Melrose Lady Raiders Basketball

Shannon Kirwan gets a nod Sunday.

Lincoln-Sudbury completed its march to a state title, beating Bishop Feehan and then Hampshire Regional handily to capture the Division II crown. This marks the second consecutive season that Melrose has lost to the ultimate state titlest.

Sharon Porcaro, Lynley DeAmato (14), and Shey Peddy (11) loosen up before the game.
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The fourth trip in five years to Tsongas Arena for Melrose fans proved to be the end of the line, as Lincoln-Sudbury prevailed 68-53. Lincoln-Sudbury's 6' 5" center Carolyn Swords dominated inside, and co-conspirator Sarah Wetmore torched Melrose for 32 points.

Melrose got off slowly, down 18-10 and rallied back to trail 19-17 when Swords went out with foul trouble. But Shey Peddy foul trouble and a cameo by Swords before the half ended gave the Warriors a 29-20 lead.

Melrose narrowed the gap to 40-34 behind some Peddy magic and the inside-outside efforts of Lynley DeAmato, but L-S's height, interior passing, and Wetmore drives proved too much for Melrose.

Peddy had 24 for Melrose and DeAmato added 11 before fouling out, along with Meg Kirwan.

Melrose finishes 21-2, and the senior class finishes with three trips to the Tsongas, one Division II North title, one trip to TD Banknorth Garden, 7 losses in 4 seasons to go along with 87 wins, four Middlesex League titles, and a host of individual honors and achievements.

As always, a large contingent of the Melrose community journeyed to Lowell to support the Lady Raiders. And of course we are extremely proud of your effort and achievements.

The top-seeded Lady Raiders take on consensus favorite Lincoln-Sudbury at 2:15 at Lowell's Tsongas Arena. The Lady Raiders, with no six -footers, and no starter even 5'10 inches tall go up against the Dual County League champion with 6'5" Carolyn Swords, headed to the ACC and BC.

Melrose looks to win its second consecutive Division II North title in its third straight appearance in the title tilt. Melrose, led by Herald Dream Teamer and Globe Super Teamer Sheylani Peddy, relies on its three guard trio of Peddy, Lynley DeAmato, and Meg Kirwan to generate its high powered offense. Lincoln-Sudbury reaches the finals off victories against AC and Masco, while Melrose dispatched L-S's DCL rival Westford to get back to the Tsongas.

Taylor Pearson (sister Jamie), Sharon Porcaro (sister Amy), and Kirwan (sister Shannon) once again follow in their sisters' footsteps in playing on Championship Saturday.

Coach Rob Ferrante has a number of tough decisions to make, including how to take Swords out of the game today. Does he elect to double team her in the post, risking freeing up L-S's other capable players? Does he employ maximum ball pressure to try to limit Swords' touches? Does he want a full pedal to the metal pace to try to tire out the big girl? Does Melrose go right at the center to try to get her into foul trouble?

We'll all find out soon.

Melrose hasn't had overwhelming athletic success throughout its athletic programs over the past few years. But amidst the struggles, two programs have stood out, the Lady Raiders basketball program and the Melrose volleyball program. Melrose returns to the Division II North championship for the fourth time in five years in basketball (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007) and has played the Division II North volleyball championship for the past four years, winning three (2003, 2004, 2005).

Coaching has been a big part, with leadership from Coaches Dave Brady and Rob Ferrante in basketball and Scott Celli and Steve Wall in volleyball. And personnel, with extensive crossover between the hoop and volleyball programs counts, too.

How many Lady Raiders have 'doubled', playing in Sectional or State Championships in the same school year? In the 2002-2003 season, Marianne Foley, Erin Hudd, Karen Sen, and Paula Sen each played at the Fleet Center, but were eliminated after a win in the volleyball postseason. In 2003-2004, the same quartet won D2 North volleyball, but were eliminated in the D2 North hoop semifinals. 2004-5 and 2005-2006 saw the Sen twins playing in both D2 North finals, along with Taylor Pearson in 2005-2006, with both teams capturing D2 North championships in the 2005-2006 school year.

Foley and Hudd both played on two D2 North championship squads (one apiece in basketball and volleyball) as did Pearson, while the Sen sisters appeared with five D2 North championships apiece.

And this season, the story continues, with freshmen Hannah Brickley, Colleen Hanscom, and Laura Irwin, along with Senior Pearson doing the double dipping in sectional championship play. You can be sure that the strong synergy between basketball and volleyball will continue, as talented athletes and coaches put Melrose on the athletics map.

The Melrose Lady Raiders (20-1) came into beautiful North Andover to face 20-2 Westford Academy, led by All-Scholastic and Colgate recruit Alyssa Jann. The Dual County League, with two teams in the semifinals, Lincoln-Sudbury, already headed to Lowell, looked for an all DCL final. But it was not to be, as Shey Peddy, doing everything but changing in the phone booth before the game, led Melrose to a 67-52 victory. The win puts Melrose into the Tsongas Arena and D2 North finals for the fourth time in five seasons.

Melrose was vastly undersized against their rivals, and Jann promptly went to the hoop for two and got fouled for three. Melrose hung tough, with Meg Kirwan and Peddy leading early, racing out to a 21-11 lead. But Kirwan, assigned to the peripatetic Jann, got into foul trouble and had to sit down with three in the first half. Spelling starter Sharon Porcaro, the Melrose freshman trio of Siena Mamayek, Laura Irwin, and Hannah Brickley came up big, blocking out their taller opponents, and either grabbing rebounds or allowing the guards to do the heavy lifting.

Amidst 22 first half points from Peddy, and 7 apiece from Lynley DeAmato and Kirwan, Melrose walked off with a 42-19 lead.

But in tournament play, no teams have quit in them, and WA came out firing on all cylinders, inside and outside, cutting the lead to 12 with twelve minutes remaining. Melrose seemed tentative at times, knifing through the Grey Ghost's 2-1-2 press, but hesitant to attack the back defenders with 3 on 2 or 4 on 2 advantages.

However, surviving Westford's counterpunching, Melrose rallied, once again led by their three guard monster, as Peddy, DeAmato, and Kirwan combined for 57 points, led by Peddy's career high 35 to hold off the Ghosts 67-52. Westford had closed to 7, but a Peddy steal and layup extended the lead, and Melrose was able to control the ball and the clock down the stretch.

Unsung in the victory was the steady defensive work of sophomore Nicky Devereaux in the latter part of the first half against the WA scorer Jann, and the coaching of Rob Ferrante, who made some key substitutions, opting correctly for height against the Westford size. Melrose has a history of using timeouts parsimoniously to control the tempo, which can be critical against top competition in playoff venues.

Lady Raider Notes: Melrose will face Lincoln Sudbury and 6' 5" Carolyn Swords, headed to BC this fall in the D2 North final. L-S defeated last year's Melrose opposition in the Tsongas, Masconomet last night.

Somerville hoop guru Tom Hellen and I had a terrific conversation before the game, Tom wearing his red shirt to show his pick of Melrose. Coach Hellen felt that WA would be unable to contain Peddy, and he was prophetic in his comments. Amidst the large crowd were former Melrose Coach Dave Brady and his mentor and Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame coach Sonny Lane and his wife, Paula. Lane was former Athletic Director at Melrose High School and coached the Wakefield High School boys to numerous sectional titles and a State Championship in 1983.

Melrose celebrates the ongoing success of the Lady Raiders through diversity in the community. The Melrose Mirror run by the 'Silver Stringers' proudly supports the girls and tells their story to their readers through words and pictures.

Thanks to the Melrose Mirror for supporting Melrose youth.

Melrose hosted Wakefield at Stoneham and defeated the visitors 59-49. Melrose will face Westford in the semifinals at a date and time to be determined.

With 7:04 left in the first half, Melrose led 14-10, as neither team played inspired basketball early. Melrose then opened up a 27-14 halftime lead behind 10 DeAmato first half points.

Melrose opened up a 40-23 lead and extended it to 54-36 with 7:20 remaining. Shey Peddy came alive with 12 of her game leading 16 points in the second stanza, followed by Kirwan with 14 and DeAmato with 13.

The reserves, which had extended the lead in the first half, had issues with turnovers and transition defense allowing Wakefield to close to 10 in the waning moments.

Melrose looked rusty at times and sharp at times, with Shey Peddy playing under the weather. Lynley DeAmato and Meg Kirwin both looked good both in transition and from the outside.

The first half the Lady Raiders showed some good intensity, and in the second half, there seemed to be less urgency or less energy evident in the sold out gymnasium.

The Melrose Lady Raiders 'host' Wakefield tonight at Spartan Gymnasium at 730 P.M. in the quarterfinal round of the MIAA Division II North playoffs. The winner advances to face Westford in the semifinal round for the right to play at Tsongas Arena next Saturday.

Melrose, coached by first year mentor Rob Ferrante, enters at 19-1, led by a trio of versatile guards, Shey Peddy, Lynley DeAmato, and Meg Kirwan. All three can play pressure defense, rebound, and have the solid outside and intermediate games requisite to guard play. Freshman Siena Mamayek and Senior Sharon Porcaro have provided complementary play up front. Melrose has a deep bench including five additional freshmen.

Melrose beat Wakefield twice during the regular season, although Wakefield plays scrappy defense and is led by high scoring Brittany Kelleher.

Futures Game: Last night, in a long-awaited tilt in the River Valley 'A' League, future Melrose stars faced off as the 6th grade YMCA team hosted the 6th grade travel team at the YMCA slimnasium. Amidst the all-too-cozy confines of the small gym, the travel squad prevailed 33-31. Neither team was able to seize control of the game with the 'Y' leading 14-13 at the half.

The game was played at high intensity level, with multiple players fouling out, and both teams shooting the double bonus early in each half. Every loose ball invoked memories of the NFL as players scrambled and dived after them.

Among the tremendous effort provided by both teams, numerous players stood out for a variety of reasons - ability, effort, toughness. We consider it unfair to omit any of these players who gave such great credit to themselves, their families, and their teams.

"The future's so bright, I'm gonna need shades."