Poplar Fights Off Wolf Point’s Boys In Overtime, 75-72

After trailing by as many as 14 points in the first half, Poplar came back to take a 75-72 overtime victory over Wolf Point during District 2B boys’ basketball action on Friday, Feb. 6.

The visiting Wolves held a 34-25 half-time advantage, but the scoring of Dane Moran and Wilder Bearcub pulled Poplar as close as four points early in the third quarter. After a basket by the hot-shooting Moran cut the gap to 3937, the Wolves stayed ahead when Cole Holen scored off a pass from Richard Campbell.

Baskets by Zandon Calder, Andrew Williamson and Brady Four Bear led the Wolves to a 53-46 advantage at the end of the third quarter.

Wolf Point’s Sean Hamilton increased the margin to nine points in the fourth period, but the Indians later battled back to 61-60 on a drive by Ryder Olson and a steal and dunk by Chasen Pribbernow.

Poplar gained a 64-63 lead on a pair of free throws by Chasen Pribbernow, but Calder then scored inside to put the Wolves up, 65-64, heading into the final minute of regulation.

After Bearcub fired in a three-pointer, Calder tied the game on a basket off a rebound with 20 seconds remaining. Neither squad was able to score in the final seconds of regulation. Three-pointers by Moran and Chasen Pribbernow produced a 73-69 advantage for the Indians in overtime.

After a steal, Chasen Pribbernow scored on a rebound to put the margin at 75-69.

Stone Lilley kept Wolf Point’s hopes alive with a three-pointer to cut the gap to 75-72 with 10 seconds left. A half-court attempt by Jett Azure just missed its mark at the buzzer.

Leading Poplar’s attack were Chasen Pribbernow with 22 and Moran with 20 points. Chance Pribbernow and Olson added 10 points each. Also scoring were Xhaiden Bull Chief with six, Bearcub with five and Stephen Smoker with two.

Wolf Point’s top scorers were Campbell with 17 and Calder with 14. Kayden Charette and Four Bear had eight points each. Also scoring were Hamilton with seven, Holen with six, Azure with five, Williamson with four and Lilley with three.

Campbell had the hot hand early as his two three-pointers and another basket put the Wolves up 8-0.

The scoring of Charette and Holen put the Wolves up 16-8. Wolf Point enjoyed a 1712 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Ahead 21-16 in the second period, the Wolves ran off nine straight points on a three-pointer by Hamilton, two free throws by Campbell and two hoops by Charette for a 30-16 advantage with 5:02 left in the half.

After a basket by Charette put the Wolves up 34-20, Poplar’s Moran accounted for the final five points of the half to give the Indians momentum heading into the locker room.