Poplar couldn’t quite overcome slow starts and lost two conference boys’ basketball games during the weekend. The Indians fell to Malta, 67-40, on Friday, Jan. 14. After trailing 22-9 at the end of the first quarter, the Indians kept things close at 32-22 at the half and 42-32 after three quarters of play. Poplar’s top scorers were Dennis Red Eagle with 10 and Geordy Medicine Cloud

Frazer’s girls put up a good fight but lost to Dodson, 6148, on Friday, Jan. 14. Dodson led by a 26-17 halftime margin, but the Bearcubs battled back to trail by only a 42-40 score at the end of the third quarter. Angel Nelligan scored 11 points and hit three three-pointers during the third quarter. Nelligan finished with 16 points to lead the Bearcubs. Liana Jackson added 10 points.

Five of Poplar’s boys’ wrestlers placed at the Cut Bank Invitational during the weekend. Navarjo Escarcega earned second place at 120 pounds. He pinned Jefferson’s Reed Zander in 1:31 during the first round and Cut Bank’s Kellan Cassidy in 3:43 during the quarter-final round. Escarcega then pinned Arlee’s Tyler Thomas in 1:34 to advance into the title match. Simms’ Steven Schubarth

By Bill Vander Weele The Poplar Indians put up a strong fight but lost at home against Class C power Fairview, 58-48, on Friday, Jan. 7. Fairview led 16-13 at the end of the first quarter and 32-27 at the half. Delray Lilley enjoyed a solid night and finished with 16 points. Also scoring for the Indians were Geordy Medicine Cloud with nine, Dennis Red Eagle with seven, Kaniel Ricker with

Wolf Point’s girls’ basketball team struggled in the third quarter and fell at Baker by a 53-49 final on Friday, Jan. 7. The Wolves trailed by a 2825 margin at the half. Baker then outscored Wolf Point by a 16-3 margin in the third quarter to take a 44-28 advantage. Wolf Point responded with 21 points in the fourth quarter but came up short in their comeback bid. Sierra Hamilton scored

The Lustre Christian boys’ basketball squad remained undefeated with a 75-13 home win over Frazer on Saturday, Jan. 8. The Lions jumped out to a 32-7 lead in the first quarter. Lustre led 49-13 at the half and 61-13 after three quarters of play. Jasiah Hambira led the Lions with 19 points. Also reaching double figures were Kolden Hoversland with 15 points and Braden Ewing with 10.