Mitchell, Malvern girls race by Toronto to win hoops opener

What a difference a year makes.

Last year, in a February matchup, the Malvern girls’ basketball team eked out a 50-45 win over Toronto. Fast forward nine-plus months and it wasn’t even close as the Hornets rolled to a 54-20 blowout of the Red Knights in a Nov. 22 nonconference matchup.

Malvern raced out to a 13-3 lead by the end of the first quarter and the Hornets kept their foot on the gas in the second as they took a 31-8 advantage into the locker rooms at halftime.

Addy Mitchell scored 16 points, including the game’s only two three-pointers, to lead all scorers, while Ella Debo added 13. Three players – Avery Sprague, Whitney Smith, and Aniya Long – scored six points apiece.

A week later, the Hornets entertained Ridgewood from the Inter-Valley Conference Southern Division. The same as with Toronto, Malvern played the Generals last year as well. The difference from last season was even more telling this time around. True, Ridgewood hung on in overtime to defeat the Hornets 51-49. But just compare that to the thumping Malvern received last year to the tune of 59-31.

Hornets coach Natalie Sarbaugh and her players won’t be satisfied with just improving; understandably, they want the wins. But this team will get plenty of those.

Debo only had two baskets, but she had ice water running through her veins as she sank 11 of 11 free throws to lead Malvern (1-1) with 15 points. Addy Mitchell chipped in 13 and Long nailed two treys in scoring eight points.

Boys basketball

The Hornets got their season underway by hosting Newark Catholic in a nonconference contest Nov. 28, and the Green Wave cast Malvern adrift after a 78-58 victory.

Newark Catholic sped to a 21-9 lead after the first eight minutes, then poured it on in the second quarter, outscoring the Hornets 26-15 for an imposing 47-24 lead at the break.

Junior Grady Barkley had a nice game for Malvern as he led all scorers with 22 points, which included three treys. Sophomore Brennan Mitchell added 11 points, and senior Tripp Tucci contributed eight.

Newark Catholic (1-0) was led by Trey Spurrier’s 19 points, and the Green Wave enjoyed a 28-18 advantage in rebounding. Jaxon Jones led Malvern (0-1) with four boards to go along with four points.