Lady Wolves Defeats Poplar, 51-37
A strong ending in the first half and an outstanding third quarter lifted Wolf Point’s girls over Poplar, 51-37, on Tuesday, Feb. 16.
After a three-point play by Rikki Belton pulled Poplar to 23-17 late in the half, the Wolves responded with four quick points on a pair of free throws by Hamyanie Campbell and a basket by Campbell, after a steal by Josie Kolstad, for a 27-17 lead. Gracelyn Medicine Cloud hit a 17-footer to cut the gap to 27-19 at the half.
The Indians battled back to 27-23 on baskets by Keandra Martell and Macey Dionne early in the third quarter, but the Wolves then started to take charge. Two hoops by freshman Sierra Hamilton, including one off an assist from Jaylee Azure, put the margin at 31-23. Azure then hit a pair of free throws for a 10-point margin.
After Dionne scored at the 3:35 mark, Wolf Point exploded for the next seven points on five points by Hamilton and a basket by Azure. Poplar’s Kessee Erickson made a free throw, but another basket by Azure put the Wolves up 42-26 at the end of the third quarter.
A three-pointer by Courtney Spotted Wolf and a 14-footer by Erickson pulled the Indians to 44-33 in the fourth quarter. A free throw by Hamilton and a drive by J’Elle Garfield gave Wolf Point a comfortable 49-37 lead with less than two minutes to play in the league contest.
Wolf Point’s top scorers were Garfield with 14 and Hamilton with 12. Also scoring were Azure with eight, Campbell with six, Kolstad with four, Hailey Nelson with three and Kateyn MacDonald with three.
Dionne led Poplar with nine points. Also scoring were Martell with five, Belton with five, Medicine Cloud with four, Morgen Nordwick with four, Teagan Escarcega with four, Spotted Wolf with three and Erickson with three.
The Wolves fell behind 5-0 early as Poplar’s Martell hit a three-pointer and Nordwick scored inside.
Down 8-4, Wolf Point ended the opening quarter on a drive by Campbell, a steal and layup by Garfield and two free throws by Kolstad for a 10-8 lead.
With the score deadlocked at 12-12 in the second period, the Wolves went ahead to stay with eight straight points on the scoring of Garfield, Kolstad and MacDonald.
