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Subscribe to our NewsletterClassical Pulls Away From Tornadoes, 64-55.
Salem: After a sluggish first half, Malden High School still found themselves up by two points, 31-29, heading into the game's final 16 minutes. Unfortunately for Malden, the same problems that plagued them throughout the first half continued into the second half in route to the team's first loss of the season, 64-55 to Lynn Classical as part of the College Classic played at Salem State College. The loss drops the Tornadoes to 2-1 on the season heading into Wednesday night's tough test at Tewksbury.
"We didn't have the intensity that we played with in the first two games." Coach Don Nally said after the loss. "In our first two games, whenever we trailed, we rallied back but tonight, we were unable to match Classical's intensity and that did us in."
Classical spent much of the night at the foul line, shooting 30 free throws as they continued to penetrate the Tornadoes' zone defense. The strategy kept the game close in the first half as Classical was able to offset their poor shooting with frequent trips to the foul line. The result was Malden playing without three of their five starters for much of the second quarter due to foul trouble. Sophomore forward Isaiah Likely scored 9 of his career high 11 points in the first half off the bench. Senior guard Mark Rogers scored 14 of his team high 15 points in the first half as well. The extra minutes proved costly to the pair as they scored just 3 points combined in the second half.
A 7-0 run to start the 4th quarter did in the Tornadoes. Malden never got closer to four points the rest of the way as they were unable to get any consistency at the offensive end. Classical drilled six second half 3 point field goals, pulling the Tornadoes out of their zone defense and sealing the deal in an otherwise tightly contested contest. Malden hopes to return to the win column with a tough match-up at highly touted Tewksbury this Wednesday night. Game time is set for 7pm.
