Mustangs Defeat Harlem, Poplar

The Malta Mustangs basketball team picked up a couple of road wins last weekend, defeating the Poplar Indians 71-38 on Friday, January 19, and the Harlem Wildcats 98-71 on Saturday, January 20.

The Mustangs were scheduled to face the Fergus Golden Eagles on Tuesday, January 23. Coverage of the game will be available in next week's PCN. They are also set to host the Roy-Winifred Outlaws on Thursday, January 25, at 7:30 p.m. Malta will travel to Fairview on Saturday, January 27, to take on the Warriors at 5:30 p.m.

In Malta's win over Harlem, Mason Simanton led the Mustangs with 19 points and nine rebounds. It was Simanton's second game back from injury. Treyton Wilke had a 17 point, 10 assist double-double, and six rebounds. Duke Williamson had a 17 point, 13 rebound double-double, four assists, and three steals.

Bohdi Brenden had 13 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals, and three blocks. Dawson Hammond had 10 points, four rebounds, three steals, and three assists. Carson Ottinger had nine points, six rebounds, and four steals. Kruise Stiles had six points. Tant Anderson had three points. Ivan Lefdahl and Kazner Oxarart both had two points.

Malta outscored Harlem in each period; 23-11 in the first, 17-15 in the second, 30-20 in the third, and 28-25 in the fourth.

Malta forced 22 turnovers and only turned the ball over nine times. The team also scored 58 points in the paint. Malta made 37-of-68 (54.4%) of their two point field goal attempts and 6-of-22 (27.3%) of their three point attempts. Malta was 6-of-18 (33.3%) from the free throw line.

In Malta's win over Poplar, the Mustangs were led by Brenden who scored 25 points, five rebounds, four steals, and four assists. He made all five of his free throws.

Wilke had 12 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Duke Williamson had eight points, five rebounds, and five steals. Hammond had six points, seven rebounds. Ottinger had six points, six steals, and four rebounds. Simanton had four points and six rebounds.

The Mustangs were 25-of-47 (53.2%) from two point range, and 5-of-19 (26.3%) from three point range. Malta outrebounded Poplar 42 to 25 and forced 18 turnovers, which they converted to 24 points.