The Malad Dragons boys basketball team is on the court and into their regular season games, starting out with “a great week of basketball,” shared Head Coach Zach Beutler.  The team filled their opening week with three big games, playing teams, programs and coaches that are some of the best in the state for years to come.  Coach Beutler says, “We intentionally filled our schedule with stout teams. We want to compete against the best programs possible.” 

The Dragons started their week out as they hosted the Ririe Bulldogs, the reigning 6th district champions with an excellent staff and head coach in Jordan Hamilton.  Malad had a slow start to the game, taking some time to work passed the first game jitters and settling into their rhythm.  

Throughout the game they worked to whittle down the early 2-15 deficit they found themselves in to eventually take a one point lead half way through the 4th.  As the minutes ticked down, Ririe regained the lead as they were able to connect with basket while the Dragon’s shots fell short.  Battling it out the very end, the MHS team refused to quit until the final buzzer, falling 55-65.

 The following night, the team traveled to Firth to take on the well established 2A powerhouse Cougars, led by Scott Adams - who holds the 2A record with the most state titles.  Because of a pregame technical, the Cougars started the game out on the free throw line and with possession of the ball instead of the usual tipoff.  Despite the rough start to the game, the Dragons came out tough to start the game, tying it up in just a few possessions.  

  It didn’t take long for the offense to find something working for them, a simple drive and dish.  Over and over again they forced the defense to step in to block the drive, leaving a man open on the outside, ready to hit the shot.  When the Cougar defense didn’t collapse in to help, the Dragons drove the open lane to hit the lay up.  In the opening quarter, Braylin Tripp had six drives to the basket that would result in a lay up, dish out for open shot or a foul on the drive, taking Malad to the free throw line.  After a hard fought first quarter, the Dragons were trailing by just one point, 15-16.

Malad came into the seconds quarter with great intensity, but the shots just wouldn’t fall for them.  Instead of slipping into a slump, the team doubled down on defense, making it all the more challenging for Firth to convert offense into points and finding a little magic in the hustle to score off the transition.  Tripp intercepted a pass on defense, taking it down to the key where he bounce passed it into Ben Peterson on the block for an easy lay in.  

Zack Richardson came in for a weak side rebound, hustling the ball back into Dragon territory.  He dished it off to Carter Carey for the shot which bounced off, but was picked up by forward Ryan Hubbard.  Hubbard put up the rebound for two points and added a third as he hit the free throw after getting fouled on the shot.  

On the other end of the floor, Hubbard came up from the block, anticipating the pass and getting the steal, passing it off to Richardson for a fast break.  He burned it down the court, beating the defense, allowing Richardson to dump it back into him for two points.

The Dragons intensity and hustle kept them in the game through the second quarter, allowing them to barely take the lead, 24-23 at the half.

Malad surged through the third quarter, making plays happen on offense and converting their tough defense into scoring opportunities on the other end.  They put on repeat their rebound-drive-and-dish, coupled with their fast break layups to outscore FIrth, 23-17 in the third quarter to expand their lead.

Not faltering in the final quarter, Malad continued to push the Cougars until the clock ran out.  They patiently worked the ball around the outside, passing until they found the right opportunity.  Peterson found the open lane, driving around and over the defense for another basket.  Richardson spotted up in the deep, right corner to hit the three, late in the fourth quarter.  

Despite the Dragon’s play, Firth wasn’t backing down, and found a way to climb back within one point with just a minute on the clock.  With the Cougars bringing an intense full court press, Malad had to bring their next level game if they were to pull out the win.  Even against their strategic calls and plays, the Dragons held their own, capitalizing on crucial free throws and shooting opportunities as it came down the wire.  In the end, it was the defense that won the game, playing such an intense defense that the Cougars couldn’t even get off a shot, without committing any fouls as the final seconds ticked down to end the game, 55-52, in favor of Malad.

Talking about the win, Coach Beutler shared, “Our boys played very well against their long athletic well coached teams.  Getting a win on Firth’s floor is a huge feat.”

The Dragons finished off their opening week at home as they played the Grace Grizzlies another intense, skilled and well coached team.  The games proved even more challenging as the MHS team had multiple players sit the games out as they suffered from injuries and illness.

After four, long, hardfought quarters, Malad just couldn’t hang on to the lead and fell behind by just two point, finishing the game 51-53.  Beutler said, “We had several players down with illness - but they battled hard nonetheless and had a couple of opportunities to take the win - but came up just short. We had some mental mistakes throughout the game that we are confident the boys will fix. Overall we were very pleased with the way they played and the progress they are showing.

“We couldn’t be more happy with where we are after week one. The boys have prepared and performed in a way that has put them in a position to be a couple of possessions away from a 3-0 first week.”

The Dragons will travel to Ririe for a three day tournament with their opening game against Teton who happens to be the biggest 3A school in the state and on paper, look to be the best team in the tournament. The coaches and team are excited for the challenge as they relish the opportunity to compete against the best.