M-ette 2019-20 season recap

The Malta M-ettes ended the season on a high note, with a win over Bigfork on the last day of basketball in the state of Montana.

The team ended the year 15-9, with a home record of 8-3 and an away record of 7-6. The team was scheduled to play against the Shelby Coyotes at the 2020 State B Tournament on Saturday, March 14, before the MHSA canceled games that day due to the COVID-19 virus reaching Montana.

Malta Head Coach Nate Hammond was asked about the incident that eventually cost the team a chance to earn a third-place trophy at state.

"The cancellation was disappointing for us because we had just won a game and were still alive in the state tournament," Coach Hammond said. "However, we ended on a win and a great note. We also won the Northern B the week before and overall feel good about our season."

Being one of two District 2B teams standing at the end of the season, the M-ettes landed three athletes on the 2019-2020 District 2B Basketball All-Conference list.

The list includes guards Kelbee Denham, Erica Smith, and Kylee Nelson.

Denham, a senior and a team captain was named to the First Team All-Conference list. Smith, a junior, was also named the First Team, and she was also named as one of three All-State selections. Nelson, a freshman, was named to the Second Team.

Denham, who had also received First Team honors in 2019, and Second Team honors in 2018, led Malta in assists this season with a total of 56. Denham also led in three-point shots made, going 22-of-92 from behind the arc (23 percent). Denham was first in free throw percentage amongst M-ettes that had over 50 attempts; she made 41 of her 58 attempts. Denham was third in rebounding with a total of 111 (first in defensive rebounds with 92) and third in scoring with 145 points.

Smith led the M-ettes in steals, racking up 62. She was second in assists with 39. Smith was fourth in scoring with 125 points.

Malta's bench players accounted for many of Malta's points, and the leader in points off of the bench was sophomore Justine Lamb who had 99 points. Freshman Addy Anderson had 97 points, Maddie Williamson had 82 points, Kylee Hunter had 71 points, and Sidney Meeks had 39 points.

Nelson led the M-ettes in scoring with a total of 185 points. Nelson was second in steals with 49, third in assists with 36, and fourth in rebounds with 107.

Though she did not receive honors, freshman Allie Kunze led the team in rebounds with 135. Kunze was second in scoring with 170 points, with the most field goals converted. She was 69-of-167 from the field. She was second in blocks with eight.

Senior co-captain Carly Garfield led Malta in blocks with 12 and was second in rebounding with 128.

Coach Hammond was asked about the team's leadership, which consisted of co-captains Denham and Garfield, who were both seniors.

"They did a great job leading and keeping everyone on the same page," Coach Hammond said. "Their goal was to win and make the state tournament. They embraced the talent of the freshmen and sophomores and kept the focus on what we needed it to be on."

As far as his favorite memory this season, Coach Hammond picked their Northern B title as the highlight of the season.

"Definitely winning the divisional tournament and competing at state were two of our best memories," Coach Hammond said. "There were also some great regular season memories such as the home win against Harlem on Little M-ette day."