The History of the Malden High School Musketeers
Malden (population 350) sits quietly in a country setting appproximately 6
miles northeast of Princeton in the east-central portion of Bureau County. County Road 1900 Avenue N and County Road
2550 Street E are the main roadways that take you to and from Malden. Both roads connect to U.S. Route 34 located
just 1.5 miles to the west. The Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railroad passes through town as well. The railroad
was instrumental part of the town's early growth.
The residents have done an excellent job maintaining the life in their community. The high school
was probably established in the late 1800s, however an exact date is still being sought. The high school was quite
successful in Malden until the end of the 1982-83 school year when it was deactivated.
The high school students of Malden now attend Princeton High School. The Malden residents still
support their own grade school for grades K - 8. Those students are now educated in the former high school building.
To view photos of a Malden HS students as located by Roberta
VanBriesen check out:
Malden Musketeer Quick Facts
Year School Established: Probably late 1800s
Year High School Deactivated: 1983
School Nickname:
Musketeers
School Colors:
Purple & Gold
High School Building:
Now Used for Grade School K - 8
School Newspaper:
Malden "Outlook"
School Fight Song:
"Onward Malden"
Sung to University of Wisconsin Fight Song Tune
Submitted
by Dale Fiste (Class of 1958)
Onward
Malden, Onward Malden
Step up to that line!
Put the ball right through the basket,
Scores count up each time!
RAH! RAH! RAH!
Onward Malden, Onward Malden
Fight
on for your fame!
Fight fellows, FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!
We'll win this game!
ATHLETICS
The Malden Musketeers were a force to be reckoned with in Bureau County during their
"hey day". The team competed in the Little 8 conference offering basketball, football, and track for boys.
Later the school also offered basketball, volleyball, and track for girls. The school had several great seasons
in each sport. The boys brought home a District Championship in basketball. Below are listed
the best successes of Malden High School according to the IHSA web site.
BOYS BASKETBALL
The post season scores listed below were found on a website titled "Illinois Postseason Basketball Scores". As you can see, the going got rough for many years. However the 1929 District Champs did the hometown folks proud! Though
District scores are not available, the Musketeers played Moline HS in the first round of the Sectional before losing by 2
points! The teams of 1969 and 1970 also advanced to the championship game of the District Tourney before losing.
1928-29 N.R.A. District Champions
Coach's name unavailable
Lost to Moline 22 - 20
in first round of Sectional
Moline lost by 3 in the 2nd Rd
to Freeport HS. Freeport would
finish 3rd in the IHSA Tourney.
1933-34
Princeton District Tourney
Lost to Mineral 25-20 in 1st Rd.
1934-35
Princeton District Tourney
Beat
Mineral 29-22
Lost
to LaSalle Peru 48-9 in 2nd Rd.
LaSalle-Peru won District title.
1935-36
Post season results not available.
1936-37 Princeton
Regional Tourney
Lost to Sheffield 23-22
Sheffield lost in 2nd Rd.
1937-38
Post season results not available.
1938-39
Princeton Regional Tourney
Lost to Spring Valley Hall 24-20
Hall lost in semi-final.
1939-40 through 1943-44 post season scores not available.
1944-45
LaMoille District Tourney
Lost
to Manlius 34-26
Manlius lost in championship game.
1945-46
LaMoille District Tourney
Lost to Tiskilwa 66-18
Tiskilwa lost in championship game.
1946-47
Post season results not available.
1947-48
LaMoille District Tourney
Lost to Bureau Township 50-27
Bureau Township lost in semi-final
1948-49
LaMoille District Tourney
Lost
to Wyanet 54-29
Wyanet lost in semi-final.
1949-50
LaMoille District Tourney
Lost
to Tampico 49-35
Tampico won District title.
1950-51
LaMoille District Tourney
Lost to Manlius 67-42
Manlius won District title.
1951-52 Tiskilwa
District Tourney
Lost
to Manlius 43-24
Manlius lost in title game.
1952-53 through 1957-58 scores not available.
1958-59
LaMoille District Tourney
Lost to Manlius 677-58
Manlius lost in semi-final
1959-60
Ohio District Tourney
Lost
to Tiskilwa 70-54
Tiskilwa
lost in semi-final
1960-61 Scores
not available
1961-62 Manlius
District Tourney
Lost to Tiskilwa 78-57
Tiskilwa lost in semi-final
1962-63 Ohio
District Tourney
Lost to Tiskilwa 50-33
Tiskilwa lost in title game.
1963-64 through 1966-67 scores not available.
1967-68 DePue
District Tourney
Lost
to Tonica 63-35
1968-69 Manlius
District Tourney
Beat LaMoille
Beat Manlius 62-60
Lost
title game to Tiskilwa 62-40
1969-70 DePue District
Tourney
Beat DePue 93-61
Beat
Manlius 76-63
Lost title game to Tiskilwa 74-50
1970-71 Manlius District
Tourney
Beat
Lostant 63-56
Lost to Manlius 65-64
Manlius lost title game
1971-72 Walnut Regional Tourney
Beat Ohio 47-42
Lost to Sterling Newman 83-51
Newman lost in title game
1972-73 through 1978-79 postseason scores not available.
1979-80 18 - 5
Coach Lloyd Johnson
1980-81 17 - 6
Coach Lloyd Johnson
1978-79 through closing of HS postseason scores not available.
Coach Dean Riley started his coaching career at Malden High School in the 1960-61 school
year before moving on to Ottawa High School the following year. He would go on to win 300+ games in his career. Coach
Lloyd Johnson left Malden to coach at Ohio High School and later Dixon High and Junior High Schools.
