Poplar Falls To Malta At Divisional

Poplar’s girls’ basketball team experienced a sub-par shooting night and lost to Malta, 47-40, in the title game of the Northern B divisional tournament in Conrad on Saturday, March 2.

The Indians fell behind by a 10-5 margin in the first quarter and trailed 17-8 midway into the second quarter. A free throw by Braelyn Nordwick and a basket off a rebound by EmmaRae Martell pulled the Indians within six points.

Malta, however, held a 21-13 half-time advantage.

The three-point shooting of Neva Jacobson and Kendall Clausen led the M-ettes to a 29-18 advantage during the third quarter. Two baskets by Kessee Erickson and a drive by E. Martell cut the gap to 33-24, but a hoop by Emree Stuart put the margin at 33-24 to end the third quarter.

Down by a 35-23 score, Poplar’s Braelyn Nordwick accounted for the next four points after steals by Mattie Falls Down and Bailey Dupree to cut the gap to 3529 with five minutes to play.

Malta responded with the next nine points including a three-pointer by Kelbie Nelson and four points by Clausen.

Cammie Martell fired in a three-pointer to keep the Indians battling. Three free throws by E. Martell and a putback by Nordwick got Poplar as close as 44-37 with 56 seconds left. The Indians, however, couldn’t get any closer.

Top scorers for Poplar were Nordwick with 11 and Erickson with 10 points.

Also scoring were E. Martell with seven, C. Martell with six, Rikki Belton with four and Falls Down with two.

Leading Malta were Clausen with 11, Denvyr Tuss with 10 and Jacobson with 10 points.