Squarely in their conference play, Malad competed in two district games over the week, hosting the Wendell Trojans Thursday, January 29, and the Aberdeen Tigers just two days later .  The Dragons showed both resilience in a tough loss and a strong response in a dominant win.  

Malad opened the weekend with a competitive matchup against Wendell, the current 3A #1 ranked team in the state.  Despite battling throughout four competitive quarters of play, the Dragons ultimately fell, 69–59. Wendell took control early, leading 19–11 after the first quarter. 

Malad responded in the second period, outscoring Wendell 12–9 to cut into the deficit at halftime.  The MHS team offense didn’t really get rolling until midway in the quarter when Ruger Smith took a drive into the paint for a quick score over the rim.  At the other end of the court, Ruger snagged the rebound, catching sight of Easton Green sprinting down the court ahead of him.  Sending the pass, Green finished the play with an easy bucket for Malad.

Justin Toone scored next for the MHS team, taking the pass at the right block from Oak Ruger on the opposite wing.  Sliding right past his defender, Toone effortlessly laid the shot in.  Malad cut the gap on the scoreboard to just 3 points as the game wound down, Ruger hitting a bonus shot and Green turning an offensive rebound into a follow-up shot, before trailing at the half 23-28.

The Trojans regained momentum in the third quarter, edging the Dragons 20–12.  Undeterred, the MHS team closed strong with 24 points in the fourth, ending the game down 59-69.  

  While the loss was disappointing, Malad shot efficiently from the floor, finishing 22-for-53 (42%), just under Wendell’s 46%.  Rebounding favored Malad, who held a 30–25 advantage, including 10 offensive rebounds. 

Green led Malad with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. Ruger Smith and Braun Nalder each added 14 points, with Smith also recording 3 steals. Toone pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds, while Oak Smith contributed 5 assists.  

  The Dragons didn’t let the loss hold them back as they responded in definitive fashion against Aberdeen, delivering a dominant 75–38 victory fueled by defensive pressure and balanced offense.  

  It was Malad this time that set the tone early, jumping out to a 25–8 first-quarter lead.  The Dragons were hot on the shot, but the key to their strong performance was their team execution. Threading the passes in just right, finding the open man, and creating openings for their teammates made racking up the points an easy feat for the MHS team. 

In the opening quarter, Malad pounded the paint, Green, Oak Smith, Ruger Smith and others slipped intentionally made passes to their teammates like Toone, Peterson and Nalder under the hoop for easy buckets.   

Their work on the inside allowed for openings on the outside, nicely depicted by senior guard Ky Willie.  Running their offensive sets, Willie perfectly sealed his man on the elbow to set the scene for Dawson Beutler to drain a three he otherwise wouldn’t have been open for.  Likewise, Wilie made the pass down to Nalder at the short corner before setting the screen for Nalder on his scoring drive to the basket.  Their team focused play led to a 48–20 advantage into halftime. 

The Dragons continued to dictate the pace in the third quarter, expanding their lead against Aberdeen 23–9.  Not only was the MHS offense firing on all cylinders but their defense turned out to just be too much for the Tigers.  Playing into the third quarter, Oak Smith easily picked off the dribble of the Abderdeen ball handler, pushing a few dribbles down the court before sending it across to Peterson cutting down the left lane.

Under the basket, Toone used his size to his advantage, blocking the ball in multiple attempted shots, his teammates recovering the loose ball.  Reading the passes, Green interrupted the passing lanes, even jumping to deflect passes meant to be high over his head.  The Dragons keen awareness of the court and their opponents led them to decisive defensive coverage that ultimately held the Tigers to just 38 points, a stark contrast to their 75.

Defensively, Malad limited Aberdeen to 29% shooting from the field and just 14% from three-point range. The MHS team shot 43% overall and converted 71% of its free throws (20-for-28). Turnovers proved decisive, as Malad forced 29 Aberdeen turnovers while committing just 13.  Malad’s defensive effort was highlighted by 18 steals and 4 blocks, while the team shared the ball effectively with 22 assists.

Beutler led Malad with 14 points and 2 blocks. Ruger Smith added 13 points, 7 assists, and 6 steals, while Green and Peterson each scored 11 points. Toone contributed 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks, with Nalder added 7 points and 5 rebounds. 

As the Dragons continue to battle through injury and illness, they have proved that they are still a force to be reckoned with on the court.  Head Coach Zach Beutler commented, “Again we are pleased with where the guys are at and how they are playing. If they continue to tighten things up we will be positioned well in the seeding for the district tournament. Due to injuries the boys have been forced into roles the last several weeks that have required them to grow in ways that have benefited them individually and as a team.”  

The Dragons have just three games before they will start into their post-season play.  As their conference games begin to wind down, the MHS team will take on West Side, hosted by the Pirates on Wednesday, February 4th before traveling to Soda Springs for their second matchup against the Cardinals on Friday.