Malden kicks off year with win over Campbell

MALDEN - The Green Wave rolled Tuesday when the varsity girls basketball team defeated Campbell 50-35.

Malden head coach Ron Riddle, in his debut season at the helm, has guided his squad to a 9-3 record.

"We had a good finish at the Lady Royals Christmas Tournament," Coach Riddle said. "We lost our first game but we won our next three. It was the deepest run they had in the tournament in a lot of years. I'm very impressed with the girls and how hard they worked during that."

Malden started senior Angela Dobbins, senior Sydni Haliburton, junior Mariah Loya, freshman Carsyn Cohen and sophomore Khyrie Mathies.

Campbell head coach Laura Foster, in her sixth year as head coach, said although her team posted a 3-7 record prior to Tuesday's game, she expected a competitive contest.

"We came in fourth out of eight teams in the Charleston Christmas Tournament," Coach Foster noted. "At the Hayti tournament, we won our first game and lost our second. Malden definitely has some different pieces than I've seen in the past. They're always athletic. Always competitive. Malden is always a challenge."

Campbell started Seniors Mabry Patrick and Elyssa Shatz; sophomore Kaitlyn Weidenbenner; and freshmen Addison Schatz and Abby Correa.

Malden's Mariah Loya was first to score with more than seven minutes remaining in the first period. The team scored again before Campbell followed up with a bucket to bring the score to 4-2 Malden.

With 2:57 left in the first, Campbell's Mabry Patrick sank a layup to put the Lady Camels on the board 9-4 Green Wave.

Campbell's Ryann Durham took a ball down court and scored a nice layup, only to be rebounded by Malden, who answered with a goal of its own and the score was 11-6 Green Wave with 2:11 left in the first quarter.

Malden led Campbell 14-7 at the first period buzzer and scored first in the second period.

With 2:10 left in the second period and the score 19-7 Green Wave, Campbell's Patrick sank the second of two free throws and the Camels trailed 19-8.

Malden led at the half 26-11, and entered the final period ahead by 10, 39-29.

The Green Wave's Khyrie Mathies fired a three-point missile and brought the score to 44-32 Malden with 4:43 left to play.

Malden executed teamwork to score a sweet layup with 1:49 left in the game and the score was 50-32, Green Wave.

Campbell's Patrick sank the last goal of the game and the Lady Green Wave rolled over the Lady Camels 50-35.