Malvern streak ends as Hornets split, girls deliver week of thrillers

Winning streaks signify excellence, but they also put a target on the back of the team carrying the streak.

That was the case for the Malvern boys basketball team. The Hornets have ruled the roost in the Inter-Valley Conference North Division for years — in fact, you have to go back to January 2021 to find the last time Malvern lost a division game.

Since then, the Hornets reeled off 63 straight conference wins. And after making it through the first half of the IVC North schedule unscathed, there was reason to believe Malvern could post yet another unbeaten conference season.

On Jan. 16, however, Newcomerstown had other plans, knocking off the Hornets 53-47. The visiting Trojans, who lost at home to Malvern earlier this season, played the Hornets tough. As the first two quarters wound down, the teams were tied, first at 11, then at 25.

The third quarter is when the tide turned. The pace slowed to a crawl, and Malvern could not buy a basket, getting outscored 9-2 as the Trojans entered the fourth quarter up 34-27.

Shooting decided it. The teams were even on the boards and nearly even in turnovers, but Newcomerstown limited Malvern to 35% shooting while making 45% from the floor. The pace picked up in the fourth quarter as the teams combined for 39 points, but Malvern could not erase the deficit.

In the loss, Grady Barkley led all scorers with 20 points, while Luke Thomas and Delonte Simmons added eight apiece. Brennan Mitchell was big on the boards, grabbing nine rebounds for Malvern (9-5, 6-1). Gavin Smith scored 16 points, and Javyn Lafferty added 15 for Newcomerstown (6-8, 4-3).

Three days earlier, the Hornets hosted Tuscarawas Central Catholic in an IVC North matchup, and Malvern delivered a first-quarter knockout, outscoring the Saints 31-6 on the way to a 70-37 win.

Four Hornets scored in double figures. Jaxon Jones posted a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, Thomas added 12 points, and Barkley and Tripp Tucci scored 10 apiece. Dylan Dummermuth led the Saints (2-10, 0-6) with 11 points.

Girls basketball

Nail-biters were the theme for the Malvern girls basketball team.

One cliffhanger is enough. Two in a week is a lot. But three games in a row? That’s what Malvern delivered over the past week, playing in three tight, drama-filled contests back-to-back-to-back.

First up was a nonconference matchup against Lake Center Christian Jan. 12. The host Tigers took a 20-14 lead after the first quarter, but the Hornets owned the second half, outscoring Lake Center Christian 32-21 over the final two quarters for the win.

Whitney Smith scored 20 points to lead Malvern, and Ella Debo added 17. Caroline Shelly scored 20 points to lead the Tigers (7-5), while Lilly Kane finished with 17.

Two days later, Malvern traveled to East Canton for an IVC North battle. Trailing by eight entering the fourth quarter in a low-scoring game, the Hornets’ outlook was grim.

Then Debo and company erupted, outscoring East Canton 17-5 over the final eight minutes for the comeback win. Debo finished with 15 points, and Addy Mitchell scored 10 for Malvern. Chelsea Barnett led East Canton (10-5, 4-3) with 20 points.

With a Jan. 17 home date against Buckeye Trail, Malvern had a chance to make it three straight wins. The Hornets nearly pulled it off, too, before the Warriors closed strong, outscoring Malvern 13-8 in the fourth quarter to claim a 50-48 road win.

Malvern (10-7, 4-5) was led by Mitchell’s 19 points. Debo scored 13 and Smith added 12. Anna McVicker led Buckeye Trail (9-8, 6-3) with 19 points.