Mavericks defeat Porcupines in Whitewater, fall to Glasgow, Dodson

The North Country Mavericks basketball team defeated the Nashua Porcupines in Whitewater last week but fell to Glasgow and Dodson.

After a tough three-game stretch, the Mavericks are set to play one game this week, and it is against the Scobey Spartans, a team that they haven’t defeated in several years.

The game against Scobey is set to take place in Scobey on Friday, February 4, at 7:30 p.m.

The team defeated Nashua 50-29 last Friday, January 28, at the Penguin Palace. The team was led by Aiden Albus who had 22 points. Trey Johnson had 16 points, Blaine Downing had five points.

The Maverick defense held Nashua to six points in the opening quarter and five in the second; North Country scored 13 points in the first quarter and 17 in the second. North Country outpaced the Porcupines 20-2 during the third quarter, which included crowd-pleasing buckets from Taylor Mogan and Andrew Boucher. North Country did not score a single point in the fourth, while Nashua scored 16.

“I think that we overlooked Nashua a little,” Mavericks Head Coach Barry Malone said. “We beat them by 20 but we came out a little complacent. Maybe we were coming off the high of the close game last night (in Dodson). Maybe we were a little emotionally drained.”

The Mavericks had an early lead against the Dodson Coyotes on Thursday, January 27, in Dodson, but ultimately lost the game. The final score was 53-50.

“We came out really strong,” Coach Malone said. “I was really proud of our five starters and the three freshmen, they have really made strides since Christmas Break. They have played strong, smart, and they have had fewer miscues. It was great to see them grow and play to the level that we need.”

The Mavericks were up 19-7 after the first quarter, but were outscored 18-8 in the second quarter and 15-11 in the third quarter. Teams were even in the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points apiece

Dodson was led in scoring by freshman Junior Stiffarm who scored 15 points in the game. Stiffarm had three three-point field goals.

The Mavericks were led in scoring by Johnson who had 26 points. Albus had seven points. Kade Strommen and Coy Bowman each had six points, and Blaine Downing had five points.

In their loss to Glasgow last Saturday, January 29, at Glasgow High School, the score was 45-29.

The Mavs were led by Albus who had 13 points. Johnson scored eight points.