Scottie Girls Lose Home Opener Against M-ettes

The Glasgow Scottie girls basketball team dropped their home opener against the Malta M-ettes on Saturday night. The Jan. 2 game saw Malta walk away with a 55-38 victory after they capitalized on a strong first quarter and a tired Scottie Squad in the fourth quarter.

Malta's Kylie Hunter struck first in the game, scoring the first of her three three-pointers of the quarter. Despite some opening night jitters which resulted in some questionable passes and turnovers, the Scottie girls showed no fear in driving to the net, though Abrianna Nielsen put the home team on the scoreboard with a three pointer to kick off the Scottie scoring. Nielsen added two free throws and Daley Aune added a field goal on a strong drive to the basket to take Glasgow to seven points in the first eight minutes. But the girls in red could not keep up with Malta, who put 18 points on the board.

The Mustangs added to their lead in the second quarter, putting up eleven points to the Scotties' 10. Malta outrebounded the home team, crashing the boards to deny Glasgow second chances. Unable to chip away at Malta's lead, Glasgow's play became a bit more panicked in the second quarter as they put up airballs and bricked shots before the half.

Glasgow returned to the floor after the break pushing a more aggressive offense, driving to the net and drawing fouls. The Scotties drew more fouls on Malta in the third quarter than the Scotties drew in the first half. Malta would end up with nine fouls in the second half, sending Glasgow to the line for bonus shots with 1:34 left in the third. Glasgow outscored Malta in the third, 10-9. The Mustangs held an 11-point lead going into the final quarter, 38-27.

Glasgow continued to fight through the end of the game, ramping up their defense even as Malta pulled away in the fourth. As the Mustangs continued to add to their side of the big board, Glasgow applied a full court press, but the M-ettes appeared ready for the defensive attack and countered with fast break conversions. Malta held a 21-point lead late in the fourth and would finish the game up 17 points, 55-38.

Nielsen led the Scotties in scoring with 13 points, including three three-pointers. Tyann Graham added 10 points with two threes, and Aune put in three field goals for six points. Riley Noser added five points and Blaire Westby had four. Nielsen had four fouls, Westby one, Graham two, Aune one, Carly Nelson one, Noser one and Davyn Myrick one.

The Glasgow Scottie girls basketball team will host the North Country Mavericks Thursday, Jan. 7. Boys JV action begins at 3:30 p.m., followed by the girls JV at 4 p.m. The boys varsity game will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by the girls varsity game at 8 p.m.

A Teddy Bear Toss will occur between the varsity games. Fans are asked to bring new and gently used stuffed animals to toss onto the court. The stuffed animals will be donated to Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital and the Billings Clinic for children having overnight stays.

The team travels to Scobey to take on the Spartans, Saturday, Jan. 9, with C squad action beginning at 12:30 p.m.