Manhattan built a 17-point lead heading to the fourth quarter Friday in its season-opening game against Joliet and then withstood a furious rally to hang on for victory in Caleb Bellach’s head coaching debut.

The Tigers notched a 53-50 victory but faded in the second half of an 80-51 loss to Malta Saturday at a tournament in Lewistown.

Bellach noted the team is behind where he’d like them to be due to the football team’s deep postseason run. Most of the players competed in football, which won the State B championship, and had little to no participation in the first week of practice.

“We knew going in we were gonna be behind on reps and things. Got exposed in some of those areas. Once we get all the tools in the toolbox we will get there,” Bellach said. “Overall happy with our effort and proud of the guys. We got better this week.”

Sam Stewart and Blake Bentle scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, Friday in leading Manhattan. The Tigers led 46-29 entering the fourth quarter and then were outscored 21-7 in the frame.

“Played pretty well in the first half. Third quarter we played awesome,” said Bellach. “Didn’t execute quite how we wanted to in the fourth and some costly turnovers. Proud of how the guys handled it though, we celebrate every win.”

Eight Tigers scored in the contest with Tyson Pavlik finishing with eight points and Klay Wivholm seven.

Saturday, Manhattan trailed by one after the first quarter and 33-26 at halftime. But the Mustangs pulled away in the second half led by five players in double figures. Dawson Hammond led all scorers with 17.

“Rough one tonight against Malta,” said Bellach. “Lots of things for us to work on and get better at.”

Pavlik tallied 16 points and Stewart had 10.

The Tigers return to action Dec. 18 hosting Jefferson.

Manhattan began the season with a 67-30 rout of Joliet at the tournament and then lost to Columbus 42-40 on Day 2.

The Tigers were in control from the start Friday, taking a 19-5 lead after the first quarter and 35-10 into halftime. Reece Walter led all scorers with 16 points, while Brynn Grossman and Peyton Gipe had 10 and 9.

“Girls played really well,” second-year Manhattan head coach Ty Heaps said. “We played all 11 that we brought and though we have a ton to clean up, it was good to see them implement our stuff in such a short amount of time. Tomorrow’s game will likely be tougher, but the girls are feeling excited for the challenge.”

Avery Eckert led the charge Saturday, scoring a game-high 22 points. The senior buried six 3’s in the contest — four in the second half — but it wasn’t enough to lift the Tigers to victory.

“Came down to the final seconds,” said Heaps. “We were really turnover happy but our defense was much, much better than last game. Columbus played very tough. If we can keep up the tough D, and clean up the turnovers, I’m really happy with where we’ll be headed.”

Walter finished with eight points and Gipe had five.

Paityn Lethert led Columbus with 12.

Manhattan returns to action Dec. 18 hosting Jefferson.

Joliet                                      13  11   5  21  –  50

Manhattan                           15  12  19   7  –  53

JOLIET (0-2) – J Cook 4 2-2 11, H Bleason 1 0-0 2, C Nquillan 4 0-2 9, C Bushman 4 0-1 11, K Krook 1 1-2 3, G Thompson 0 0-0 0, C Williams 2 1-5 5, B Williams 2 0-0 5, P Koerper 1 2-4 4, C Peterson 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 6-16 50.

MANHATTAN (1-0) – Blake Bentle 3 3-4 11, Matthew Fenno 22-2 7, Brayden Zikmund 0 1-2 1, Ryan Rothie 0 0-0 0, Carsen Owens 0 0-0 0, Sam Stewart 5 2-3 12, Mitchel Thibeault 1 0-0 3, Klay Wivholm, 3 0-0 7, Brady Toner 2 0-0 4, Tyson Pavlik 4 0-0 8. Totals: 15 8-11 53.

3-point goals: 6 (Bushman 3, Cook 1, Nquillan 1, Williams 1), Man 5 (Bentle 2, Fenno 1, Thibeault 1, Wivholm 1).

Manhattan                              18  8  7  18  –  51

Malta                                    19  14  20  27  –  80

MANHATTAN (1-1) – Blake Bentle 2 0-0 5, Matthew Fenno 0 4-6 4, Brayden Zikmund 0 0-0 0, Carson Owens 2 1-2 7, Sam Stewart 4 1-210, Mitchel Thibeault 0 1-4 1, Klay Wivholm 0 0-0 0, Trac Deboer 0 0-0 0, Brady Toner 4 0-0 8, Caleb Fenno 0 0-0 0, Tyson Pavlik 8 0-2 16. Totals: 20 7-16 51.

MALTA (2-0) – Dawson Hammond 7 3-6 17, Tant Anderson 4 1-3 13, Regan Stuart 3 3-4 10, Kruise Stiles 5 2-4 14, Dax Touefson 3 0-0 6, Breven Murray 0 0-0 0, Kade Bleth 0 0-0 0, Kazner Oxarart 4 0-2 11, Hudson Simorg 0 0-0 0. Totals: 28 14-26 80.

3-point goals: Mal 10 (Anderson 4, Oxarart 3, Stiles 2, Stuart 1), Man 4 (Owens 2, Bentle 1, Stewart 1).

Joliet                                       5    5    7   13  –  30

Manhattan                          19  16  15  17  –  67

JOLIET (0-2) – M.E. Dororshak 0 0-2 0, Augusta Hernandez 0 0-0 0, Jade Forsman 7 6-11 24, Harleight Ponnelly 0 0-0 0, McKlarien Golden 1 0-0 3, Aubry Alexander 0 0-0 0, Brooklyn Nelson 2-4 2, Weveah Ruppruet 0 0-0 0, Jillian Sessons 0-2 0, Leah Larson 0 0-0 0, Ellie Peterson 0 1-2 1. Totals: 10 9-20 30.

MANHATTAN (1-0) – Haylee Hamblin 2 0-0 4, Avery Eckert 3 2-2 8, Peyton Gipe 2 5-10 9, Avery Dewitt 2 0-0 4, Ruby Miller 0 2-3 2, Kiera Fleska 0 2-2 2, Kaytriel Heaps 0 0-0 0, Reece Walter 7 2-4 16, Destni Taylor 2 0-0 4, Sophia Boyd 4 0-0 8, Brynn Grossman 4 0-0 10. Totals: 26 13-21 67.

3-point goals: Jol 4 (Forsberg 3, Golden 1), Man 2 (Grossman 2).

Columbus 42, Manhattan 40

Manhattan                               10 9  14  7  –  40

Columbus                                12  9  17  4  –  42

MANHATTAN (1-1) – Peyton Gipe 2 0-4 5, Avery Eckert 8 0-0 22, Reece Walter 4 0-2 8, Ruby Miller 0 1-2 1, Brynn Grossman 1 0-2 2, Haylee Hamblin 0 0-0 0, Avery Dewit 1 0-0 2. Totals: 18 1-10 40.

COLUMBUS (2-0) – Taylor Matovich 3 3-5 9, Makenna Muphy 2 2-4 6, Miya Hamilton 2 2-2 8, Paityn Lethert 2 6-10 12, Emmery Kurtz 1 0-0 3, Gabrielle Olsen 1 1-2 3, Greta Smith 2 0-0 4. Totals: 13 14-23 42.

3-point goals: Man 7 (Eckert 6, Gipe 1), Col 4 (Hamilton 2, Lethart 1, Kurtz 1).