THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 23, 2022 Page 11 Malden boys’ basketball knocks off Everett in 59-46 win Defense is the key for Tornadoes as they improve to 2-1 By Steve Freker E verything on this night seemed different, right from the start. The lights seemed a little brighter. The crowd was a bit larger (and louder). On this night, the home team looked very much like it was on a mission. If this was so, then by the end of the latest chapter of the Malden-Everett Basketball Chronicles, it was the Tornados' turn to trumpet: "Mission Accomplished!" The final was Malden 59, Everett 46 and that just happened to be the largest margin for either team on the evening. Malden used a game-long, rock-solid, man-to-man defense to keep a potent Everett scoring attack bottled up and then capitalized on its own offensive opportunities when they arose. Overall, it was a total team effort, according to Malden head coach Don Nally. "We used a short bench in this one and I have to say that everyone who was on the court for us contributed in a positive way and everyone played well." Topping the list was Malden's starting five. Coach Nally's Tornados picked the right night to get its best games of the season out of senior 6-6 center Jonald Joseph, junior 3-man Ezechial Noelsaint and freshman point guard Ethan Phejarasai. Junior 2-guard Justin Bell, tied for the game's leading scorer with 15 points, with most of his scoring at the free throw line. He was highly effective, scoring just two field goals, both of them, but sinking a deadly 9-of-10 from the free throw line, including a mega-clutch 6-for-6 in fourth quarter crunch time. Senior 6-6 center Jonald Joseph was a force on both ends, especially defensively (4 steals, 7 blocked shots) and also seemingly cemented the win with a thunderous, fourth-quarter dunk that put Malden up 11 points, 49-38, with 3:21 to go in the game. He ended up with six points on the night. Junior 6-4 forward Zeke NoFALLAWAY JUMPER— Malden High junior forward Zeke Noelsaint scored 15 points including two points here with s fallaway jumper against Everett's Ruiz (32) and Desouza (2).(Advocate Photos/Henry Huang) SPLITTING THE DIFFERENCE— Malden High's Justin Bell (14) puts up a shot between Everett's Ruiz (32) and Nunes (21) in Tuesday's game. elsaint had his best game in a Malden uniform, according to Coach Nally. "For most of the night, Zeke (Noelsaint) was the best player on the court, that's how active and much of time, dominant he was." Noelsaint also scored 15 points for Malden and pulled down 11 rebounds. He also had four blocked shots. Nally also said that he went out of the box and instead of putting a guard as a defender against Everett's best player and scorer, junior Steven Cordero, he had the 6-4 Noelsaint switch off with 6-6 Joseph to cover the 5-11 Cordero. Cordero, who scored 22 and 25 in Everett's first two games, was held to 12 points Tuesday night. If you ran into freshman MALDEN'S JOSEPH DUNKS—Malden High's 6-6 senior center Jonald Joseph (21) throws down a thunderous, fourth-quarter dunk to send his teammates Ransley Saint-Jean (23) and Ethan Phejarasai (10) celebrating against Everett Tuesday night. point guard Ethan Phejarasai the morning after the game and he seemed a bit worn out, there was good reason. For one of the few times —maybe the only time— in Nally's 18 years at the Malden basketball team, Phejarasai played all 32 minutes. He never came out. "I couldn't take him out. He (Phejarasai) was keeping up BASKETBALL | SEE PAGE 19 MALDEN HEAD COACHTornado head coach Don Nally surveys the scene Tuesday. MALDEN GUARD LOOKS FOR AN OPENING— Malden High senior Justin Bell (14) looks for an opening against the Everett defense. FRESHMAN DRIVES — Malden High freshman point guard Ethan Phejarasai (10) drives down court against Everett's Steven Cordero (23). SENIOR CARRON HANDLES— Malden High senior Peyton Carron (11) dribbles against Everett defense Tuesday.
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