Somerville Girls Basketball Team tops Malden, 50-42

Tornados play even for three quarters with unbeaten (3-0) Highlanders

By Steve Freker

Malden High Girls Basketball lost the “Battle of the Boards” and ultimately, that was the game. The home team’s offense also disappeared in the fourth quarter, never to be found again. Playing even with Somerville for three quarters, the fourth quarter was the clincher in this one.

Visiting Somerville used a monster game by forward Ava Martin, who led all scorers with 25 points — many of them off offensive rebounds — to lead the Highlanders to a 50-42 win over Malden at the Golden Tornados’ Finn Gym on Thursday, Dec. 18. Martin added 10 rebounds while teammate Reagan Antonelli added 10 points for Somerville, which soared to an unbeaten, 3-0 record (3-0 overall and GBL) and sole possession of first place in the Greater Boston League.

Malden evened off at 1-1 overall (1-1 GBL) after an impressive season-opening win over Everett earlier last week.

Malden was led by junior captain Manicha Exilhomme, who scored 13 points. Maddie Cook added 10 points. Mirka Kovacevic-Marinkovic added 9 points, hitting a trip of 3-pointers.

Malden got off to a promising start, leading 14-13 after the first period, buoyed by a pair of “threes” from Cook. It stayed “All Malden” through the end of the first half with Malden leading, 24-20. The Tornado defense was especially solid, limiting Somerville to just 7 second-quarter points.

Again, it was all even in the third quarter, as Malden maintained its 4-point lead at 37-33, led by some scoring from Exilhomme. Unfortunately for Malden, the proverbial lid went on the basket for them while Somerville outscored Malden, 17-5. Martin took over for the visitors and was virtually unstoppable, scoring 8 of her 25 points.

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Two games before Christmas for Tornado Girls

Malden was back in action in the early part of the week, hosting Northeast Regional in a non-league game on Monday, December 21, at 6:00 p.m. Head Coach Scott Marino’s girls were on the road on Tuesday, December 22, against Chelsea, a Greater Boston League rival, at 6:00 p.m.