Poplar Downs Wolf Point, 54-42, In Girls’ Basketball

Poplar’s girls’ basketball team enjoyed a good start and went on to defeat Wolf Point, 54-42, on Saturday, Jan. 10.

The Indians held an early 7-5 and added to that when Ashlyn Bull Chief nailed a three-pointer. A free throw by Blake Follette, a drive by Jenaeya Moran and a free throw by Frankie Gourneau increased the gap 14-5.

Poplar’s Braelyn Nordwick hit two free throws to end the quarter at 16-6.

After two more free tosses by Nordwick opened the second quarter, the Wolves got their offensive attack going with five points by Ma’Kenzie Jackson and a pull-up jumper by Sophia Ricker to close the margin to 18-13.

The Indians responded with the next nine points, including seven by Nordwick, to gain a 27-13 advantage.

The half ended with a three-pointer by Gourneau to put the score at 32-17.

The three-point shooting of Mattie Azure and Jackson highlighted action for the Wolves in the third quarter, but Wolf Point trailed 43-28 at the end of the period.

Gourneau accounted for five straight points midway into the fourth period to increase Poplar’s advantage to 50-30.

Two three-pointers by Azure and the inside play of Jackson brought the Wolves to within 10 points with 1:05 remaining, but Poplar earned the 12-point win.

Leading Poplar’s attack were Nordwick with 19 and Gourneau with 18 points. Also scoring were Moran with five, Saydee Archambeault with four, Toni Brown with four, Bull Chief with three and Follette with three.

Jackson scored 16 and Azure added 14 points for the Wolves.

Rounding out the scoring were Ricker with eight, Adalynn Smith with two, Jorilynn Black Eagle with one and Harper Weeks with one.