Melrose Lady Raiders Basketball

The ML works in mysterious ways. Melrose slipped into a first place tie with Reading Tuesday as the Rockets ended Melrose's three-plus year home winning streak. Melrose got back on track tonight with a 60-44 victory over Stoneham. Meanwhile, if the Boston Globe scores are correct, Lexington handed Reading their third league defeat 49-45. Ergo, the Lady Raiders retake sole possession of first place in the league.

Meg Kirwan helped make her teammates better early with a pair of early assists. Senior co-captain Emily Clark also had another strong game with ten points and a gaggle of rebounds to aid Kirwan's 20 points.

Melrose jumped out to a 39-19 halftime lead and never looked back, despite a very solid effort from Sophomore Cassie Liston, who was outstanding for the Spartans.

Keys to victory.

• Improved ball movement
• Dramatic reduction of first half turnovers
• Movement without the ball...although generally better, Meg Kirwan particularly excelled at finding open spaces
• Free throw shooting. Melrose was 11 for 13 early, and finished 12 for 18.

Needs improvement.

• Three point shooting. Unofficially, I had the Lady Raiders as 1-12 from beyond the arc Tuesday, followed up with 0-8 today, for a combined 1-20. The Lady Raiders have gotten good looks, but are not converting.
  

Lady Raider Notes: While overall the team is young, on Tuesday, Melrose celebrates Senior Night, with a pair of seniors, co-captains Meg Kirwan and Emily Clark. With two games left in the regular season, Melrose controls their destiny as they seek their ninth consecutive Middlesex League title.