BCT 2023: Green Wave swarms Dexter in rout, now faces top-seed Puxico

BLOOMFIELD – A lot can change in 26 days, and the Malden High School boys basketball squad proved that on Wednesday.

Earlier this season, the Green Wave were dominated on the glass and could not contain Dexter offensively in their 63-55 home loss to the Bearcats.

In Wednesday’s quarterfinal match-up with Dexter in the Bloomfield Christmas Tournament, Malden absolutely obliterated the Bearcats in every conceivable fashion, as it won going away 80-27.

It was the largest margin of defeat for a Dexter team in at least 15 seasons.

“Anytime that you shoot 2 for 27 from 3-point range,” third-year Green Wave coach Mike Kilgore said following the rout, “you can’t beat a drum.

“We knew that we had the better players, but (Dexter) proved that they were the better team earlier this month.”

That wasn’t the case – at all – on Wednesday.

Malden (7-2) raced out to a 24-5 first-quarter lead, as Trey Miller (six free throw attempts) and Quamereous Farmer (eight points) were unguardable in the initial period.

That positive momentum never ceased.

Malden led 45-14 at halftime and 62-25 entering the final period.

The Green Wave allowed just two Bearcat baskets in the opening period and one in the final quarter.

“I’ve just got hungry and dedicated players,” Kilgore said. “This is nothing that I am doing. It is all of my guys.”

We’ll need to tap the brakes on that bit of modesty.

In the earlier match-up, Dexter pounded the glass against the longer, more athletic Malden players. On Wednesday, the opposite occurred.

“We’ve been running in practice when we don’t rebound,” Kilgore explained.

The Malden pressure defense never relented against Dexter, and its balanced offense sent a message to its remaining foes, not just in this tournament, but for this season.

The Green Wave are an overtime loss (against Risco) and a poor performance (against Dexter) away from being unbeaten this season.

“All of our boys have bought in,” Kilgore said, “and you are seeing the outcome.”

The Green Wave were led by Miller’s 23 points, as the senior guard buried six 3-pointers and nailed 5 of his 6 free throw attempts.

Malden junior Tylyne Mathies had 14 points while senior guard Payton Woodard (13 points), Farmer (12 points), and sophomore pos Tahjai Smith (11 points) also contributed.

Malden sank 10 3-pointers total.

Dexter (2-6) got 10 points from senior center Ethan Zabelin and nine from freshman forward Hunter Massey.

The Bearcats will play Richland (Essex) (6-3) in a semifinal of the 5th-place bracket today at 4 p.m.

Dexter beat the Rebels 65-59 earlier this month at the Bearcat Event Center.

The Green Wave will play top-seed Puxico (9-0), which beat Richland (Essex) 85-71, at 7 p.m. today in a tourney semifinal.

“I have nothing but respect for Puxico and what they are doing,” Kilgore said. “At the end of the day, every team here is going to have to go out and play (good) basketball, so that is what we have to do.”