert the free throw.

Poplar would make 1-of-2 free throws on the following possession. Malta led 69-68.

On Malta's next possession, Simanton would grab two offensive boards, converting the second one to put Malta up 71-68.

Poplar called a timeout with 23.8 seconds left and Kaniel Ricker made a three point shot, despite a great contest by Brenden. The game was tied 71-71 and was sent to overtime.

Wilke led Malta in their win over Poplar with 30 points. Brenden had 17 points, S. Oxarart had 13 points, K. Oxarart had seven points, Simanton had six points, and Hammond had four points.

Poplar won the overtime tip off, but was unable to score. Then Malta couldn't score on their first possession in overtime.

Wilke scored on a floater in Malta's next possession, putting the Mustangs up 73-71.

Ricker earned a trip to the free throw line on Poplar's next possession with 2:29 left. He made one of two shots eating into Malta's lead. Poplar would take the lead a couple of possessions later, with a shot in the post. They led 74-73 with 1:25 remaining.

S. Oxarart would miss a well-contested layup, but grab a steal a couple of seconds later. He drew a foul on the shot and made one-of-two free throw shots, tying the game 74-74.

Brenden would deflect and steal a pass on Poplar's next drive. He found S. Oxarart for a fastbreak layup that put Malta up 76-74 with 47 seconds left.

Malta's next point would come at the charity stripe by Wilke as he split a pair of free throws. Malta led 77-74 with 28 seconds left.

An offensive foul was called on Poplar's next drive.

Brenden added two more points at the free throw line, giving the game its final score, 79-74.