Malta wins Northern B girls’ crown

GLASGOW – Senior Sophia Stiles scored 22 points as the Malta M-Ettes rallied to defeat Fairfield 49-47 Saturday night to claim the Northern B girls’ basketball championship.

Fairfield snapped a 20-20 halftime deadlock when they outscored Malta 15-8, but Stiles nailed 15 of her 22 markers in the final stanza. Natalie Klinker had a game-high 24 to pace Fairfield.

In the third-place game, Wolf Point defeated Rocky Boy by the same 49-47 score, as Aubrey Zilkoski led the way with 17 points for the Wolves. Rosie Parker had 15 for the Morning Stars in defeat. Malta, Fairfield and Wolf Point all advance to the State B Combined tournament, slated for March 9-11 at the Billings Metra.

In the consolation semifinals Saturday morning, Molly Salmond hit a game-high 24 but it wasn’t enough as Choteau fell to Wolf Point 55-54.

Mahala Shawl led the Wolves with 21, followed by Shelby Hanks with 15 and Aubrey Zilkoski with 10.

The Shelby Coyotes also saw their season come to a close Saturday morning, also by one point as District 1B rival Rocky Boy knocked them out with a 48-47 decision.

Adrienne Gopher led the Morning Stars with 15, while Rosie Parker threw in 13 and Jaylynn Mitchelle added 10. Abbey Aklestad poured in 18 to pace the Coyotes, while Rachael Skiera had a dozen.