The Malad Lady Dragons have entered into their final week of the 2024-2025 season.  Over the 15 weeks, the MHS team has played 23 games, setting a new record of the most wins in a season as well as the most consecutive wins with 22 victories, won the Bulldog Shootout Tournament in Ririe, and won the regular season district title by defeating all the district opponents. 

With their most recent win, the Lady Dragons dominated the 3A 5th District postseason tournament, claiming the “Champion” title for the first time in 15 years for Malad.  To win that title, they first had to take down conference foe, the Soda Springs Cardinals.

Past experience, experience even beyond the current season, had taught the Lady Dragons that this team was going to be a demanding opponent and they better be prepared for the challenge from the very tip off of the game.

Wednesday, February 12, the two teams clashed at the neutral site of West Side High School to decide the district championship.  The tone of the game was set in the first seconds of the game as Malad won the tip off and an aggressive Soda Springs fouled as they attempted to steal the ball.  That aggression, intensity and hustled never waned throughout the game.

The Cardinals were the first to score in the opening quarter, hitting a single free throw early in the game.  Liv Nelson, fouled in Lady Dragon territory after cutting across the key for the block shot, took the lead for Malad as she knocked down both of her bonus shots.  

Kiley Miller next made a three point play for Malad, hitting the field goal off of a rebound kick out from Nelson as well as the bonus foul shot and putting them up 5-1.  Mikell Keetch made it 8-1 after she nailed the left wing three point shot on a quick transition pass from Izzy Haycock.

Soda Springs struggled offensively to keep up, turning the ball over with poor passes, bouncing rushed shots off the rim, and completely finding themselves blocked on a number of shots by the MHS team.  Haycock had two steals turned scores in the first quarter.  Her first was after a well placed tip on a poorly caught pass to cause the loose ball.  Out-hustling the Cardinal players to the ball, Haycock dodged a final defensive effort at half court before taking the ball down for the layup.  Minutes later, Haycock read the Soda Springs offense, coming up from the block to tip the pass intended for the wing.  Finally scooping up the ball at the Dragon three point line, Haycock finished the play with an easy left handed lay in.

The Lady Dragon’s high energy, strong offense and lock down defense ended the first half in the lead 27-15.

Soda Springs came out in the second half with a surge, their offense putting up some quick points while forcing a few errors for the Lady Dragons.  Malad was quick to rally and recover on both ends of the court.  Haycock put up another three pointer followed by a driving score made possible by a screen from Nelson on the block.  Mady Vanbebber added two more as she battled under the basket for a Lady Dragon rebound and putback.  Keetch drew the Cardinal foul and hit a free throw for Malad as drove through the key to the hoop.

Coming off the bench, Paityn Ward helped intensify the MHS momentum on the court in the final minutes of the third quarter.  Dribbling to the corner, Ward passed back out to Keetch at the top of the key.  Drawing the defense to her on a short drive in the key, Keetch connected back with Ward in the corner where she drained the arc shot for three points.  Breaking the Soda Springs full court pressure, Ward hit another three pointer off the assist from Teagan Daniels to put the Lady Dragons up 43-25.  Daniels added one final point to the score before ending the third quarter.  

Taking the first possession of the fourth quarter, Malad scored on the sideline inbounds play as Nelson, finding herself open, put up the three pointer.  Undeterred by the big score from the center and the widening gap on the scoreboard, Soda Springs increased their effort on the court and began to chip away at the Lady Dragon lead.  Their efforts over the final period of the game only brought them within 12 points as the final score read Malad 54, Soda Springs 42.

Celebrating the big win, the 15 Lady Dragons players gathered in a circle chanting, “Not done yet!”  With a new trophy in hand and t-shirts declaring their title as district champs, the Malad team quickly set their sights on one final goal for the season- a state title.

Head Coach Trevor Jones admitted that after a season of 22 wins, a number one ranking for several weeks, and now a district title that “there are a lot of high expectations.”  But he continued, “The cool part is, it’s the girls that want it.  We have seen the girls struggle, but have also seen a lot of growth and development.  They have bought in and worked hard and now we are seeing the results from it.”

As the number one seed of the 3A IHSAA State tournament, the Lady Dragons will first play against North Fremont on Thursday, February 13 at 5 pm.

Malad vs Soda Springs

District Championship Game

February 12, 2025

1 2 3 4 T

Soda Springs  8 7 10 17 42

Malad  14 13 17 10 54

# Name PTS REB AST STL DFL BLK

2 Kiley Miller 5 3 2 0 2 0

4 Teagan Daniels 4 0 1 0 0 0

5 Brynnlee Jones 3 5 1 1 2 2

10 Izzy Haycock 10 6 2 6 3 2

11 Mikell Keetch 10 9 2 1 4 0

12 Paityn Ward 8 5 1 1 0 0

13 Scarlet Hawkes 0 3 1 0 0 0

14 Mady VanBebber 2 6 1 0 1 0

15 Braylin Beutler 0 1 0 0 0 0

24 Liv Nelson 12 11 3 0 0 3

TEAM TOTALS 54 49 14 9 12 7