Zach Handley, Sophia Stiles receive honors from Great Falls Tribune

Mustang senior Zach Handley and M-ette freshman Sophia Stiles have both been honored for their basketball play this past week in the Great Falls Tribune.

Handley has made the 2014 Boys Super-State team.

“It means a lot as a player (to make the Super-State team) but it’s more of a tribute to my team and coaches as well,” said Zach Handley. “They helped me throughout the season and my four years.”

Handley has been a consistent all around ball player in Malta head coach David Costin’s system since the start of his high school career, even earning a few starts as a freshman.

“With Zach I think a lot of it is his all around game,” said Mustangs head coach David Costin. “He’s good at every facet of the game.

Handley was a crucial player in both of Malta’s State B titles in 2012 and 2013.

“I think the thing that everybody will remember is Zach hitting the big three pointer to tie us up at the end of the second overtime to put us into the third overtime (against Wolf Point in the 2013 state championship,” said coach Costin. “That was probably Zach’s biggest moment.”

Handley and Kendall Denham definitely gave Malta plenty of shows, but even with Denham’s departure, this year Handley was able to help lead a very young Mustang team to win a majority of their games going 20-8 on the season, on their way to a third place finish in state.

“This year his biggest change was becoming more of a leader for us,” said Costin.

He was the team’s leader in nearly every stat, including charges taken (15). Which takes a lot of heart and quickness.

“He was always willing to sacrifice his body or whatever it took to make a play for us,” said Costin.

Handley was awarded for his clutch ability in the 2014 State B tourney, receiving the honor of being named in the Great Falls Tribune 2014 Super-State Boys team.

Last year Denham made the team, this year it was Handley’s turn and he delivered.

According to the Great Falls Tribune, “As always, the Super-State team is selected by the Great Falls Tribune sports staff after discussion with a number of coaches and fans.”

This year’s team consisted of five players from AA, three from A, one from B and one from C.

“He had a great career,” said Costin. “He is one of a kind and I don’t think we will ever see another Zach Handley. He’s a great kid.”

Because Handley has played his last game as a Mustang, he noted that there would be a couple of things he would miss.

“I’ll miss the atmosphere and the preparation,” said Handley. “I don’t know if I’m going to get a chance to play in college. but if I do, I’ll always remember my times as a Mustang.”

If he doesn’t play basketball Handley plans on going to MSU-Billings to major in education and then pick up coaching.

Handley was also named Athlete of the week on the week of March 19.

He made the HIT All-tournament team in Havre the weekend of March 29.

Stiles

Sophia Stiles was voted the Great Falls Tribune’s Athlete of the Week after a poll was taken on-line. She received 544 votes out of 975 total. Her closest competition for the honor was Makhayla Farmer from Chinook, who had received 237 votes.

Stiles was nominated for the award for her play in the HIT tourney in Havre, in which she scored 13 points for Class B in their 77-55 win over Class C.

“I think Sophie is an extra exceptional kid,” said M-ette head coach Nate Hammond. “For any age, let alone a freshman to play the way she does, it’s the type of kid most coaches don’t get to coach.”

Hammond went on to say that Stiles was a definite tone setter on defense and he was impressed with her ability to score.

“ I’m fortunate to be able to coach a kid like that and I’m proud of her for winning that award,” he added.

Stiles had 317 points, 117 steals, 89 assists and 136 rebounds in 26 games this season.

Stiles also was chosen as part of the All-tournament team and was the team’s assist leader.

“It’s a good honor and I think it’s pretty cool,” said Sophia Stiles.

Though the team didn’t bring home the ultimate prize, Stiles was proud of the team’s effort.

“We did good this year, only having one senior (but), I think we should’ve won that championship game,” she said.

The team’s lone senior was Stiles’s sister Mercedes, whom will be missed.

“I’m going to miss Sadie this year,” Sophia told the PCN.

Stiles has had quite the year and has lived up to the hype thus far.

Next year the team may be able to go all the way, but before then Stiles will participate in Malta’s upcoming track season, where She will compete in the 100 and 300 meter hurdles, long jump and triple jump.