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Tornados unable to hold the fort in home loss versus Everett
By Steve Freker
It has been a long season for Malden High Boys Basketball, which closes out 2024-2025 with its first-ever appearance in the Jake and Joe’s Classic Tournament, which will be held Monday and Tuesday, February 17-18 at Waltham High School. Four teams are set to compete in the annual Holiday Tournament, with first-round action in a semifinal format set for Monday, February 17, Presidents’ Day.
Malden comes into the tournament at 1-17 overall, hoping to finish with some late-season success with its young Tornado roster, featuring a pair of freshman starters for Head Coach Don Nally, who is in his 20th season at the helm, one of the longest-serving coaches in Tornado history. “We know what our record is, but there are still some positives this season, the main one being that our kids have never stopped working and competing,” Coach Nally said. “We have one of the youngest teams I have ever coached and this is the first time two freshmen players were regular starters – Jason Minervini and [Shawn Sekamwa].”
“Our best player has been our 6-4 center Kaua Fernandes Dias, who is a junior in just third year ever playing basketball,” Nally added. “He has improved so much in just one season and we are very happy with how he’s come along.”
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First round matchups in Jake & Joe’s Classic 2025
Malden (1-17) will play Acton-Boxborough (7-10) on Monday, February 17 at 5:00 p.m. Host Waltham (8-10) will play Framingham (2-13) in the nightcap at 7:00 p.m. The Consolation Game will be played on Tuesday, February 17 at 5:00 p.m. and the Championship Game at 7:00 p.m.
The new Waltham High School is located at 554 Lexington St., Waltham, Mass., across the street from the former Waltham High complex. Admission to the tournament is $7:00 for adults and $5.00 for students.
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Final regular season game for Malden is set for February 20
Malden will close out its season on Thursday, February 20 at Brooke Charter High School, 200 American Legion Highway, Boston at 6:00 p.m. This is a rescheduling of a game originally set for last night, February 13. Brooke is now at 7-6 overall, in its first year of varsity competition.
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Everett High Boys Basketball swept season series with 70-45 win over Malden
Despite the records, Malden versus Everett remains a hotly contested rivalry and it was no different in a recent Tornado-Tide matchup at Malden’s Finn Gym. Malden fought hard in the first half and actually held a lead briefly in the first quarter, up 12-9, before the Tide went on a 12-0 run to end that quarter to lead 21-12. The Crimson Tide rolled in the second quarter, leading Malden, 39-22, at halftime. Everett’s depth wore out the home team in the second half on the way to a one-sided win and a season sweep.
