MALDEN — With high expectations comes added pressure.

Despite having a target on its back this winter, Malden Catholic’s boys basketball squad has lived up to its billing.

Sophomore guard Dhewa Tenzin turned in a terrific performance off the bench with 16 points Tuesday, while senior guard Duke Cherry dropped 11 points to go with five assists as the Lancers coasted to an impressive 78-46 rout of Catholic Conference rival Xaverian at home.

“We knew we had to be on defense, and stay with our man,” Cherry said. “Because they have good shooters. They run offense well, they’re a good fundamental team. We knew if we talked to each other on defense, we could play with energy and win the game.”

With spectators like Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla in the house, the Lancers (8-0) started off slow, as Xaverian (1-4) opened the game with a quick 5-0 run. However, it didn’t take long for Malden Catholic to heat up from the field. Cherry tallied five points in the opening stanza, drilling a last-second three-pointer as the Lancers closed the frame with a 13-7 lead.

“We just kept defending,” said Malden Catholic coach Mark Garrity. “We gave up an open three to one of their good shooters early on, and we went over how we wanted to defend them. After that, I thought the guys did a good job. Duke’s a really good ballhandler, Dhewa Tenzin really came along, he played really well today. But after that, we needed guys to get out in transition after good defense. Defensively, we played real well.”

Malden Catholic’s Aboubakar Nimaka dunks the ball during a boys basketball game against Xaverian. MC was a 78-46 winner. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

The Lancers were just getting started. Chery continued to light things up offensively, while fellow star Aboubakar Nimaka joined in the charge. The senior forward added six points in the second quarter, throwing home a slam dunk to help key a 22-4 run as the Lancers watched their lead balloon to 35-11 at intermission.

Nimaka was forced to leave the game after injuring his lip during a sequence just before the break, but his teammates stepped up in his absence. Once the third quarter began, Tenzin decided it was his opportunity to shine. The sophomore erupted for 14 points in the frame, burying a pair of threes as Malden Catholic pulled away for good. By the time the fourth and final stanza rolled around, the Lancers were in cruise control with a 32-point lead at 58-26.

“I think the key was coming out fast,” said Tenzin. “Second half, we started out slow, but then we picked it up around the middle of the third quarter. We went on a 10-0 run, or something like that.”

It was a complete team effort for Malden Catholic. In addition to Tenzin’s and Cherry’s performances, Cole Tucker added nine points and seven rebounds for the Lancers. Ruben Rivera tallied eight points, while Nimaka finished with eight points during his shortened outing.

Xaverian’s Will Dugas, left, battles Malden Catholic’s Nico Arria for the ball on Tuesday in Malden. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

After leaving the game, Garrity told reporters that Nimaka would need stitches for his injury, but is expected to be fine. Sitting atop the Boston Herald’s rankings with a perfect record, Malden Catholic now enters the thick of its Catholic Conference slate. The Lancers will face St. John’s (Shrewsbury) next on Jan. 9, before taking on St. John’s Prep on Jan. 13. Then they will face a perennial test when they challenge BC High on Jan. 16.

Despite moving up to Div. 1, it still feels like the Lancers could be the team to beat.

“We’ve been in the Catholic Conference the whole time,” Garrity said. “They’re all Div. 1 teams, and our nonleague schedule’s always about the same. Obviously, once the tournament comes around, Div. 1 is much deeper. But we’ll worry about that when we get there, hopefully.”