Malta falls to Rocky Boy

The Malta Mustangs couldn’t avoid getting swept by Rocky Boy and Roundup as the team averaged 37 points in their two games last week.

Malta fared better in their second meeting with the Rocky Boy Morning Stars losing 43-38 at the Malta High School Gym on Friday, February 1, on Senior Night. The first time these teams met Rocky Boy dismantled the Mustangs 63-36.

“We hung in there pretty well,” Malta Head Coach David Costin told the PCN. “I thought we battled. It could almost be our most complete game of the year for four quarters. Now it’s coming down to the little details. We need a little more communication; this team does not like to talk a lot on the floor.”

Malta was led by junior Tanner Smith who had 14 points. Kooper Oxarart had 12 points. Kevin Henry, Ben Costin, and Cormac Benn each scored four points.

“I just thought we all played pretty hard,” Coach Costin said. “I was pretty happy with all of our guys.”

Rocky Boy outscored Malta in the first 8-4, but Malta would come back in the second quarter outscoring Rocky Boy 14-9, The halftime score was 18-17 in favor of the Mustangs. Both teams scored nine in the third. The back and forth continued well into the fourth quarter as teams showcased their defense throughout.

“At the start of the third quarter we had three possessions and three turnovers and I don’t think they were forced,” Coach Costin said. “Those were our mistakes. If we can take those little mistakes out of the game, I think we can get over the helm and start winning some of these.”

With less than a minute remaining in the game, Frankie Bacon would knock down a trey after a blown time out call, which would have given Rocky Boy the lead. On the next possession, Bacon would not disappoint knocking down a game-winning trey by putting Rocky Boy up by three.

Malta had a good look at a potential game-tying trey under a minute, but the attempt hit the rim and gave the ball back to the Morning Stars. Bacon would knock down two free throws to seal the game.

In Malta’s 51-36 loss to Roundup, Malta was led by Smith who had 15 points. Costin had seven points. Henry and Rhett Simanton each had five points. Parker Mortenson and Benn had two points.

Roundup jumped out to a 16-3 lead in the first. Malta responded with a 14 points quarter in the second, while holding Roundup to nine points. The score at halftime was 25-17. Roundup kept up the pressure scoring 14 points in the third and 12 in the fourth while holding Malta to ten points in the third and nine in the fourth.