Lack of leadership shows as Malta drops pair of games to tough opponents; Team now 2-4

With a couple of losses last weekend, the Malta Mustangs are experiencing a few growing pains and a lack of leadership.

The team dropped games to tough opponents last weekend. They lost 52-42 to Wolf Point Friday and 53-46 to Havre. Both were home games.

"We had a total lack of leadership out there," Coach David Costin told the PCN. "Wolf Point made a good run. We didn't step up to it. We just didn't have a lot of direction from things on the floor."

In their loss to Wolf Point, Malta looked a bit rusty.

The team was led by Nate Costin who scored 13 points.

Tyson Carney and Allen Williamson both scored 11 points a piece.

Jeremy Costin added seven.

The game was pretty close throughout, with Malta grabbing a 16-13 lead at the end of the first.

Spearheaded by Wolf Point's Tyson Bridges, who scored six in the second quarter, the Wolves were on top for most of the quarter.

With 1:18 remaining in the first half and a 24-18 Wolf Point lead, Malta went on a 7-0 run that would put them ahead 25-24.

With only a few seconds remaining Markell Blount nailed a buzzer-beating trey that put Wolf Point a 27-25 lead at halftime.

Malta scored only ten points in the third, while Wolf Point scored 11 -- the score 38-35.

The inability to hit shots in the fourth and lack of free throw attempts eventually sank the Mustangs. The team only scored seven points in the fourth, while Wolf Point scored 14.

"In intensity and how the game was played, Wolf Point really took it to us," Coach Costin.

He believes that mental toughness was a huge part of the loss.

"We just couldn't get a run of our own started," Coach Costin continued.

The team struggled in many aspects that night including poor shot selections and turnovers.

The teams do run similar dribble-drive offenses, that night Wolf Point ran their offense more efficiently.

Though there were many mistakes, the season is young and Coach Costin believes that those mistakes are fixable for future games.

"We probably learned a little tonight," he said. "It was a painful lesson but we'll learn and we will get better."

The team had another loss to Havre last Saturday. The sore was 53-46.

N. Costin led the team with 18 points.

Tyson Carney had 17 points in the game.

Allen Williamson added six and Jeremy Costin had five.

The team has a lot of season left to figure things out, but those aforementioned growing pains may continue this week as they try to defend their home-court against the Rocky Boy Northern Stars, who are tough yearly.

The game against Rocky Boy starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

The team will then take a road trip south to take on the Roundup Panthers.

That tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.