Poplar Comes Up Short Against Malta Squad

The season for Poplar’s boys’ basketball team came to an end with a 76-59 loss against Malta at the Northern B divisional tournament in Shelby on Saturday morning.

After falling behind 9-2 early, the Indians played well as five points by Ryder Olson and a pair of free throws by Chasen Pribbernow tied the game at 9-9.

Down by a 16-13 margin, Poplar struck for the last four points of the first period on two free tosses by Chasen Pribbernow and a drive by Olson for a 17-16 advantage.

The Indians kept having success early in the second half as the scoring of Olson and a pull-up jumper by Dane Moran increased Poplar’s lead to 27-20.

Malta, however, accounted for 11 of the last 13 points of the half for a 31-29 lead. Leading the charge for the Mustangs were Kazner Oxarart with five of the points and Dawson Hammond with four.

The Mustangs then opened the third quarter with the first nine points including a three-pointer by Oxarart for a 40-29 advantage.

Poplar battled back to seven points, but a three-pointer by Kruise Stiles and the scoring of Hammond led Malta to a 54-42 lead. Threepoint shots by Stiles and Oxarart and a three-play play by Hammond put Malta up 63-46 at the end of the third period.

Two three-pointers by AJ Youngman were highlights for the Indians during the fourth quarter, but Malta won by the 76-59 final.

Olson and Chasen Pribbernow led the Indians with 14 points each. Moran added 11 points.

Also scoring were Chance Pribbernow with six, Youngman with six, Bostyn Azure with four and Wilder Bearcub with four.