The Malad High School boys basketball team spent its week on the road, facing conference opponents West Side and Soda Springs. The Dragons split their games, falling to West Side on Thursday, February 5, before rebounding with a strong win at Soda Springs on Saturday.

For years, the Pirates have boasted a strong and competitive program, a challenge the Dragons have faced head-on. Once again, the MHS team was prepared for the task but was unable to overcome West Side’s efficient offense.

The Dragons started strong but trailed 15–9 after the first quarter. The Pirates continued to widen the gap, taking a 38–27 lead into halftime. Malad narrowly won the third quarter 18–17, but it wasn’t enough to erase the deficit from the opening half. The two teams matched each other point for point in the fourth quarter, ending the game with West Side defeating Malad 57–46.

Despite the loss, the night included several positives for the Dragons. Malad shot well from behind the arc and at the free-throw line, knocking down seven three-pointers and converting an impressive 86 percent of its bonus free throws. Dawson Beutler led the offense with 20 points, while Ruger Smith added 13 points and four steals. Easton Green chipped in 11 points, and Braun Nalder contributed nine points and seven rebounds. Oak Smith facilitated the offense with seven assists. Defensively, Malad forced 16 turnovers and recorded 10 steals, showing strong pressure throughout the game.

The previous home loss to Soda Springs left Malad motivated as the Dragons traveled for their second matchup of the season on Saturday, February 7. Having lost the earlier meeting by just nine points, Malad knew a win was within reach.

The Dragons opened the game with intensity, winning the tipoff and scoring just seconds later on a three-pointer by Ruger Smith from the right wing. They extended the early lead with a transition basket, as Smith hustled down the floor and found Easton Green on the block for the score. Smith later added another three-pointer after bringing the ball into Dragon territory.

Malad continued to hustle on both ends of the floor. On defense, Green capitalized on a bobbled pass, diving to the floor to secure the ball before sending it ahead to Justine Toone for a fast-break layup. Green capped the quarter’s scoring with an uncontested three-pointer off a pass from his cousin, Ky Willie.

The Soda Springs offense struggled to gain momentum against Malad’s high-pressure defense. The Dragons contested nearly every pass, shot, and driving lane, limiting the Cardinals’ scoring opportunities.

Braun Nalder opened the second-quarter scoring for Malad with a three-pointer from the deep left corner, connecting on a long outlet pass from Oak Smith following a defensive rebound. The pair connected again moments later as Smith drove into the paint, drew the defense, and kicked the ball out to Nalder for another score.

Offensively, Malad continued to find success both inside and beyond the arc, steadily building its lead while holding Soda Springs in check. The Dragons carried a 29–19 advantage into halftime.

Soda Springs returned with increased intensity in the third quarter, briefly cutting the deficit to a single point. Malad responded by taking a double-digit lead into the final period and securing a 57–46 victory. The Dragons’ defense proved to be the difference, holding the Cardinals to just 31 percent shooting from the field and an ice-cold 2-of-27 from three-point range.

On the offensive end, Malad connected on 11 three-pointers, shooting 46 percent from beyond the arc, and finished with 19 assists on 19 made field goals. Nalder led the Dragons with 13 points and eight rebounds. Green added 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals, while Toone scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds. Smith and Beutler each added nine points, and Oak Smith finished with six rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

Following the weekend split, the Malad coaching staff was pleased with the team’s response. “The boys responded well in practice Thursday and it carried through to the game Friday,” head coach Zack Beutler said. “They came out and played solid defense and shared the ball well on the offensive end.”

The Dragons will close out the regular season with a final home game against West Side on Tuesday, February 10. District postseason tournament play will begin Tuesday, February 17, with the high seed hosting each game.