Poplar Falls To Malta In Semi-final Round

After a close first half, Poplar’s girls’ basketball team lost to Malta, 63-36, in the semi-final round of the Northern B divisional tournament in Shelby on Thursday, March 5.

The Indians held a 13-9 lead at the end of the first quarter and trailed only 27-25 at intermission.

After Malta’s Kendall Clausen hit a free throw and Hailey Welch connected on a three-pointer to open the third quarter, Poplar stayed on Malta’s heels with a 15-footer by Cammie Martell to cut the gap to 31-27.

Malta’s Emree Stuart was then good from three-point range, but Poplar’s Frankie Gourneau drove in for a basket to keep the Indians close.

Jenaeya Moran scored for the Indians with 4:49 left in the period. Malta’s Neva Jacobsen responded with the game’s next eight points including a three-pointer to increase the margin to 44-31.

A basket by Saydee Archambault cut the margin to 44-33 at the end of the quarter.

Martell hit a three-pointer to pull Poplar to 47-36, but the M-ettes accounted for the game’s final 16 points.

Martell, a senior, led the Indians with 17 points.

Also scoring were Braelyn Nordwick with six and Moran with four points. Adding two points each were Archambeault, F. Gourneau, Journey Gourneau and Ashlyn Bull Chief. Emma Belton had one point.

Leading Malta were Jacobsen with 20, Clausen with 14, Stuart with 12 and Denvyr Tuss with nine points.