Poplar Boys Fight Off Wolves, 61-53

In an action packed contest in front of dedicated fans, Poplar emerged with a 61-53 win over Wolf Point in boys’ basketball action on Saturday, Jan. 20.

The visiting Indians gained a 33-29 half-time lead. Poplar was able to extend the margin to 44-38 on a turnaround shot by Kaniel Ricker and an inside shot by Walker Burshia late in the third quarter.

Wolf Point gained some momentum back on a three-pointer by Sean Hamilton at the buzzer to end the third quarter.

A fastbreak hoop by Ricker put Poplar up 46-41 to start the fourth quarter scoring, but the Wolves kept hustling and DJ Fischer accounted for a three-point play at the 5:55 mark.

The Indians responded with the next nine points including a three-pointer by William Youngman with 4:57 left. After a steal by Ricker, Delray Lilley added a free throw. A layup by Ricker put the gap at 52-44.

After Youngman took a charge, Lilley accounted for a three-point play to put Poplar ahead by a 55-44 margin with 4:08 left.

Cade Stafne ended the streak by hitting a free throw with 3:49 left.

The determined Wolves kept battling with a pair of free throws by Lennoxx Lilley and a pair of drives by Peyton Summers pulled Wolf Point to 59-49 with a minute left.

Richard Campbell scored for the Wolves with 12 seconds left, but two free throws by Ricker put the contest away.

Lilley led the Indians with 30 points. Ricker scored 12 and Geordy Medicine Cloud had eight.

Also scoring were Youngman with three, Kameron Reum with three, Burshia with two and Cetan Growing Thunder with two.

Top scorers for the Wolves were Summers with 13, Stafne with 11 and Jack Kolstad with 10. Also scoring were Fischer with seven, Hamilton with five, Campbell with four, Lilley with two and Zandon Calder with a point.

The game was deadlocked at 17-17 after the first quarter. Wolf Point’s Kolstad and Poplar’s Lilley each hit three three-pointers in the opening quarter.

Poplar moved ahead 33-29 in the second quarter as Lilley accounted for nine points including five on free throws in the period.