SHELBY — The Northern B boys divisional championship game was an electric one to say the least, with Malta outlasting Wolf Point to win 61-57.
Neither team was able to build a double-digit lead. Wolf Point led by five at the half then Malta came stampeding back in the fourth, winning the last frame 22-13. Sophomore Bohdi Brenden hit a buzzer-beater 3-pointer going into halftime to give Malta momentum and finished with a team-high 14 points, with Eli Hanson right behind him at 13 points.
Wolf Point's Julian Benson led the way for the Wolves with 17 as well as a buzzer-beater of his own at the end of the first, but the Wolves couldn't match the Mustangs' free throw shooting, where they finished 26 for 33 from the line, securing their second straight Northern B title and a trip to the State Tournament in Great Falls.
For the third-place game, Fairfield soared past Rocky Boy, winning 80-48. Fairfield was led by Deron Lear with 17 points while the Eagles shot 47% from the field to move on and get a challenge game with Wolf Point on Monday. Teague Stump led Rocky Boy with 18 points, while Domitri Standing Rock chipped in 8 points and 10 rebounds.
