Tide girls’ basketball continues to display positive signs amid three more close losses

Everett hits the road for Lynn, Somerville next week looking for wins to get back into postseason contention

By Joe McConnell

It was another week of close games for the Everett High School girls’ basketball team (2-7). The Tide girls lost to visiting Malden, 40-38 last Thursday, Jan. 11, after they dropped a heartbreaking 46-45 decision to Medford two nights earlier.

“It was a high intensity, high energy game throughout all four quarters,” said coach Riley Dunn after the Malden game. “There was really great energy on the team. Unfortunately, we didn’t end up on top.”

But there were still many highlights coming from the Everett girls to keep things close. Emilia Maria Babcock accounted for 11 points and five reboards, while also being everywhere on defense to come up with five steals.

Malaica Guillaume was a force on the boards, and as a result she ended up with her second double / double this season, which amounted to 14 points and 12 rebounds to go along with three steals and two blocks.

There was no rest for the weary, because Dunn’s crew was right back on the Everett court the next night to face non-league Lowell, where the visitors upended them, 52-39.

“It was another tough loss for us, even though we came out strong and stayed with Lowell throughout most of the game,” Dunn said. “We had a solid defensive effort to go along with great contributions on offense. We are definitely growing as a team, and it is starting to show on the court.”

Babcock was credited with an impressive stat line against Lowell to snag her first double / double this season. She ended up with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while also coming up with four assists and three steals.

Guillaume chipped in with six points, six rebounds, two assists and two steals.

The Everett girls have since been getting ready for games against Chelsea (Jan. 17) and Lynn Classical (Jan. 18) after press deadline, before heading to Lynn English to take on the Bulldogs Tuesday night, Jan. 23, at 5:30 p.m. They will then travel to Somerville to face the Highlanders two nights later (Jan. 25, 6 p.m.).