Indians Down Scotties At Tournament
The Poplar Indians were challenged but stepped up when it mattered in their 7166 semi-final round victory over Glasgow at the divisional boys’ basketball game in Malta on Friday, Feb. 23.
The Indians were behind by a 55-54 margin with under five minutes remaining until a steal by Kaniel Ricker resulted in a pair of free throws. Geordy Medicine Cloud then connected on consecutive three-pointers to put Poplar ahead 62-55 at the 3:22 mark.
After another steal, Ricker hit two more free tosses for a 64-55 advantage.
Glasgow’s Cade Hudyma accounted for four of the game’s next five points, but two free throws by Delray Lilley put the Indians up 6759 with 1:34 remaining.
A three-pointer by Nick Sobrzano and two free tosses by Toryn Richards pulled the Scotties as close as 68-64, but three free throws by Lilley put the contest away.
Lilley finished the contest with 29 points including six three-pointers. Medicine Cloud, Ricker and Walker Burshia added 11 points each.
Also scoring for Poplar were Quinn Sutherland with six and Kameron Reum with three points.
Leading the Scotties were Wyatt Babb with 21, Hudyma with 18 and Richards with 12 points.
After Glasgow accounted for the game’s first eight points, the Indians battled back and took an 18-15 lead on two straight three-pointers by Lilley. Glasgow’s Hudyma hit a short jumper, but a three-pointer by Reum put Poplar ahead 21-17 at the end of the opening quarter.
The inside scoring of Burshia led the Indians to a 27-23 lead in the second quarter. Ricker and Lilley fired in three-pointers to increase the margin to 34-26. The scoring of Babb helped the Scotties cut the gap to 37-36 at the half.
A drive by Babb put Glasgow ahead early in the third quarter, but the Indians regained the upper-hand on three-pointers by Sutherland and Lilley. An incredible falling down shot by Lilley resulted in a three-point play for a 50-44 lead. A drive by Hudyma and a three-pointer by Babb at the buzzer closed the gap to 50-49 to end the third quarter.
