Wolf Point Boys Fall To Malta Squad

Wolf Point’s boys’ basketball team was up to the challenge when the Wolves faced top-seeded Malta at the District 2B tournament on Friday, Feb. 26. The Wolves went toe-to-toe with the first-place Mustangs before dropping a 61-54 decision.

The Wolves entered the fourth quarter up by a 46-44 margin. Consecutive baskets by Antone Manning, who was nearly unstoppable in the game, put Wolf Point ahead 52-49 with only 3:25 left.

Two free throws by Kooper Oxarart cut the gap to 52-51. After a turnover by Wolf Point, Malta went ahead, 53-52, on a drive by Rex Williamson with 2:47 remaining.

The Mustangs increased their lead to 57-52, but the Wolves kept fighting as a drive by Kelby Bauer put the score at 57-54 with 23 seconds left. Malta held on for the seven- point victory.

Manning finished with 25 points. Also scoring for the Wolves were Gaige Bushman with eight, Zander Ackerman with seven, Bauer with six, Corey Martell with four, Kraven Silk with two and Jack Sprague with two.

Leading Malta were Oxarart with 21, Williamson with 15 and Pierce Mortenson with 11 points.

Malta led by a 17-12 margin at the end of the first quarter, but the scoring of Manning and Martell led the Wolves to a 20-20 deadlock.

After the Mustangs moved ahead 27-23, Sprague hit two free throws with 2:46 left in the half.

Down by a 33-27 score, the Wolves scored six points in the final 21 seconds of the half on two free throws by Bushman, a steal and shot by Silk and a drive by Bushman for a 33-33 deadlock.

Malta gained a 39-35 advantage in the third quarter, but Wolf Point stormed back on a baseline jumper by Manning and a drive by Ackerman. A three-pointer by Manning put Wolf Point up 44-41 with 1:06 left in the quarter. After Bushman took a charge, Manning scored again for a 46-41 lead. The Mustangs gained momentum on a three-pointer at the buzzer by Oxarart for a 46-44 score.