Malvern prevails in battle of young teams

By Dan Ries
Sports Reporter
Two young teams took to the hardwood floor at Malvern. Dec. 20 as the Lady Hornets hosted the Conotton Valley Rockets in an Inter Valley Conference contest.
Of the five starters for the Rockets, four were sophomores. Malvern countered with two sophomores and two freshmen. Malvern trailed early by seven points but put together a comeback for a 45-37 victory.
Conotton Valley took control of the game early, scoring first on the way to a 17-10 first quarter lead. Maddi Kelley led the way for the rockets scoring seven of her game-high 14 points.
Malvern fought back in the second quarter, scoring seven straight points to knot the score at 17-17 and held the Rockets scoreless until the 3-minute mark of the first half. Both teams exchanged baskets with the Rockets holding a slim 23-22 lead at halftime.
The Hornets scored two quick baskets to open the third quarter for their first lead of the game at 27-23. The Rockets outscored the visitors 13-8 in the third quarter and led 35-31 entering the fourth. Megan Kuba scored seven of her team-high 13 points in the third.
Malvern quickly increased the lead to 39-32 by the 6:15 mark and began to slow the game down, keeping the Rockets off the scoreboard until the 3:15 mark in the fourth. The Rockets could get no closer as the Hornets sealed the victory with a 10-6 fourth quarter.
Kuba had one 3-pointer to go along with her 13 points for Malvern. Addison Mitchell contributed 11 points, including two 3-pointers. Whitney Smith also had a 3-pointer.
For Conotton, Kelley had a 3-pointer to go along with her 14 points. Delilah Williams scored 10.
Malvern (4-4, 3-2) will host Wellsville Dec. 30. Conotton (3-5, 2-3) will play Edison Jan. 3.