Malvern surges into district semifinals behind dominant wins

These are uncertain times we live in. Sometimes, it can be nerve-wracking just glancing at your phone or laptop screen to check the latest news.

That’s why it’s so refreshing that Malvern’s basketball squad is one constant when everything else is so topsy-turvy. They may not have won the Inter-Valley Conference North Division for the first time in years this season, but don’t tell the Hornets that, because they don’t care.

It’s tournament time, and Malvern is out on the floor producing results. Case in point: The Hornets, the No. 4 seed in the Division VII East 1 District, have blown through their first two opponents. First, they defeated ninth-seeded Tuscarawas Central Catholic, 67-40, Feb. 24. Then three days later, Malvern looked even more dominant in a 71-38 beatdown of sixth-seeded Steubenville Catholic Central.

Now, the Hornets have a date with IVC rival Strasburg-Franklin. Win that, and Malvern writes its ticket to yet another district championship showdown, most likely against top-seeded New Matamoras Frontier.

Against the Saints, 4-19, Malvern broke the game wide open early, eventually taking a 42-15 lead into the halftime break. Jaxon Jones was the main man as he came away from the game with a double-double after scoring a team-high 16 points to go with 10 rebounds. Grady Barkley added 12 points, while Tripp Tucci contributed nine points.

On Feb. 27, Malvern played its last home game with longtime coach Dennis Tucci at the helm in an East 1 District sectional final, and the Hornets delivered a rousing win over the Crusaders. Again, Malvern played nearly perfect ball during an explosive first half, turning a 21-9 first-quarter advantage into a 47-20 halftime cushion before calling off the dogs and coasting to the 71-38 win.

Barkley led all scorers with 20 points, while junior Vidan Arsic added 11 points. Jones nearly pulled off consecutive double-doubles after scoring 10 points and leading Malvern, 15-9, with eight rebounds. Kolbe Krupp paced Steubenville Catholic, 9-14, with 13 points.

Wrestling

The Hornets competed in the Division III Sandy Valley sectional tournament Feb. 28 and finished with 49.0 points, good for 13th place. Malvern was not expected to contend for team honors with its small contingent; still, the Hornets sent two wrestlers through to the Division III East District tournament, hosted by Coshocton High School March 6-7.

In order by weight, the first Hornet to advance was freshman Parker Babiczuk at 106 pounds. Babiczuk, 20-16, lost his final match to Coshocton’s Wyatt Paisley but still had his ticket punched to districts by virtue of his fourth-place finish.

At 113 pounds, another freshman, Bowen Irwin, 36-8, claimed third place after posting a 7-3 decision over Fairless’ Jack Bucher.