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Third and fourth @ Parks and Rec

The Malta Parks and Recreation Youth Basketball league featured a gymnasium full of kids, their parents, and spectators last Tuesday, November 26, at the Malta City Hall.

Teams met in their usual leagues, with the Navy and Royal third-fourth grade squads facing each other. Navy would win the clash, capitalizing on great defense and fast break scoring.

The Navy and Royal teams were third and fourth grade teams chosen a couple of weeks ago. The PCN caught up with Regan Stuart and Jace Tollefson of the Navy team, and Dax Math of the Royal team.

Tollefson was asked what the key to their victory was.

"Just looking for the assists, scoring the points, and playing good defense," Tollefson said.

The joy of the game was apparent that night for the players and spectators, so Stuart was asked what makes the youth league so enjoyable.

"It's just fun playing with each other, passing the ball around, and making points," Stuart said.

On the other side, Math displayed a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, helpeing lead his team to a comeback attempt in the second quarter, an attempt that fell short in the second half, but the Navy team kept fighting.

Early in the game, Math set a screen to free up a teammate for an open bucket. He was asked about setting screens.

"My mom just always tells me to set screens and stuff," Math said of his mother Brianna Shores, who was a State B Champion in high school in 2007. "You just pretty much have to stand there."

Math's crossover dribble was text book, often giving himself a good look in the paint off of the move.

"I learned it from watching the NBA; Steph Curry and stuff," Math said, noting that Curry of the Golden State Warriors is his favorite NBA player.

Tollefson said that Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks is his favorite NBA player, while Stuart's favorite player is Damian Lilliard of the Portland Trailblazers.

 

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