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Former Arlee stars seeing time on the collegiate hardword

by John Heglie Special For Leader
| January 2, 2020 11:25 AM

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TANNER

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MALATARE

The success of the Arlee basketball program over the past handful of seasons has spilled over into the collegiate ranks with the placement of several former Mission Valley area prep players contributing minutes on the floor with a handful of teams.

State C Tournament 2018 MVP Phil Malatare and 2017 MVP Tyler Tanner have been showcasing their basketball wares with the Northern Idaho College Cardinals. Tanner was an instrumental component of the Arlee Warriors’ first state title, while Malatare was a part of the second as well. Tanner initially attended Dawson Community College in Glendive before transferring to Idaho.

Malatare has seen more extensive minutes on the hardcourt, culminating the end of last year with a seasonal triple-triple of points, rebounds and assists. His per game averages are currently on pace to do likewise this season as well.

Three other Warrior graduates contributed to the roster of the United Tribes Technical College Thunderbirds, a NAIA D2 program in Bismarck, North Dakota. The trio of Will Mesteth, Lane Johnson and Greg Whitesell have all seen action over the course of the season, chiefly in reserve rolls. Collectively, the trio have scored over 140 points while reeling in more than five dozen rebounds.

Thus far, Whitesell has shown the keenest eye from beyond the arc for 3-pointers, a 50th percentile sharpshooter at the time of the winter break. Mesteth played a stint for the Salish Kootenai College Bison last season before transferring and was the figurative third head of the renowned three-headed monster of Arlee’s first championship.

All three are at the inception of their freshman seasons, so their collegiate careers are still in the early stages of development.

Shifting focus over to women’s basketball, Arlee Scarlet graduate Alyssia Vanderburg now competes at the collegiate level for the Rocky Mountain College Lady Battlin Bears. Thus far, Vanderburg has seen limited action during the early portion of the season prior to the winter break.

As Vanderburg adapts to the more uptempo style and pacing of the collegiate game, it is anticipated that her minutes on the floor will increase.

Phil Malatare, NIC (2019-20) – 10g: 114p (3FG 6-11, 2FG 37-79, FT 22-26), 55r, 53a, 18s, 1b

Phil Malatare, NIC (2018-19) – 32g: 258p (3FG 14-35, 2FG 91-181, FT 34-48), 134r, 105a, 58s,

Tyler Tanner, NIC (2019-20) – 10g: 19p (3FG 3-7, 2FG 3-9, FT 4-10), 4r, 8a, 9s

Tyler Tanner, DCC (2017-18) – 25g: 77p (3FG 17-38, 2FG 7-29, FT 12-20), 28r, 22a, 11s

NAIA D2 (8-5)

Greg Whitesell, UTTC – 8g: 56p (3FG 14-28, 2FG 7-14, FT 0-0), 16r, 3a, 4s

Lane Johnson, UTTC – 12g: 59p (3FG 3-14, 2FG 19-40, FT 12-16), 34r, 3a, 6s

Will Mesteth, UTTC – 10g: 26p (3FG 5-17, 2FG 5-10, FT 1-2), 12r, 7a

Alyssia Vanderburg, RMC – 6g: 12p (3FG 1-3, 2FG 3-15, FT 3-4), 16r, 1a