Keep calm, because basketball season is on.  The Lady Dragons have hit the court running and are looking forward to the upcoming 2024-2025 season.  Just two weeks into their official season, the Malad women’s basketball team has already jumped in with their first game of the year.

Friday, November 15, the Lady Dragons traveled to Bear Lake to take on the reigning state champion team.  Some may have considered the matchup somewhat intimidating, but the MHS team, with high goals and expectations for their season, were prepared to see just what it will take to succeed.

The game was a good indication of where the team stands as they begin the season and helped them realize where they need to focus in order to improve.  Coming into the game, the Lady Dragons knew they were going up against one of the toughest defenses in the state.  Bear Lake features a zone defense that rarely allows any shot inside the key.  Offensively, the Bears patiently wait for their opening, playing a slower, more methodical game.

In their Friday night matchup, the Lady Dragons were the first to land points on the scoreboard.  Nearly two minutes into the game, Izzy Haycock dribbled from the top of the three point line to the wing, hitting Mikell Keetch in the corner with the pass.  As she caught the ball, Brynnlee Jones under the hoop, posted up behind her defender.  Seeing the opening, Keetch threw the lob pass in for Jones to hit the nearly uncontested bank shot for the game’s first two points.  

Two possessions later, Kiley Miller spotted up for the shot off a drive and dish by Haycock to go up, 4-2.  She hit nearly an identical shot a minute later to expand their lead again.  Miller led the team with points for the night, scoring 13 while also adding 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 7 steals,
and 1 block.

The energy and effort was high throughout the first quarter for both teams with defense dominating the court on both ends, but it was Bear Lake leading at the end of the quarter.  The Bears maintained the lead throughout the remainder of the game despite the Lady Dragons’ efforts.

In the stats breakdowns, the two teams were even in several points- shots taken, team fouls, and blocks.  Malad led in rebounds, going 38 to Bear Lake’s 27.  Unfortunately, the Bears simply hit more shots, going 45% on their field goal shooting.  

While the end result was disappointing, the game itself wasn’t.  Had the shots fallen, the Lady Dragons would have been right there with the talented state contending team.  The mechanics of a solid offense and defense were present in the Lady Dragon’s early season game.  With such promising potential and a season of hard work ahead of them, the Bears had better watch out for the second matchup later this season.

Basketball Results 

MHS @ Bear Lake

Friday, November 15, 2024

1 2 3 4 T

MHS  8 10 9 9 36

BL  12 14 24 11 61

Name PTS REB AST STL BLK

Kiley Miller 13 5 1 7 1

Brinley Clark 2 2 0 0 0

Teagan Daniels 0 2 0 0 0

Brynnlee Jones 9 8 0 0 1

Izzy Haycock 0 6 2 2 0

Mikell Keetch 3 1 2 0 0

Paityn Ward 1 3 0 0 0

Mady VanBebber 4 3 0 0 2

Braylin Beutler 0 1 0 0 0

Kendra Rupp 0 0 0 0 0

Liv Nelson 4 7 2 0 1

TOTALS 36 38 7 9 5