MALDEN — With excessive expectations comes added strain.
Regardless of having a goal on its again this winter, Malden Catholic’s boys basketball squad has lived as much as its billing.
Sophomore guard Dhewa Tenzin turned in a terrific efficiency off the bench with 16 factors Tuesday, whereas senior guard Duke Cherry dropped 11 factors to go along with 5 assists because the Lancers coasted to a powerful 78-46 rout of Catholic Convention rival Xaverian at house.
“We knew we needed to be on protection, and stick with our man,” Cherry mentioned. “As a result of they’ve good shooters. They run offense nicely, they’re basic crew. We knew if we talked to one another on protection, we may play with vitality and win the sport.”
With spectators like Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla in the home, the Lancers (8-0) began off sluggish, as Xaverian (1-4) opened the sport with a fast 5-0 run. Nevertheless, it didn’t take lengthy for Malden Catholic to warmth up from the sphere. Cherry tallied 5 factors within the opening stanza, drilling a last-second three-pointer because the Lancers closed the body with a 13-7 lead.
“We simply stored defending,” mentioned Malden Catholic coach Mark Garrity. “We gave up an open three to considered one of their good shooters early on, and we went over how we needed to defend them. After that, I assumed the blokes did job. Duke’s a very good ballhandler, Dhewa Tenzin actually got here alongside, he performed very well at this time. However after that, we wanted guys to get out in transition after good protection. Defensively, we performed actual nicely.”
The Lancers had been simply getting began. Chery continued to mild issues up offensively, whereas fellow star Aboubakar Nimaka joined within the cost. The senior ahead added six factors within the second quarter, throwing house a slam dunk to assist key a 22-4 run because the Lancers watched their lead balloon to 35-11 at intermission.
Nimaka was compelled to depart the sport after injuring his lip throughout a sequence simply earlier than the break, however his teammates stepped up in his absence. As soon as the third quarter started, Tenzin determined it was his alternative to shine. The sophomore erupted for 14 factors within the body, burying a pair of threes as Malden Catholic pulled away for good. By the point the fourth and closing stanza rolled round, the Lancers had been in cruise management with a 32-point lead at 58-26.
“I feel the important thing was popping out quick,” mentioned Tenzin. “Second half, we began out sluggish, however then we picked it up across the center of the third quarter. We went on a 10-0 run, or one thing like that.”
It was a whole crew effort for Malden Catholic. Along with Tenzin’s and Cherry’s performances, Cole Tucker added 9 factors and 7 rebounds for the Lancers. Ruben Rivera tallied eight factors, whereas Nimaka completed with eight factors throughout his shortened outing.
After leaving the sport, Garrity informed reporters that Nimaka would wish stitches for his damage, however is predicted to be high-quality. Sitting atop the Boston Herald’s rankings with an ideal file, Malden Catholic now enters the thick of its Catholic Convention slate. The Lancers will face St. John’s (Shrewsbury) subsequent on Jan. 9, earlier than taking over St. John’s Prep on Jan. 13. Then they may face a perennial check once they problem BC Excessive on Jan. 16.
Regardless of shifting as much as Div. 1, it nonetheless feels just like the Lancers might be the crew to beat.
“We’ve been within the Catholic Convention the entire time,” Garrity mentioned. “They’re all Div. 1 groups, and our nonleague schedule’s at all times about the identical. Clearly, as soon as the event comes round, Div. 1 is far deeper. However we’ll fear about that after we get there, hopefully.”
