Poplar’s Girls Beat Fort Benton, 52-46

Poplar’s girls’ basketball team came through in the fourth quarter to edge Fort Benton, 52-46, in loser-out action at the Northern B divisional tournament in Shelby on Friday, March 6.

After a 25-25 deadlock at intermission, Poplar held a slim 40-37 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Indians added to their advantage when Emma Belton, a 5-11 sophomore, scored off a rebound early in the fourth period. After the Longhorns scored to cut the gap to 42-39, Belton accounted for another put-back with 6:08 remaining.

A basket by Braelyn Nordwick increased Poplar’s lead to 46-39 with 5:32 left.

After Fort Benton’s Lilly Ferris hit a basket, Poplar’s Cammie Matrell was good from three-point range to put the margin at 49-41 with 2:49 remaining.

The Longhorns stayed close when Aspyn Bogart made a free throw with 1:30 left. After she missed her second try, Ferris scored off a rebound for a 49-44 game with 1:22 left.

Poplar’s defense remained tough for the rest of the contest. Free throws by Belton, Martell and Frankie Gourneau increased the lead to 52-44 until the final seconds.

Martell led the Indians with 20 points. Also reaching double figures were Nordwick with 13 and F. Gourneau with 10 points.

Belton finished with seven points. Jenaeya Moran had two points.

Ferris accounted for 31 of Fort Benton’s points.