Wolf Point Scores Overtime League Victory Over Poplar

Wolf Point’s boys’ basketball team accounted for the game’s last three points to edge Poplar, 54-51, in overtime on Thursday, Jan. 9.

“I think we are starting to really gel as a team especially defensively,” Wolf Point Coach Cole Hanks said. “The boys played hard for the whole game and stayed aggressive.”

Zandon Calder, a 6-5 sophomore, dominated the game inside with 28 points and more than 20 rebounds for the Wolves.

“I think Zandon has proven that he’s a force to be reckoned with in the conference,” Hanks said. “He had an amazing game both offensively and defensively. We are really improving and are going to keep getting tougher. It was a great team win.”

The visiting Wolves held a 23-19 half-time lead and a 37-34 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

The Indians, however, opened the fourth period with seven straight points on a basket by Kaniel Ricker off a steal by Wilder Bearcub, a three-pointer by Ricker and a drive by Walker Burshia for a 41-37 lead with 5:10 remaining in the league contest.

Wolf Point’s Rebel Mays responded with a three-pointer. After a free throw by Ricker, a basket off a rebound by Calder pulled the Wolves even at 42-42 with 4:56 left.

Poplar regained the lead on a three-pointer by Dane Moran, but a drive by Jett Azure kept the Wolves close. After the Indians missed two shot attempts, Ricker scored to put the Indians up 47-44 with 2:09 remaining.

Mays, who enjoyed one of his best games for the Wolves, then fired in a three-pointer for a 47-47 deadlock. After Poplar’s Blake Lambert took a charge, Moran connected on a 14-footer to put Poplar ahead 49-47 with 1:04 left.

Wolf Point tied the game on a drive by Mays with 44 seconds left. Both squads missed shot attempts in the final 10 seconds of regulations.

The Indians struck first on a pair of free throws by Ricker after a steal with 2:22 left. A basket by Calder tied the game at 51-51 with two minutes remaining in overtime.

After each team missed from the foul stripe, Calder scored inside to put the Wolves ahead with 41 seconds remaining. Poplar then missed a three-point attempt, and Azure made a free throw for a 54-51 game with 5.6 seconds left. The Indians could only get off a contested threepoint shot at the buzzer.

After Calder’s 28 points, Wolf Point’s next top scorers were Mays with eight and Sean Hamilton with seven points. Also scoring were Azure with five, Richard Campbell with four and Roper Flaten with two points.

Leading Poplar were Ricker with 22, Moran with 10 and Lambert with 10 points. Burshia finished with eight points. Kellen Erickson had one point.

The Wolves opened the game with nine of the first 11 points and held a 13-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Wolf Point will host Malta for a conference battle on Saturday, Jan. 18.