Malden offense proves too much for Campbell in 85-56 win

MALDEN - The Green Wave varsity boy’s basketball team plowed under the Campbell Camels Friday by nearly 30 points, 85-56.

A Malden team hungry for a win showed up at home and reminded the crowd how the Green Wave rolls.

Malden Head Coach Mike Kilgore told the Delta Dunklin Democrat the stunning demise of the Camels’ game was a “much-needed” victory.

“Last time here at home we didn’t shoot the ball too good,” Kilgore said. “We really needed to see it go through the hole.”

Campbell Head Coach Steve Fowler said he expected a tough night on the road.

“Malden is an aggressive, athletic team,” Coach Fowler explained. “They have everything they need.

“We’re gonna have our hands full,” Fowler continued. “We’ll have to come out and play well. I told my guys we’re just gonna have to compete at a high level, play as hard as we can and do a good job on the glass. Our major goal for the season is to improve constantly and be a better team than we are now.”

That’s a reasonable objective for Campbell, and one from which the team will benefit under Fowler’s guidance.

From the opening seconds of the first period, Malden’s offense established its game by firing a three-point projectile from the corner to draw first blood.

And both Malden’s Quamareous Farmer and Miguel Redfoot displayed beautifully athletic defensive maneuvers, blocking shot after Campbell shot.

Farmer went on the offensive and dropped three from the corner with 4:54 left in the first period, extending the Green Wave lead by nine, 11-2.

Campbell soon after countered with a half-court pass that resulted in a goal and a score of 16-4 with 3:19 left in the first.

Malden’s defense was rock solid and its offense fired on all cylinders throughout the first period, which ended with the Green Wave besting the Camels 24-9.

Farmer pulled the trigger immediately to open the second half with a trip-banger from the corner, only to be answered by a Camels goal, which brought the score to 27-11 with 7:01 left on the timer.

At the half it was Malden’s game, up by eight buckets, 43-27.

“Campbell is a conference opponent,” Coach Kilgore emphasized. “We lost our home opener to Dexter by eight. “We shot two for 27 from the three-point line. We won’t beat nobody shooting like that.”

So Coach Kilgore went to work encouraging his team last week and working the three most important hoop steps, defense, defense and defense.

“We’re always gonna play defense,” Kilgore said. “We gotta rebound and run.

“It’s been our Achilles heel, our downfall when we don’t,” he added. “No matter who we play.”

Malden’s offense was as impressive as its defense in the third period and Coach Kilgore turned loose center Marcus Burton. The lanky senior dunked two consecutive shots that roused the crowd to its feet with 5:32 left in the third.

Burton drew a foul and sank a free throw that brought the score to 52-31 Malden.

The third period ended with Malden rolling over Campbell and leading the Camels by 33 points, 66-33.

Malden went on to dominate the game completely, leading Campbell 79-52 with 2:35 remaining in the game and bringing it home 85-56 at the final buzzer.

The Green Wave takes on the Clarkton Reindeer JV team at 7 p.m. Monday at Clarkton’s Christmas Tournament, Coach Kilgore said.

“It’s not the game that I wanted,” Coach Kilgore emphasized. “Our opponents are playing much better competition than JV.

“It’s just unfortunate that we have to play a JV team,” he added. “We’ll take it and continue grinding.”