Malta teams face learning curve

The Malta Mustangs and M-ettes each faced adversity this past weekend as both teams lost to their Rocky Boy counterparts on Thursday, February 1.

The M-ettes would go on to defeat the Roundup Lady Panthers on Friday, February 2, giving the team its second win of the season, while the Mustangs would lose a close one to the Panthers later that night.

To add to the drama, both teams and Malta fans had to wait out a winter storm for the night and then traveled back to Malta the next day, Saturday, February 3.

M-ETTES

In the M-ettes' win over Roundup, the M-ettes won 36-26. The team was led by Freshman Erica Smith, who scored a game-high 11 points. Taylor Gilkerson had nine points, Kloie Marks had nine points, Kyleigh Schipman had three points, Kelbee Denham had two points, and Ella Schye had two points.

"Our defense was really good," M-ette senior Janessa Malmend said. "It was a really big factor in our win. We played really good as a team and we really picked each other up last night. We came there to win."

Malta's offense came early as the M-ettes scored 11 points in the first, while holding Roundup to six. Malta scored another 11 in the second quarter, while holding Roundup to four. Malta's defense held Roundup to two points in the third and then gave up 14 in the fourth.

The M-ettes would have a late push against Rocky Boy earlier in the week, outscoring Roundup 20-15 in the fourth quarter and being behind 43-34 after the conclusion of the fourth quarter. The final score was 58-54.

"We have been doing really well in practices," Malmend said. "I think we are focusing on working together more and having fun is a big thing that we have changed."

Malmend went on to say they have been working on their inbound plays a lot.

The M-ettes were led by Smith who had 13 points, three of which came on a game-ending trey beating the buzzer. Ella Schye had 13 points, Denham had 12 points, and Schipman had eight.

Malta will take on the Glasgow Lady Scotties for the second time this season in Malta on Thursday, February 8, for Malta High School's Senior Night. The M-ettes will play at 6 p.m.

"We need to go there ready to win and we can't over think Glasgow just because we beat them last time," Malmend said. "They had a couple of girls out, so I think we need to be prepared for them to be back in."

The M-ettes will then travel to Shelby for their last regular season game to face the Lady Coyotes, who defeated Malta earlier this season.

"We need to play hard," Malmend said.

MUSTANGS

In the Mustangs' 53-41 loss to Rocky Boy, Taylor Matthews had 17 points, Landon VanWichen scored eight points, Konner Kuehn had five points, Tanner Smith had four points, Ben Costin had three and Tel Jensen had two points.

In Malta's 68-63 loss to Roundup, the team was led by Matthews who had 19 points. Kuehn had 17 points and Kevin Henry had 11 points.