Malden Girls Basketball rolls past Everett in big GBL home win

Tornados lean on senior leaders Tolete (15 pts., 5 ‘threes’) and Ebenezer (14 pts.) in 44-28 victory

 

By Steve Freker

 

It is talked about at every practice and during every game. “Who is going to be the leader?” the coach will ask. “Who’s going to step up?”

On Thursday night, Jan. 16, Malden got that answer from its two senior captains: forward Amanda Ebenezer and guard Ina Tolete. Malden Head Coach Scott Marino saw the veteran pair combine for 29 points and lots of rebounds on both ends of the court in a well-earned, 44-28 win over visiting Everett at Roy Finn Gym at Malden High. The win lifted Malden to 5-4 overall and 5-2 in Greater Boston League (GBL) play, not to mention a dominating win over a league archrival in Everett.

“We needed an effort like that from these senior leaders,” Coach Marino said. “We are still a primarily young team out there and it was a good night combined from Amanda [Ebenezer] and Ina [Tolete]. They both played very well.”

Ebenezer used her size (6-0) and skill to score in close and away from the basket to lead all scorers with 15 points. She also added 14 rebounds and four blocked shots on the night.

Tolete was basically the “Queen of Three-Point Land” on this night, hitting on a career single-game high of five three-pointers (five-of-10 from deep) for a game-high 15 points. All of Tolete’s points came on “threes.” “When [Tolete] gets hot, she is hard to stop,” Coach Marino said.

Malden went out to an early 10-4 lead after the first quarter with Tolete (two “threes”) and Ebenezer scoring all of Malden’s points. Everett got a scoring burst in the second quarter, matching Malden’s 13 points to trail at halftime, 23-17. For the rest of the way, however, it was all home team as Malden used some more hot shooting by Tolete outside and Ebenezer inside to go ahead 36-23 after three quarters.

Malden ramped up the defense in the second half as well, led by sophomore Manicha Exilhomme and the Rodriques twins, Olivia and Sophia. Malden limited Everett to just five fourth-quarter points to seal the deal.

***

Malden falls to first-place Lynn Classical in GBL showdown

The Malden Girls Basketball Team took a step backward in a loss to GBL first-place holder Lynn Classical on Tuesday night. Malden held even with the visiting Rams at Finn Gym Tuesday night, but then saw Classical race away and never look back with an overpowering, 22-6 run in the third quarter. A 33-27 deficit at halftime turned into a 55-33 lead after three quarters and an eventual 61-39 loss for Malden.

The loss concluded a 5-6 start just under the .500 mark at the season’s halfway point. Malden is 5-4 in the GBL.

Next up for Malden was last night’s home game with Lynn English, after Advocate press time. The Malden girls have only one game next week: a road trip to next-door Medford High on Tuesday, January 28 at 6:00 p.m.

MALDEN HIGH SPORTS SCHEDULE

 

Friday, January 24

No Events Scheduled

 

Saturday, January 25

10:00 a.m.: Varsity Boys Wrestling at Latin Academy, Boston.

10:00 a.m.: Freshman Boys Basketball vs. Revere, Finn Gym, Malden.

11:30 a.m.: JV Boys Basketball vs. Revere, Finn Gym, Malden.

1:00 p.m.: Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Revere, Finn Gym, Malden.

6:30 p.m.: Varsity Malden/Everett Co-op Boys Hockey vs. Medford, Everett Allied Veterans Rink.

Sunday, January 26

No Events

 

Monday, January 27

4:00 p.m.: Middle School Girls Basketball at Chelsea.

4:00 p.m.: Middle School Boys Basketball at Chelsea.

4:00 p.m.: Varsity Malden/Everett Co-op Boys Hockey vs. St. Bernard’s, Everett Allied Veterans Rink.

7:30 p.m.: Varsity Boys Indoor Track vs. Medford High & Lynn English, Reggie Lewis Center, Boston.

7:30 p.m.: Varsity Girls Indoor Track vs. Medford High & Lynn English, Reggie Lewis Center, Boston.

 

Tuesday, January 28

4:00 p.m.: Freshman Boys Basketball vs. Lynn English.

4:30 p.m.: Varsity Coed Swimming at Revere, Garfield School.

4:00 p.m.: Freshman Boys Basketball at Everett.

4:30/6:00 Junior Varsity and Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Lynn English, Finn Gym, Malden.

4:30/6:00 p.m.: Junior Varsity and Varsity Girls Basketball at Chelsea High School.

5:15 p.m.: Freshman Girls Basketball at Arlington.

 

Wednesday, January 29

No Events

 

Thursday, January 30

4:00 p.m.: Freshman Boys Basketball vs. Everett, Ferryway School, Malden.

4:30 p.m.: Junior Varsity Boys Basketball, Finn Gym, Malden.

6:00 p.m.: Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Everett, Finn Gym, Malden.

 

Friday, January 31

No Events

 

Saturday, February 1

No Events

 

Sunday, February 2

No Events

 

Monday, February 3

4:00 p.m.: Freshman Boys Basketball vs. Marblehead, Ferryway School, Malden.

4:30 p.m.: JV Boys Basketball vs. Marblehead, Finn Gym, Malden.

6:00 p.m.: Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Marblehead.