Melrose Lady Raiders Basketball

Melrose hosted Senior Night at Stoneham, celebrating the careers of Lynley DeAmato, Sheylani Peddy, Krista Limone, Lauren Murray, Sharon Porcaro, and Taylor Pearson. And after shaking off some first half inconsistency while leading 25-17, the Lady Raiders clinched an undefeated Middlesex League season, stopping Wakefield 60-37.

Wakefield closed to 47-35 against reserves with 6:33 remaining, when Coach Rob Ferrante brought Peddy, Meg Kirwan, and DeAmato back to crush Wakefield with a 13-2 run.

Peddy ended her ML career with 24 points with DeAmato adding 10.

• 3 - Consecutive undefeated (18-0) ML seasons
• 6 - Losses in the past 5 seasons (in the past 88 games, Melrose has lost 4, by 2 to Woburn in 2004, by 13 to AC in the 2004 D2 North semis, by 1 to Gloucester at the Tsongas in 2005, and by 3 to OA at the Garden last March)
• 8 - Consecutive ML league titles
• 18 - Wins this season
• 20 - Shey Peddy second half points today
• 56 - Consecutive ML wins

Lady Raider Notes: The Booster Club presented every senior with roses and red and white balloons, and also presented a rose and balloon to the graduating Wakefield seniors.

After the contest, the Club also hosted a pizza party gathering for the players, coaches, families, and fans. The traditional Congratulations Seniors photo cake was on hand, too.

The Middlesex League All-Star game is held Sunday at 2 P.M. at Reading High School. Melrose will pick up the ML Championship trophy and individual honors to several players. We'll save that news for the official announcement.

Melrose travels to St. Mary's in Lynn at 5 P.M. Sunday to face Merrimack Valley Conference Power and defending D1 North Champion Lowell in the Spartan Tourney.