Salem: After his team's 2-0 start, Coach Nally was anxious to see his team take the next step in its progression.  Lynn Classical represented just such a challenge.  Following his team's 67-60 win over Classical at Salem State College on Saturday, consider the challenge met.  Led by Rakeem 'Skip' Langston's career high 27 points, the Tornadoes led from start to finish en route to its' 3rd straight victory, impressing their coach along the way.

"This was a big win for us." Nally said as his team departed Salem.  "We started off with two wins but I thought this team represented the next step up for us.  They have a lot of good athletes, a good coach and their top scorer from last year's tournament team and we met the challenge.  I thought it was a complete win for our squad."

Malden jumped out early behind Langston and led by ten points after one quarter.  As if the challenge wasn't difficult enough, the team would lose its captain, starting forward Isaac Bethea, to an ankle injury early in the second quarter.  No problem, junior center Darren Pierre would step up, particularly on the defensive end.  Pierre, a newcomer to the varsity after playing only sparingly on the JV squad last year, is the poster boy for this team's new 'next man up' mantra.  Pierre talked his way onto the team's summer league squad, lived in the gym and has earned his way to the starting center position for the inexperienced Tornadoes.  He rewarded the coaching staff's faith in him on Saturday by collecting a game high 17 rebounds to go along with 10 points and 7 blocked shots.

"Darren was outstanding out there today." Nally gushed.  "Here is a kid who couldn't get off the bench last year as a sophomore on the JV squad because he was so new to the game.  He has worked so hard this summer and now, I honestly believe the sky is the limit for this kid.  His best basketball is ahead of him."

With a new attitude and fresh new faces, the Tornadoes' best basketball may be ahead of them as well.  The team returns to action Tuesday night to take on a tough Tewksbury squad in Malden.  Game time is 7pm.