Saturday, January 07, 2006
Melrose 666
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.
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.
// posted by Ron Sen, MD, FCCP @ 8:43 AM 
