Hornets overpower Rockets, remain unbeaten

By Carol McIntire
Editor
Malvern was on fire from beyond the 3-point line when the Hornets hosted the Conotton Valley Rockets in an Inter Valley Conference mismatch Jan. 30.
The hosts sank nine-shots from beyond the arc on the way to a lopsided 79-26 win, led by senior Mitch Minor with four. The 6’5” wing player was deadly from all areas of the court, capitalizing on back-to-back 3-pointers in the first quarter to help give his team the early lead. One shot was from the left corner of the court and the other from nearly dead center at the top of the arc. He followed that up with a 3-pointer from the right side less than two minutes later.
He ended the first quarter with 11 points and added a 3-pointer in the second period and led all scorers with 16 points in limited playing time.
Junior Rodney Smith added two 3-pointers and finished with 15 points. Senior J’Allen Barrino contributed 13 points and junior Drake Hutchison added 11, including one 3-pointer. Senior Dylan Phillips also scored from 3-point range.
Malvern built a 24-0 lead before the Rockets found the bottom of the net with 1:48 left in the first quarter and held a 30-3 advantage at the buzzer. Hornet Coach Dennis Tucci pulled his starters early in the second quarter, but it didn’t slow the Malvern scoring down. Hutchison took over late in the period with consecutive steals and layups and Eric Swain beat the buzzer with a field goal to give his team a 53-10 advantage a halftime.
Tucci played his starters the first half of the third period with Smith hitting two quick buckets and a foul shot to increase the lead to 58-10. The hosts held a 68-16 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Rocket Jared Peterson led Conotton Valley with nine points. Brooks Bower added eight for the visitors, who took 28 shots during the game and connected on 10 for 34 percent.
Malvern shot 63 percent from the field (31-49). Both teams shot 50 percent from the foul line, Malvern 7 -14 and Conotton 5-10.
Freshman Camrin Detchon grabbed seven rebounds as the winners enjoyed a 28-20 advantage on the board. Bower pulled down four for Conotton.
Turnovers plagued the Rockets as the team committed 20, compared to five for the Hornets.
Conotton fell to 4-12 overall and 2-8 in league play.
Strasburg
Two Hornets broke the 20-point mark when Malvern took on IVC foe Strasburg for the second time this season.
Barrino dumped in 22 points in the 71-55 win, but it was Strasburg’s Gage Moore who led all scorers with 23 points. Two of his successful shots were from 3-point range. Smith contributed 18 points for the winners.
Malvern jumped ahead early and held quarter leads of 16-9, 35-25 and 47-33.
Phillips sank two 3-point shots, Eric Swain one and Minor one. Kody Chewning sank four 3-point shots for Strasburg.
The winners sank 29 of 44 field goals for 44 percent compared to 18 of 38 for 44 percent for the host Tigers. Malvern connected on nine of 15 charity throws while Strasburg sank 11 of 15.
Barrino grabbed seven rebounds as the visiting Hornets held a 25-17 edge on the boards. Moore led Strasburg with five.
Malvern improved to 16-0 and 9-0 in league play. Strasburg dropped to 5-11 overall and 3-6 in the league.
Malvern won the junior varsity game 24-23.