The Harlem Lady Cats have shown their experience at times and their youth at other time in their first three games this season. This past week the Lady Cats were back home playing in front of their loyal fans for the first time.

Friday night the Lady Cats did battle with their nemesis from the east when they welcomed the Malta M-ettes to town in the District 2B opener for both teams. The M-ettes controlled the game start to finish defeating the Lady Cats 61-36. Saturday the Lady Cats regrouped and laced up their running shoes. Harlem scored early and often with nearly half the teams points coming from senior Taya Trottier in a 80-40 drubbing of the Poplar Indians.

Friday against the M-ettes the Lady Cats struggled to get anything going offensively scoring just five first quarter points. The defense limited the M-ettes to just 14 in the first quarter, but their depth began to wear on Harlem as the game went on.

Harlem scored eleven first half points with senior Chloe Messerly accounting for four and sophomore Emma Billmayer three. Malta led 35-11 at the intermission and never looked back.

Messerly scored eight third quarter points while Trottier and senior Vanise Little connected from distance. Malta took a 48-25 lead into the fourth and secured a 61-36 win by games end. Messerly finished with 13 in the contest while Trottier tallied 11 for the Lady Cats.

Saturday the Lady Cats had no problem getting the offense started and Trottier played a huge roll in making that happen. Trottier showed why she is college bound, scoring 19 points on eight field goals and a perfect three for three from the charity stripe in the opening eight minutes. Trottiers heroics led to a 28-12 lead at the start of the second quarter.

The Lady Cats got six more points before the half from Trottier as the offense continued to function at a high level. Freshman Raelynne Briere scored four as did Little, junior Ma'Lea Moore got in on the action as well, sending the Lady Cats to halftime with a commanding 46-18 advantage.

The power house scoring continued in the third quarter for the Lady Cats. Trottier continued her stellar effort form the field, adding 12 more to her point total. Messerly controlled the paint on both ends of the court and connected five times inside the paint for 10 points. Harlem put 27 points on the board in the third quarter giving the Lady Cats a 73-28 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Harlem took their foot off the gas down the stretch, scoring just seven while securing a lopsided 80-40 win to even their conference record at 1-1.

Trottier scored 38 in the contest on 15 field goals and connecting on eight of nine from the charity stripe. Messerly finished the game 14 points, twelve of which came in the second half. Little added nine markers and Billmayer eight in the win.

The Lady Cats finished up 2021 earlier this week with a non conference clash against the District 2B Rocky Boy Morning Stars, full results will be in next weeks Blaine County Journal. The Lady Cats will return to the court in the new year on January 7 when they will welcome the District 9C Chinook Sugarbeeters to town. The Lady Cats will then step back into District 2B play when they head east to play in Wolf Point the following day.