Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Opening Night Jitters, but Another W, Ladies top Lexington 36-32
Like every program, Melrose faces the challenge of redefining their program with the loss of graduating seniors. But not every program loses top notch athletes who can pass, score, rebound, and defend.
The 2007-2008 team faced the challenge of one of their prime rivals, beating Lexington 36-32, despite foul trouble for Meg Kirwan, and a tremendous night for Nena Ngwuomo, Lexington's powerful guard.
This season brought a number of changes, the opening on the new Middle School Gymnasium for its first basketball action, the Lady Raiders playing the late game, eight minute quarters, and a host of young players getting extended playing time. Melrose got off to a slow start, but opened up at 16-9 lead in the second frame before the Lexington guards brought them back, with the visitors leading 21-20 at the half.
Lexington played mostly zone defense, and Melrose, shooting at the open end of the gym, had trouble finding the range.
The second half had back and forth action, with Melrose leading 31-30 with 2:22 remaining, before an Ngwuomo jumper gave Lexington the lead. With about a minute remaining, Siena Mamayek had a big hoop, a stick back off a Kirwan jumper to give Melrose the lead back at 33-32. After a controversial play where the Lexington coach was not awarded a timeout during rebounding action, Melrose scored again to go up 35-32. After a Lexington miss, Colleen Hanscom was fouled and converted a free throw to close the game and give Melrose another league win.
Score by half:
Melrose... 20 16 (36)
Lexington 21 11 (32)
Lady Raiders Notes: Melrose has not lost an ML girls game since the 2003-2004 campaign, having gone undefeated in league play for the past three seasons. Colleen Hanscom, with a pair of free throws, scored the first two Melrose points ever in the new gymnasium in league play. The open end of the gymnasium did not have the partition closed or the portable stands rolled out, making it a challenging scoring situation.
The 2007-2008 team faced the challenge of one of their prime rivals, beating Lexington 36-32, despite foul trouble for Meg Kirwan, and a tremendous night for Nena Ngwuomo, Lexington's powerful guard.
This season brought a number of changes, the opening on the new Middle School Gymnasium for its first basketball action, the Lady Raiders playing the late game, eight minute quarters, and a host of young players getting extended playing time. Melrose got off to a slow start, but opened up at 16-9 lead in the second frame before the Lexington guards brought them back, with the visitors leading 21-20 at the half.
Lexington played mostly zone defense, and Melrose, shooting at the open end of the gym, had trouble finding the range.
The second half had back and forth action, with Melrose leading 31-30 with 2:22 remaining, before an Ngwuomo jumper gave Lexington the lead. With about a minute remaining, Siena Mamayek had a big hoop, a stick back off a Kirwan jumper to give Melrose the lead back at 33-32. After a controversial play where the Lexington coach was not awarded a timeout during rebounding action, Melrose scored again to go up 35-32. After a Lexington miss, Colleen Hanscom was fouled and converted a free throw to close the game and give Melrose another league win.
Score by half:
Melrose... 20 16 (36)
Lexington 21 11 (32)
Lady Raiders Notes: Melrose has not lost an ML girls game since the 2003-2004 campaign, having gone undefeated in league play for the past three seasons. Colleen Hanscom, with a pair of free throws, scored the first two Melrose points ever in the new gymnasium in league play. The open end of the gymnasium did not have the partition closed or the portable stands rolled out, making it a challenging scoring situation.
// posted by Ron Sen, MD, FCCP @ 10:05 PM 
