GIRLS BASKETBALL PREVIEW: Malden girls look to overcome youth
The Malden Green Wave girls basketball program enters the 2018-19 season hoping to enjoy success with a youthful bunch.
Malden has a first-year senior, four juniors, two sophomores and five freshmen in its high school program
“We will be very young,” Malden coach Josh Herring said. “We have some talent but youth and very little varsity experience will be our obstacles. But what I like about this bunch is they are very coachable. Hopefully, they can get it in their heads that it’s not about the now it’s about the future and we can get better every game and continue to build on that aspect.”
Guards Madison Saulsbery and Shamya Dobbins are the only returning varsity starters off of last season’s squad that finished 12-12.
“We are growing and learning,” Herring said. “I’m excited about this bunch. We may not win a whole lot of games but I love their personalities and how they work.”
Herring said he hopes to play at least two quarters of junior varsity each night before the varsity contest.
“We’ve got some freshmen who will have to step in and potentially play six quarters each night because otherwise, we won’t have enough bodies to stay fresh on the floor,” Herring said.
Malden finished second to Portageville in the Bootheel Conference varsity girls basketball tournament last season. Herring believes Portageville and Campbell are among the conference talents the Green Wave will have to get past if they hope to contend for a conference title this season.
“Portageville and Campbell will be good,” Herring said. “Right now I see us in the middle of the pack. But they may surprise me and we may end up at the top of the conference.”
Traditional Class 2 talent Oran beat Malden 87-19 in its season opener Nov. 19.
Malden is back in action Dec. 3 when it visits Kelly. The Green Wave's first home game is against Holcomb on Dec. 3.
“Oran is about the best of the best we will have on our schedule,” Herring said. “They are a tough team to open up with."
Malden is assigned to compete in Class 3, District 1 at the end of the season. Other teams in the eight-team district are Twin Rivers, Kennett, New Madrid County Central, Charleston, Kelly, East Prairie, and Caruthersville.
“We are aiming toward the end of the season,” Herring said. “It’s not about what we do right now. It about what we do at the end of the season.”
Malden Lady Green Wave
Date | Opponent | Location |
11/29 | Kelly | Away |
12/3 | Holcomb | Home |
12/6 | Hayti | Away |
12/10 | NMCC | Away |
12/13 | Charleston | Home |
12/15-12/22 | Royal Classic | Twin Rivers |
1/3 | Kennett | Away |
1/7 | Senath-H’ville | Away |
1/10 | South Pem. | Away |
1/14 | Campbell | Home |
1/15 | Twin Rivers | Home |
1/17 | Portageville | Home |
1/24 | Caruthersville | Away |
1/26-2/1 | BHC Tourn. | Senath |
2/4 | East Prairie | Home |
2/7 | Advance | Home |
2/11 | Puxico | Away |
2/12 | Bloomfield | Home |
2/14 | Doniphan | Away |