Sunday, February 19, 2012
The One that Didn't Get Away. Melrose 55 Gloucester 44
Melrose has a checkered history against Gloucester, but made the plays today with a 55-44 win in the semifinals of the St. Mary's Tournament. The win brings the Lady Raiders to 10-9 and returns Melrose to post-season play.
Melrose took the lead after one period 15-13, led by Lia Limone's eight points including a pair of threes. Melrose extended its advantage with a 19-7 second stanza, with Shannon Lahiff (6) and Kayla Wyland (5) combining for eleven points.
Melrose played steady defense and kept Gloucester at bay, maintaining their lead 43-29 after three and sealing the victory with a twelve-point fourth.
Lia Limone led with a dozen points, Jenny McGee added eleven, and Brooke Bell eight, including five in the fourth.
Game notes: Melrose broke a four game winning losing streak with intensity and better shooting. The Lady Raiders tossed in a quintet of treys, shot (unofficially*) 15 of 20 from the stripe, and kept the turnovers down with sixteen.
The tournament is officiated with three referees, which is good preparation for the postseason. Melrose is reportedly going to be playing in the finals at 4:00 tomorrow, with their opponent to be the winner of North Andover-Tewksbury, most likely North Andover.
*Statistics courtesy of Dick Collis.
Melrose took the lead after one period 15-13, led by Lia Limone's eight points including a pair of threes. Melrose extended its advantage with a 19-7 second stanza, with Shannon Lahiff (6) and Kayla Wyland (5) combining for eleven points.
Melrose played steady defense and kept Gloucester at bay, maintaining their lead 43-29 after three and sealing the victory with a twelve-point fourth.
Lia Limone led with a dozen points, Jenny McGee added eleven, and Brooke Bell eight, including five in the fourth.
Game notes: Melrose broke a four game winning losing streak with intensity and better shooting. The Lady Raiders tossed in a quintet of treys, shot (unofficially*) 15 of 20 from the stripe, and kept the turnovers down with sixteen.
The tournament is officiated with three referees, which is good preparation for the postseason. Melrose is reportedly going to be playing in the finals at 4:00 tomorrow, with their opponent to be the winner of North Andover-Tewksbury, most likely North Andover.
*Statistics courtesy of Dick Collis.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Knight After Knight
Bobby Knight is poorly understood. His biography "Knight" by Bob Hammel clarifies a lot. The meatiest basketball comes from Chapter II, "Cornerstones and Credos".
Here is part of the chapter, verbatim.
"Basketball is not a game of great plays and great shooting, it's a game of mistakes and errors. If you ever see a state championship game, you'll see mistakes and errors made, and the team that makes the most of them will be the team that gets beat, almost without exception." At that point in my life, a state championship game meant basketball being played by the very best teams. But I've watched every level of basketball there is and Ash's point is absolutely right. It's a game of not making mistakes. The more you cut down on mistakes, the better your chance of winning is - in basketball or in any other sport, and in just about anything in life. (my italics and emphasis)
On offense, your players don't take bad shots. They don't throw the ball away. They move without the ball. They help each other get open.
On defense, your teams don't give up easy points on conversion, on fast breaks. They don't commit bad fouls- unnecessary or dumb fouls that keep the other team on the free throw line. Your guys never foul a guy who is in the act of taking a bad shot or a three-point shot. And they have to control the lane, and know where the ball is at all times.
What Knight reminds us with great clarity is that coaches (leaders) who have enough talent and can get these messages through will succeed. But he also reminds us that doing the right thing matters...getting the right people in the right job doing their job consistently well.
Here is part of the chapter, verbatim.
"Basketball is not a game of great plays and great shooting, it's a game of mistakes and errors. If you ever see a state championship game, you'll see mistakes and errors made, and the team that makes the most of them will be the team that gets beat, almost without exception." At that point in my life, a state championship game meant basketball being played by the very best teams. But I've watched every level of basketball there is and Ash's point is absolutely right. It's a game of not making mistakes. The more you cut down on mistakes, the better your chance of winning is - in basketball or in any other sport, and in just about anything in life. (my italics and emphasis)
On offense, your players don't take bad shots. They don't throw the ball away. They move without the ball. They help each other get open.
On defense, your teams don't give up easy points on conversion, on fast breaks. They don't commit bad fouls- unnecessary or dumb fouls that keep the other team on the free throw line. Your guys never foul a guy who is in the act of taking a bad shot or a three-point shot. And they have to control the lane, and know where the ball is at all times.
What Knight reminds us with great clarity is that coaches (leaders) who have enough talent and can get these messages through will succeed. But he also reminds us that doing the right thing matters...getting the right people in the right job doing their job consistently well.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Watertown Rally Drops Melrose 47-44
Melrose had its fourth chance to clinch a post-season berth and fell 47-44 at Watertown.
Melrose led for three quarters, up 13-11, 19-16, and 29-23 at breaks. A strong first half by Sydney Doherty (10 of her 13 points) propelled the Lady Raiders to the lead.
But Watertown's Coppola sisters rained down threes on Melrose in the fourth, scoring 24 points to drop Melrose to 9-9 with a pair of games remaining.
Melrose struggled at the free throw line, shooting 9 for 25 (36%) including 4 for 11 in the critical fourth period, derailing a chance to break their losing streak which now extends to four games.
Brooke Bell led with fifteen points, followed by thirteen for Sydney, and eight for Kayla Wyland.
The St. Mary's tournament remains and Melrose needs to find some magic in Lynn to find a spot in the post-season.
Melrose led for three quarters, up 13-11, 19-16, and 29-23 at breaks. A strong first half by Sydney Doherty (10 of her 13 points) propelled the Lady Raiders to the lead.
But Watertown's Coppola sisters rained down threes on Melrose in the fourth, scoring 24 points to drop Melrose to 9-9 with a pair of games remaining.
Melrose struggled at the free throw line, shooting 9 for 25 (36%) including 4 for 11 in the critical fourth period, derailing a chance to break their losing streak which now extends to four games.
Brooke Bell led with fifteen points, followed by thirteen for Sydney, and eight for Kayla Wyland.
The St. Mary's tournament remains and Melrose needs to find some magic in Lynn to find a spot in the post-season.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Do Drop In. Stoneham 55 Melrose 50
The third time wasn't the charm as the Lady Raiders fell to 9-8 with a tough 55-50 home loss to neighboring Stoneham. The Franklin Street Spartans did enough to win and they qualified for post-season play with their tenth win.
Melrose was simply playing uphill all night, trailing 14-10 after one, and 22-15 at the half.
After shooting four for their first eight, Melrose went ice cold making only one of their next twenty-two shots including one for eighteen in period two.
A second half thirty-five point outburst couldn't compensate, and Melrose couldn't keep Stoneham out of the lane as Parker and Gallahue took advantage of their position and mobility to do Melrose in.
Jenny McGee had ten points and Kayla Wyland, Brooke Bell, and Sydney Doherty each added nine.
Game analysis: Sometimes the ball doesn't go in. Pure shooting ability covers up a multitude of sins in basketball, and shooting is the fundamental core skill (shooting, passing, dribbling, rebounding, cutting, pivoting) that is least well taught. Statistical analysis in sports got dramatized in Micheal Lewis' "Moneyball", about baseball. A famous Billy Beane quote about his player analysis team was "If he's such a good hitter, then why doesn't he hit better."
The ball didn't drop for the Lady Raiders and they travel to Watertown Friday for another opportunity to clinch a post-season spot.
Melrose was simply playing uphill all night, trailing 14-10 after one, and 22-15 at the half.
After shooting four for their first eight, Melrose went ice cold making only one of their next twenty-two shots including one for eighteen in period two.
A second half thirty-five point outburst couldn't compensate, and Melrose couldn't keep Stoneham out of the lane as Parker and Gallahue took advantage of their position and mobility to do Melrose in.
Jenny McGee had ten points and Kayla Wyland, Brooke Bell, and Sydney Doherty each added nine.
Game analysis: Sometimes the ball doesn't go in. Pure shooting ability covers up a multitude of sins in basketball, and shooting is the fundamental core skill (shooting, passing, dribbling, rebounding, cutting, pivoting) that is least well taught. Statistical analysis in sports got dramatized in Micheal Lewis' "Moneyball", about baseball. A famous Billy Beane quote about his player analysis team was "If he's such a good hitter, then why doesn't he hit better."
The ball didn't drop for the Lady Raiders and they travel to Watertown Friday for another opportunity to clinch a post-season spot.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Finding Your Way
Melrose has a rich tradition of success in girls basketball, success born of playing quality basketball. Quality basketball in large part meant consistent man-to-man defense supplemented by offense built off transition basketball, often turning steals, deflections, and turnovers into points.
Nothing carries more self-destructive power than doubt, questioning your self-worth, your ability, and your potential. Nobody has the right to take that from a person. All players miss shots and make mistakes; great players make bad plays and bad decisions...but they do it less often than lesser players.
Sometimes, players need nothing more than a reinfusion of confidence to regain the intangibles that supplement the tangible skill, athleticism, and teamwork.
But teamwork is born from self-awareness of strengths and limitations, and the ability to share that with teammates. Success requires many elements, but among the most important are confidence, composure, and compassion.
Coach Dick Bennett gave his players laminated sheets emphasizing five requirements for successful players:
Passion - a love for the game
Unity - teamwork; the team is the star of the team
Selflessness - you must be able to put others before yourself
Humility - confidence without self-aggrandizement
Thankfulness - appreciation for all that you have received
Teams with a successful process achieve up to their potential, disabuse doubt, overcoming internal or external obstacles, and deny excessive credit to opposition. They simply do whatever it takes to reach their goals.
Inspiration is a stimulus to achievement. Whether using self-reinforcing statements or imagery, winners find a way.
Nothing carries more self-destructive power than doubt, questioning your self-worth, your ability, and your potential. Nobody has the right to take that from a person. All players miss shots and make mistakes; great players make bad plays and bad decisions...but they do it less often than lesser players.
Sometimes, players need nothing more than a reinfusion of confidence to regain the intangibles that supplement the tangible skill, athleticism, and teamwork.
But teamwork is born from self-awareness of strengths and limitations, and the ability to share that with teammates. Success requires many elements, but among the most important are confidence, composure, and compassion.
Coach Dick Bennett gave his players laminated sheets emphasizing five requirements for successful players:
Passion - a love for the game
Unity - teamwork; the team is the star of the team
Selflessness - you must be able to put others before yourself
Humility - confidence without self-aggrandizement
Thankfulness - appreciation for all that you have received
Teams with a successful process achieve up to their potential, disabuse doubt, overcoming internal or external obstacles, and deny excessive credit to opposition. They simply do whatever it takes to reach their goals.
Inspiration is a stimulus to achievement. Whether using self-reinforcing statements or imagery, winners find a way.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Road Woes Mount, Wilmington 52 Melrose 38
Melrose faced Wilmington for a chance to get a possible share of the ML small lead. When the dust settled, Wilmington (15-2) removed all doubt with a 52-38 win over the Lady Raiders (9-7).
Wilmington took the lead early with a 15-8 first quarter edge and led 26-16 at halftime. Melrose's scoring drought continued, with Brooke Bell with five of her nine points the leader.
Melrose trailed by twelve after three, with only a pair of hoops in the third period, along with five free throws. Jenny McGee had three points in the quarter.
Wilmington iced the game with a fifteen point fourth quarter, and Melrose got balanced but limited scoring.
Game analysis: Wilmington proved its ML Small Division superiority and Melrose continues to look for another win to secure postseason qualifying. 10 for 22 free throw shooting didn't cost Melrose the game, but it didn't make it easier either. Although nine Lady Raiders scored, overall the offense needs more dynamic play to get back in the victory column.
Wilmington took the lead early with a 15-8 first quarter edge and led 26-16 at halftime. Melrose's scoring drought continued, with Brooke Bell with five of her nine points the leader.
Melrose trailed by twelve after three, with only a pair of hoops in the third period, along with five free throws. Jenny McGee had three points in the quarter.
Wilmington iced the game with a fifteen point fourth quarter, and Melrose got balanced but limited scoring.
Game analysis: Wilmington proved its ML Small Division superiority and Melrose continues to look for another win to secure postseason qualifying. 10 for 22 free throw shooting didn't cost Melrose the game, but it didn't make it easier either. Although nine Lady Raiders scored, overall the offense needs more dynamic play to get back in the victory column.
Tuesday, February 07, 2012
Tournament Berth Denied for Now, Wakefield 50 Melrose 38
Melrose had a chance to secure a post-season berth with a win at Wakefield. The Warriors picked up their first Middlesex League Small Division win, dominating Melrose 50-38.
Nothing really went well for Melrose. Wakefield got out to a 10-2 lead early, Brooke Bell picked up a pair of quick fouls, and Melrose's defense proved porous as Wakefield buried open shots and scored in transition.
Melrose trailed at every quarter, 14-6, 26-18, and 38-27, and never really threatened Wakefield.
The Lady Raiders didn't score a field goal in the first, hanging around with 6-8 free throws, and scored only four first half buckets.
Lia Limone led Melrose (unofficially) with fifteen points.
Game analysis: Wakefield won offensively, defensively, on the glass, in transition, and according to Wakefield AD Mike Boyages, played their best basketball of the season.
Nothing really went well for Melrose. Wakefield got out to a 10-2 lead early, Brooke Bell picked up a pair of quick fouls, and Melrose's defense proved porous as Wakefield buried open shots and scored in transition.
Melrose trailed at every quarter, 14-6, 26-18, and 38-27, and never really threatened Wakefield.
The Lady Raiders didn't score a field goal in the first, hanging around with 6-8 free throws, and scored only four first half buckets.
Lia Limone led Melrose (unofficially) with fifteen points.
Game analysis: Wakefield won offensively, defensively, on the glass, in transition, and according to Wakefield AD Mike Boyages, played their best basketball of the season.
