By Tiffany L. Rehbein
Ricky Brown and Landen Grant combined for 41 points for naught as the District 2B Malta Mustangs defeated the Central A Havre Blue Ponies 62-59 at Havre Saturday.
Malta held the lead the entire game, until Grant hit both free shots in a bonus free throw situation with 7:05 remaining in the game to put the Ponies up 43-42.
After the Pony press caused a turnover and head Malta coach Bernie Wasser called a time out, Brown nailed a 3-pointer with 5:57 remaining, expanding the Blue Pony lead to 46-42.
Malta's R.J. Tollefson knotted up the game at 53-53 with 2:02 remaining. The lead would exchange three more times in the final two minutes until the Mustangs sewed up the finish from the free throw line.
With fewer than 40 seconds on the clock, the Mustangs went 5-for-5 from the line, clinching the victory. However, Malta shot just 48 percent from the line in the game.
In the final quarter, the Ponies went 9-for-15 from the stripe, and 21-for-29 in the game.
The Ponies were rattled by the Mustangs' half-court press and aggressive defense in the first half. The Ponies spotted the Mustangs as much as an eight-point lead at times in the half.
"Obviously, we didn't play very well in the first half," head Havre coach Dennis Murphy said. "We made some good adjustments at halftime and the kids responded."
Malta, the No. 1 team in its district, shot 60 percent from the field in the second half, and 50 percent in the game. From mid-range, the Mustangs shot 53 percent in the game.
"We are not getting the job done defensively," Murphy said. "We are way too easy, and we've got to work on that."
Malta's Nick Parker went 10-for-14 from the field en route to his game-high 23 points.
Cody Oxarart added 12, and Tim Chell chipped in 11 for Malta.
Havre's Brown popped three 3-pointers in the game and scored 22 points, followed by Grant who had 19.
Grant also had a game-high eight rebounds in the contest.
The Ponies (4-5) defeated the Browning Indians 77-64 in Central A action at Browning Friday.
Brown, who popped four treys, scored a team-high 21 points, and Grant chipped in 20 in the win.
Cliff Cooper added 12 in the victory.
The Ponies jumped out to an early 25-14 lead en route to the victory.
"We played in spurts," Murphy said. "In the second half, we didn't handle their pressure very well. But, we won by 13 points, and you've got to be happy with that."
It was the Ponies' only win in five games. They resume play Thursday at Great Falls when they meet Eastern AA power C.M. Russell.
Malta
10
18
14
20
--62
Havre
10
12
17
20
--59
Malta -- Cody Oxarart 3 5-8 12; Ryan Lankford 1 1-2 3; JD Neber 2 0-1 4; RJ Tollefson 4 0-0 9; Tim Chell 5 1-5 11; Nick Parker 9 5-9 23. Totals: 24 12-25.
Havre -- Chris Young 1 2-2 4; Nate Baltrusch 0 2-2 2; Ryan Fink 1 1-2 3; Ricky Brown 6 7-8 22; Landen Grant 6 7-9 19; Nick Crawford 0 0-1 0; Jesse Suek 1 1-2 3; Cliff Cooper 2 2-4 6. Totals: 17 22-30
Total fouls: Malta 23, Havre 20. Fouled out: Oxarart, Chell, Parker, Grant. Three-pointers: Oxarart, Tollefson, Brown 3.
Havre
25
16
20
16
--77
Browning
14
14
16
20
--64
Havre -- Danny Wirtzberger 0 2-4 2; Chris Young 0 4-5 4; Nate Baltrusch 2 1-2 6; Ryan Fink 3 2-2 8; Ricky Brown 7 3-6 21; Landen Grant 10 0-2 20; Nick Crawford 2 0-0 4; Jesse Suek 0 0-1 0; Cliff Cooper 3 6-8 12. Totals: 27 18-30 77.
Browning -- L. Bull Child 3 0-0 8; C. Morris 4 0-0 8; Jovon Fisher 1 0-1 12; Galen Lazyboy 6 0-4 15; D. Trombley 7 0-1 16; Eric Butterfly 4 3-7 11; Dan Edmo 2 0-2 4. Totals: 27 3-15 64.
Total fouls: Havre 19, Browning 25. Fouled out: Edmo Bull Child, Lazyboy, Baltrusch. Three-pointers: Brown 4, Baltrusch, Lazyboy 3, Trombley 2, Bull Child 2.
