Lady Wolves Qualify For Divisional Tournament
The Lady Wolves were in serious trouble during the fourth quarter of their loser- out contest against Fairview at the District 2B tournament in Malta on Saturday. With under six minutes remaining, Wolf Point trailed by six points and scoring standout Maci Fourstar had fouled out.
Displaying great determination, the Wolves somehow came back for a 40-35 overtime victory to earn a divisional tournament berth.
“The Wolf Point Lady Wolves just competed and found a way to win,” Coach Cody Larson said after the thrilling victory.
Behind 27-21 in the fourth period, the Wolves got back on the right track when sophomore Mattie Azure hit a three-pointer with 5:06 remaining. Ma’Kenzie Jackson then made a turnaround shot and Jorilynn Black Eagle drove in for a basket to put Wolf Point ahead 28-27 with 4:08 left.
Another three-pointer by Azure increased Wolf Point’s lead to 31-27. “Mattie Azure hit some crucial shots for us,” Larson said.
With Wolf Point ahead by a 33-29 score, Fairview’s Macy Tjelde put back a rebound with 1:53 remaining. The Warriors pulled even at 33-33 on a pair of free throws by Gracelynn Free with 55 seconds left.
Both squads missed potential game-winning shots in the final minutes.
The Wolves quickly went ahead in overtime when Azure connected again from three-point range at the 3:48 mark.
The score remained at 3633 until Azure hit a running shot with 56 seconds remaining.
Fairview was able to close the gap to 38-35 on free throws by Sophie Sundheim and Jemma Smith, but Wolf Point tallied the last two points on free tosses by Cadence Bouldin and Black Eagle.
A key to the Wolves earning the victory was the defense of Adalynn Smith holding Fairview’s standout Tjelde to four points in the contest.
“Addy Smith was a down right competitor. She was freaking amazing,” Coach Larson said.
Azure led the Wolves with 14 points. Black Eagle finished with nine points. Jackson and Fourstar added seven points each. Bouldin scored three points.
Leading Fairview were Sundheim with 11 and Ava Fry with eight points.
The game was deadlocked at 10-10 at the half. After a three-pointer by Black Eagle tied the score at 15-15 in the third quarter, Fairview went on a 6-0 run and held a 22-16 lead at the end of the period.
The Wolves will face Fairfield at 3 p.m on Wednesday, March 4, in the first round of the divisional tournament in Shelby.
