The gymnasium went quiet and the audience watched in anticipation as a Lynn Tech opponent made the second foul shot during the final quarter. The score, 43-42, instantly flashed on the scoreboard with Malden barely in the lead.The minutes in the game were low, and the stakes felt higher. Senior night games come with more pressure and expectations to perform better.
“The game was really intense…it was a big night for us all,” senior captain Madison Cook emphasized.
After enduring a season record of 6 wins and 11 losses, Malden strived to conclude the season with a victory at the final home game. Winning the senior night game was a way of commemorating all that the seniors have accomplished in their time on the team.
At the start of the second quarter, junior captain Manicha Exilhomme made a calculated layup for a speedy pass to senior Sophia Rodrigues. Rodrigues broke the tie of 13-13 with a three pointer. Following the break, a series of fastbreaks from Malden, and effective communication allowed them to gain a clear lead from Lynn Tech on the scoreboard.
Though Malden had the upperhand in points, Lynn Tech was consistent in layup shots and gradually caught up score during the third quarter. The two teams went back-to-back on the court, with Malden mostly swarming around Lynn Tech’s basket.
As the scores grew closer, tension became heated; hasty ball-stealing and constant passes gave Malden more points rapidly. By the last minute of the quarter, the score was 41-38 with Malden leading. The Malden crowd grew louder as the seconds in the minute went by, and senior Jenesa Perez Sims made the last layup shot, concluding the quarter with a score of 43-40.
“Going into the game, I was nervous…Who wants to lose on their senior night? I was mentally prepared and was willing to do anything to win,” Perez Sims highlighted.
One of the biggest goals that the seniors had in common was bringing the team to the state tournament for the fifth year in a row. However, after 17 games in the season, going to States was not in the cards for Malden this year. Despite that, the seniors mutually felt a meaningful significance in winning their last game before graduating.
Cook mentioned that she’s been a part of the team “for five years, starting as an 8th grader on the freshman team,” and expressed that “it’s a very emotional time” for her as she has “found family in the team and being the one to leave is hard.”
Senior guard Olivia Rodrigues added that playing on senior night feels especially “bittersweet” since basketball has been a part of her life for a while and being alongside her teammates is something she’s going to miss everyday.
After Lynn Tech gained an extra two points from their foul shots, the fourth quarter resumed with Malden making a swift inbound pass. The suspense of the game grew bigger than ever as Malden felt the pressure of Lynn Tech being just one point behind them on the scoreboard.
Utilizing a combination of efficient team defense, essential communication, and strategic ball handling, Malden achieved victory in their last game of the entire season with a final score of 53-46.
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