Costin shines among Class A players at H.I.T.

One could argue that a few of our Mustangs basketball players should've been invited to represent Class B in the Hi-Line Invitational Tournament in Havre last weekend. But it didn't happen. No phones rang or received texts.

But if you were to attend last week's event you could still spot one of Malta's fiercest competitors. Nate Costin?

"I didn't get invited to Class B and someone in Class A didn't come, so they called me and told me that I can play with them," Costin said noting they called him last Thursday before the first game.

The team only won one game, a 121-120 win over Class B the consolation game at the end of the event, but Costin made his presence felt last Friday morning in the team's 93-91 OT loss to Class AA.

In Friday morning's game against AA, Costin scored 20 points, going 8-of-14 from the floor, which included two treys and he was 2-of-3 from the charity stripe.

Nate's run started late in the first quarter, when he was called off of the bench after the team fell behind by more than ten points. Costin helped get his team back in the game accounting for 10 of the team's points in the first half.

"You expect heavy competition like better defense, better offense but you don't think about it," Costin said. "You just have to go out and play your game."

Costin has been a starter with Malta for the past couple of seasons, so coming off of the bench was strange but he didn't take it to heart.

"It's definitely a weird feeling," he said. "I've only come off of the bench for a couple of years of my life, so it's a little different but you don't let it bother you because I'm not supposed to be on this team anyway."

The game also gave him a different coaching perspective than he's used to; with his father David Costin being Malta's head coach.

"It's definitely a fun experience," Costin said. "You're used to your dad; you can say a little bit more to him sometimes."

Class A's Coach Walynn Burgess didn't over-think things, just letting the kids play but he noticed something special about Costin.

"When he comes in, that kid gives 110 percent," Coach Burgess said. "He's got a little potential there."

He also gave a compliment to the Mustang way.

"He played the same way yesterday too," Coach Burgess said. "Just pure hustle plays. I think it's a Malta thing. I think they're taught to play that way, which is a good thing. I wish more kids would do it."