Melrose Lady Raiders Basketball

The Lady Raiders (13-0) journeyed to Belmont to face the (4-8) Lady Marauders who had won 3 out of 4, including beating Lexington last week. Belmont has an improving, young team, headlined by All-Scholastic Lauren Yanofsky who had scored over 70 points in last week's wins.

Unfortunately for Lexington, Melrose was on its game, led by 14 points by Karen Sen and 13 by All-Scholastic Sheylani Peddy, closing in on her career 1000th point. Melrose led 38-20 at the half.

The second half gave Sheylani more opportunities to fill it up, and she fired in 27 for the game, which we believe to be her season high. Karen Sen finished with 20 for the evening, also her season high. Karen held Yanofsky to six points while she was in there, although Yanofsky finished with 12.

Cara Lynch gave her usual oppressive defensive effort and had 4 points, Lynley DeAmato had 6, as well as accumulating more than her share of bruises underneath the hoop, and Paula Sen had 9 points and 4 blocked shots.

Pending other Middlesex League results, the Lady Raiders have a minimum of a three game lead, with just five regular season games to play.

Lady Raider/Middlesex League Notes: A special panel of neutral officials from the Middlesex League reviewed the contested Woburn victory over Winchester, awarding the victory to Woburn. A scoring error may have not awarded the proper number of points to Winchester. The home scoring book is the 'official' representation of game events.

Tonight's victory was number 197 for Coach Dave Brady at Melrose.

Sheylani Peddy has a chance to reach the 1000 point mark Friday night as Melrose hosts Burlington at Stoneham High School. The team and the boosters club would welcome a big and enthusiastic crowd to support Sheylani and the team.

The Lady Raiders hold onto the number 2 spot in the www.t25v.com EMASS girls basketball poll after defeating Lexington 57-36 and Watertown 71-28 this week.

Meanwhile, in The Boston Herald Super Six poll, Melrose creeps up to 5th behind Braintree, Andover, Case, and Lowell. "This team is more than just Sheylani Peddy as the rest of the Middlesex League has found out."

Elsewhere on the Internet, an anonymous Massachusetts coach reviews the Middlesex League.

"I agree that Lexington has a good cast but...they lack the STAR to make their production an Oscar winner. My guess is that Igoe is healthy (great kid and glad to hear this) and playing again so their bigs can matchup with the Sens somewhat. Lexington however, has no match for Peddy. When your star is also handling the rock most of the time it makes it that much more difficult to shut that team down. Lexington also has no guard that can get you 15 to 20 each night like Peddy can. I still like Melrose 55 to 41.

Reading's Silvia, Attallah, and Lyons are very good YOUNG players and may be the goods next year when Melrose does not have the Sens but not this year. Reading by only 5 over Belmont with 1 win? Melrose hasn't had a 5 point win all year.

Stoneham with the Corbetts, Wantman, and Tucelli are good but they lack the rebounding and outside shooting to really have a chance to beat Melrose. Melrose also knows the Stoneham court real well by now so Stoneham has no home court advantage when they play. Losing big to Lexington also indicates they will battle Reading for 3rd place.

Can Melrose lose to any of the 3? Yep...but the chances are small. If Melrose loses then I agree...Melrose is rated too high."

tris·kai·dek·a·pho·bi·a ( P ) Pronunciation Key (trsk-dk-fb-, trsk-) n.
An abnormal fear of the number 13.

The Lady Raiders had a good week of home cooking, following up Tuesday's win against Lexington with a convincing 71-28 conquest of Watertown. The victory was undefeated Melrose's 13th of the season.

Melrose had the size and quickness advantage, pulling out to a 37-12 halftime lead behind 8 points from All-Scholastic guard Sheylani Peddy and 8 points from center Karen Sen.

All fourteen players saw action in both halves, and twelve players got on the scoreboard, a high for the season. Sheylani Peddy had her usual combination of stunning drives and bombs from beyond the arc, finishing with 20, while Karen Sen chipped in with 12 points. It's difficult for Lady Raiders to compete statistically in the Middlesex League, with extended margins of victory leading to relatively short minutes for the whole roster.

Lauren Murray had a career high six points last night as a reserve guard and Emily Clark had her most effective game of the season on the boards and defensively.

Lady Raider Notes: Coach Dave Brady chalked up victory number 196 at Melrose with the pair of wins this week. Cara Lynch was featured in the Melrose Free Press in an article entitled "Spark Plug." The Back Row Boys have a surprise cooking as Sheylani Peddy closes in on her 1000th point as a Lady Raider.

Next week Melrose travels to improving Belmont, which upset Lexington Friday night, and then hosts Burlington in a rematch of their tussle at Burlington. Melrose now has a three game lead on Lexington and Reading as we move into the home stretch of the Middlesex League, with 6 games left in the league schedule. Reading narrowly topped Wakefield last night (54-47 in OT) to remain three games off the pace. Meanwhile, the latest in the Winchester-Woburn fiasco can be found at http://www.woburnonline.com/sports.html

Lexington (10-2, 9-1 Middlesex League) arrived at Melrose's (11-0) Stoneham home away from home looking to spring an upset, and keep from falling two games behind in the Middlesex League race. Lexington came in ranked at fifteen in the Boston Globe poll. They got off to a good start by scoring the game's first hoop, and watched Sheylani Peddy depart with her second foul at the 2:05 mark. Unfortunately for them, it was all downhill from there, as Lynley DeAmato tied the score with a baseline drive and then fired in a trey from behind the arc, launching Melrose to a 29-17 halftime lead. Meghan Kirwan played solid defense off the bench and chipped in with a pair of steals to help propel Melrose into the lead, along with 9 first half points from Lynley. Lexington was not helped by an ankle injury to Center Jess Igoe late in the first frame. Igoe was unable to return.

Lexington was able to close to within ten early in the second half, but Melrose's inside presence, coupled with solid ball movement, and Sheylani Peddy turned it into a rout, with Melrose closing out the Minutewomen 57-36.

Karen and Paula Sen led the Lady Raiders with 14 points apiece, Lynley DeAmato had 13, and Shey fired in 9 second half points.

Raider Notes: Coach Dave Brady chalks up Melrose win number 195 with the victory, and Melrose takes a two game lead over Lexington in the Middlesex League, with seven league games remaining.

In the 'polling place', the Boston Globe has Melrose at 3, www.t25v.com ranks Melrose 2nd behind Andover, and the Boston Herald clocks the Lady Raiders at 6, behind Braintree, Andover, Case, Central Catholic, and Lowell.

The Melrose Lady Raiders began their second trip around the Middlesex League, starting with a trip to face the Winchester Lady Sachems. Winchester came in with three wins in their first eight games, three six-footers, and plenty of aggressiveness if not testosterone.

Winchester played physical 'in your face' basketball, but Melrose's speed and depth proved too much as the Lady Raiders surged to a 32-10 halftime lead, aided by 10 points from Karen Sen, abetted by nifty transition passing from Sheylani Peddy. Meanwhile, Cara Lynch and Lynley DeAmato continued to play terrific end-to-end pressure defense making it tough for opposing guards to make entry passes. Noteworthy also was improved defense from Meghan Kirwan, who also contributed 10 points off the bench.

Melrose came out strong in the second half, opening up a quick 39 point lead and the remainder of the game was roster building as Melrose has been averaging 10 players scoring each game.

Karen Sen (15), Sheylani Peddy (14), and Meghan Kirwan (10) all hit for double figures.

Lady Raider Notes: Friday night's victory was number 194 on Coach Dave Brady's (according to Chuck Person) victory train. Once again all fourteen players on the roster played in both halves. Melrose hosts Lexington (at Stoneham) Tuesday in a rematch of the teams with the top two records in the Middlesex League.

For the most recent www.t25v.com poll of EMASS girls hoop, go to http://www.t25v.com/emass/basketball/PollResults.php.

Also at www.woburnonline.com click on sports for the latest Middlesex League Boys' and Girls' basketball roundup, usually under the section Around the Rim, with Steve Pacheco's byline.

Tommy used to work on the docks
Union's been on strike
He's down on his luck...it's tough, so tough
Gina works the diner all day
Working for her man, she brings home her pay
For love - for love

She says we've got to hold on to what we've got
'Cause it doesn't make a difference
If we make it or not
We've got each other and that's a lot
For love - we'll give it a shot

Whooah, we're half way there
Livin' on a prayer
Take my hand and we'll make it - I swear
Livin' on a prayer
--Bon Jovi

The Melrose Lady Raiders may not be livin' on a prayer, but they're halfway home, after a convincing 56-26 dominating non-league victory over the 6-4 Haverhill Hillies of the Merrimac Valley League. The Red and White handed Coach Dave Brady his 192nd career victory at an unusual venue, the Marcoux Gymnasium.

With the starters rested after Monday's holiday party over Wakefield, Melrose came out fast and never looked back. The Lady Raiders mixed it up inside and outside, with Cara Lynch draining a quick three, followed up by an electrifying drive to the basket. With Sheylani Peddy on the bench early in foul trouble, Melrose went inside to Karen and Paula Sen with a variety of backdoor plays and pick-and-roll action. Melrose broke it wide open with a beautiful chest pass from Cara leading to an easy layup by Paula. Lynley DeAmato continued her spark both under the glass and penetrating to the basket.

There was plenty of time for everyone as once again everyone on the roster got plenty of time. The starters probably played a total of about ten minutes apiece, but there was plenty of power from the reserves, with a three-point from Meghan Kirwan and some 'mix-it-up' under the boards from Krista Limone as Melrose took a 37-13 edge to the locker room.

The lead went to thirty 45-15 at the three minute marker, and the evening was pretty much over for the starting five, and the roster saw lots of time down the stretch.

Melrose hosted (6-2) Wakefield at Stoneham High School to celebrate the Martin Luther King holiday and complete the first half of their Middlesex League schedule. Wakefield was missing their top scorer, Brittany Kelliher, and Melrose quickly took the lead and never looked back.

Sheylani Peddy and Karen and Paula Sen led the first half damages with 28 points as Melrose took a 36-17 lead at intermission. There was plenty of playing time for the entire roster however. Lynley DeAmato poured gas on the fire in the second half and Melrose coasted to a 66-40 victory after leading by almost 40 midway through the second frame.

Sheylani, Karen, Paula, and Lynley all knocked home at least 9 points, and Cara Lynch continued her spectacular defensive run on opposing point guards, holding down Wakefield All-Star guard Lauren McMillan.

Raider Notes: Coach Dave Brady picked up win number 192 in his Melrose coaching career. Three different Melrose players (Peddy, DeAmato, and Meghan Kirwan) had three-point goals in the victory over Wakefield. In addition to the long range shooting, there were plenty of spectacular passes in the game today, leading to easy hoops.

The Boston Globe girls' basketball poll came out today ranking Melrose in the 4 spot, after the unranked Lady Raiders' solid start. Another local poll on the Internet at www.t25v.com keeps Melrose in the 2 spot in EMASS, trailing Andover.

In the absence of Mark Dustin, Mike Tocco was handling the camera behind the MMTV crew today, with 'What's Up' Chuck Person the lead broadcaster. Don't forget and catch the action on Melrose Community TV (MMTV) in the near future.

Melrose hosts tough Haverhill from the Merrimac Valley Conference Tuesday night at the Marcoux Gymnasium at 6 P.M. Last season Haverhill took Melrose into overtime, before Melrose was able to pull out a dramatic victory.

Melrose journeyed to its 'home' court Friday to take on the improved Stoneham Lady Spartans as they prepare to make the turn and complete the first go-round on the schedule. Stoneham is led by senior guard Amber Wantman and senior center Ashley Corbett both solid multisport athletes. Coach Karen Grutchfield-Scali has moved her formidable skills to Stoneham as well, emphasizing a motion offense, pressure defense, and superior conditioning.

Stoneham broke well out of the gate, seizing a 5-2 lead, before Melrose answered back with a run of its own. Melrose went hard at the basket and Stoneham elected not to press Melrose, a sensible strategy in view of Melrose's three experienced ballhandlers, Sheylani Peddy, Cara Lynch, and Lynley DeAmato.

Melrose gradually extended its first half advantage thanks to aggressive defense, playmaking by Peddy, and ten first half points by Karen Sen. Meanwhile, they blanked both Wantman and Corbett in the half, as Melrose led at intermission 26-13.

The Lady Raiders came out on fire in the second half, after surrendering a couple of free throws to Corbett. The red and white roared out on a 18 to 4 run to put the game away, sparked by scintillating drives by Peddy. Later, after some tough rebounding on the offensive glass, Grutchfield got slapped for a technical foul, and Peddy made 4 free throws and Melrose coasted to victory 52-30.

Peddy and Karen Sen both finished in double figures for Melrose, and Cara Lynch deserves great credit for shutting down Stoneham's playmaker, Wantman.

Raider Ramblings. Coming into the game, the average Melrose victory had been 27 points on the season. During the past four regular seasons in the Middlesex League, Melrose is now 60-2, and overall during that time the Lady Raiders are 75-5, including a 9-3 record in post-season play. Coach Dave Brady collected his 191st win last night as the Melrose skipper.

Superfan Dick Collis of the 'Back Row Boys' provides us with unofficial standings for the Middlesex League after 8 games. He reports that there is a makeup game to be played between Belmont and Woburn.

Melrose faces Wakefield at 1:00 PM Monday at Stoneham and hosts Division I Haverhill from the Merrimac Valley Conference Tuesday at 6 PM at Marcoux Gymnasium.

The 6-0 Lady Raiders traveled to Reading's Hawkes Fieldhouse to face the undefeated Reading Lady Rockets (6-0) in a battle for first place in the Middlesex League.

Melrose jumped out to a quick start led by Lynley DeAmato, scoring the game's first ten points before Reading mounted a counterattack. Guard Mary Silvia was on fire, particularly in the first half, as Reading mounted a spirited comeback, aided by foul trouble landing Paula Sen, Sheylani Peddy, and Cara Lynch on the bench. Reading took the lead with about four minutes left in the first half, before Melrose could recapture it at 26-25. Lynley's leg injury seems to be showing no residual effects with her dominating first half output against Reading.

At times, Melrose appeared rushed, trying to force the transition game, which, to Reading's credit, was held in check. Also, with some less familiar combinations, Melrose's offensive continuity struggled.

Whatever Coach Brady relayed to the team at halftime proved to be the right medicine, with Melrose coming out ablaze in the second half. Sheylani Peddy drained a couple of quick threes, the ball movement became crisp, and decision-making solid, as Melrose gradually pulled away. Meghan Kirwan looked solid off the bench as well.

Unofficially, Shey Peddy, Karen Sen, and Lynley DeAmato all hit for double figures and Paula Sen had nine after missing much of the first half with foul trouble. Cara Lynch was spectacular on defense and had some electrifying drives in the second half as well.

The win was Melrose's fifteenth consecutive against rival Reading, and Coach Dave Brady's 190th as the Melrose skipper.

Melrose faces Stoneham Friday at mutual home court Stoneham, with only Stoneham and Wakefield yet unencountered in the first trip around the Middlesex League.

7 PM tonight at Reading.

Previewed at http://www.woburnonline.com/sports.html

Preseason, the Lady Raiders weren't exactly on everyone's radar screen. The Boston Globe poll had them nowhere in sight.



(http://www.boston.com/sports/schools/basketball/girls/top20/)

Of course, things change as do polls. Melrose fans realize that only one poll really counts, that's the one at the end of the season.

The latest (online internet) www.t25v.com poll lists Melrose at the second slot in EMASS. http://www.t25v.com/emass/basketball/PollResults.php

Time will tell where Melrose truly belongs, as games are won on the court, not in the media.

Melrose returned 'home' to Stoneham Friday, capturing its sixth win in six tries on January 6th, 64-32.

Melrose came out of the chute fast, led by Lynley DeAmato, returning from a mild leg injury. DeAmato's punishing drives to the basket helped the Lady Raiders to a quick 14-0 start, softening up the Lady Tanners, who had achieved a split the week before in a Christmas tournament. Melrose led 41-14 at intermission, and Coach Dave Brady banned the fast break and shots beyond the arc early in the second half.

Everyone on Melrose's roster saw action in both the first and second half, and everyone contributed. Coach Brady substituted liberally thoughout, picking up victory number 189 at the Melrose helm.

With the decisive margin of victory, it was a night for team achievement far more than individual accomplishment, although Sheylani Peddy's cat-quick defense to transition work stood out, as well as Meg Kirwan's spark off the bench, and Paula Sen who had half a dozen blocked shots while clogging up the middle. Cara Lynch continues to play her best basketball of the season with tenacious defense and offensive spark, motoring to the hoop and demonstrating three-point range. Melrose's margin of victory allowed Coach Brady to limit Lynley's minutes as she returns from injury.

Lady Raider Notes:

Team Notes. Melrose continues its solid scoring and defense, with an average margin of victory of nearly 29 points. When one factors in the fact that Coach Brady distributes the playing time and has 'taken off' both the fast break and the '3' in most games in the second half, this is particularly remarkable.

All five starters for Melrose average at least eight points, again surprising considering their limited minutes per game.

Alumnae. Quiana Copeland averages 26 minutes a game, with 8.8 ppg and 6.8 rpg, while leading Northeastern in blocked shots.
Shannon Kirwan is the starting point guard for Bentley, which recently helped Barbara Stevens to her 700th coaching victory. Kirwan averages 11.2 ppg, 5 assists per game, and leads the Lady Falcons is steals.

Rubber meets the road. The schedule poses a challenge next week for Melrose as they travel to undefeated Reading to face Kim Penny's Lady Rockets Tuesday. Reading is led by a trio of scorers, Mary Silvia, Meredith Gent, and Tegan Atallah and Justine Lyon's younger sister Jaclyn handles the point. Reading topped Burlington last night to remain perfect. Anyone familiar with the Melrose-Reading rivalry knows the intensity there.

Friday Melrose travels to Stoneham to face the much improved Lady Spartans led by Amber Wantman, Ashley Corbett, and Rachel Cail. Coach Karen Grutchfield has brought a new look and attitude to Stoneham and the team has responded.

Faces in the crowd. Melrose had a good crowd on hand last evening, including the ever-present 'Back Row Boys', former Mayor James Milano, and Lady Raider alums Emily Erb and Erin Hudd, just to name a few.

Chuck Person and John O'Neill, Jr. had the microphones last night, with Mark Dustin behind the camera, as the MMTV crew was out in full force.

The Melrose Lady Raiders ran their record to 5-0, and Dave Brady's career coaching wins to 188 with a pair of wins on Tuesday and Wednesday over Burlington and Lexington.

Melrose traveled to Burlington (4-1) to face the improved Red Devils who had beaten Division I Malden to gain a measure of early season respect. Melrose again jumped out to an early lead, 12-0 behing aggressive defense. The teams traded baskets briefly before Melrose suffered a pair of injuries. Shey Peddy got a gratuitous elbow to the head and missed over 16 minutes of action, and Lynley DeAmato sprained her ankle and missed the entire second half.

Melrose led 25-14 at intermission, but the contest was in doubt, with two starters down. Fortunately for Melrose, a determined second half effort resulted in a twenty-five point lead with four minutes left, before Burlington pressed successfully against Melrose's reserves to close the deficit to 54-47.

The game was marred by a loss of officiating control, resulting in what can only called flagrant fouling, which could have led to more injuries. Although Melrose players can hardly be called wallflowers, Burlington took what a number of observers felt were hard fouls outside the scope of competitive play.

Paula Sen had twenty four points including seventeen in the second half to allow Melrose to keep control of the game.

Wednesday, Melrose went to Lexington to make up a game 'rained out' because of a roof leak. Lexington was a pre-season favorite to unseat Melrose as it seeks its seventh consecutive Middlesex League title. Unfortunately, Lynley DeAmato was unable to go, as was Lexington's excellent post player, Cecily Chisholm.

Lexington elected to press Melrose with a 1-2-2 three quarter court trap, that Melrose handled efficiently. Nevertheless, Lexington continued to try to slow the game down overall, with limited success. Shey Peddy had a couple of quick threes, one from international waters and another conventional three, and Melrose held a 30-21 halftime lead after going on an 8-0 run to finish the half.

During the second half, Melrose's suffocating man-to-man defense wore down Lexington, and Melrose pulled away to a 61-39 win.

Megan Kirwan had her first varsity start for Melrose and played good defense, and contributed some offensive highlights. The other four Melrose starters, Cara Lynch, Peddy, Karen and Paula Sen, all finished in double figures. Peddy had some pinpoint passes setting up the Sens inside, and Lynch was a defensive demon, had a couple of treys, and overall had a stellar contribution.

Lynley DeAmato is expected to return for Friday's contest at Stoneham against Woburn.

Ana Tocco made her first appearance of the season, returning from a medical absence.

Coach Mike Izzo is back on the bench, and recently 'Tan' Peddy, Shey's dad has been assisting part-time helping the post players strengthen their game.