BOYS

hit the .500 mark and qualify early for the tournament. Momentum changed quickly, however, and Malden took two blowout losses to Medford and Lynn English. Their next game was a thriller in Everett with an on-court brawl and ejections, but the Crimson Tide took it 63-59. Another heartbreaker happened just two days later with a one-point loss in Somerville. All of a sudden, they were back to 7-7.

Fortunately, a 36-point decimation of Chelsea and a solid win over Lynn Classical put them a win away from the tournament. Their next matchup would be with the Revere Patriots at home and things never looked better.

After a solid first half, the Golden Tornadoes jumped out to a 39-23 lead over the Patriots. Then, Revere’s Domenic Boudreau nailed three consecutive threes, helping them close the gap to five entering the final quarter. Malden trailed by one point with thirty seconds to play when a Revere inbound hit the referee and deflected into the hands of Ezechiel Noelsaint, who then missed two guarded layups. Jonald Joseph got the next rebound, missing his attempt. Finally, Bell shockingly missed an open jumper in the paint and Revere survived the mistake. Addissu Tsige’s desperation three-pointer was blocked and the Golden Tornados would have to wait for another day to celebrate.

Six days later, the Highlanders would travel back to the Finn Gym to take on Malden for the second time this season. Somerville claimed that game, but the Golden Tornados