Melrose Lady Raiders Basketball

Another terrific basketball campaign for the Melrose Lady Raiders, whom the Reading Rockets defeated 65-54 in the MIAA D2 North quarterfinals at Melrose. Reading uses 'feline' power to win, with a flurry of threes from "Cat" Carey and a strong effort from the lion's den (Jaclyn Lyons) to capture victory.

Reading advances to play the winner of AC at Westford in the D2 North Semifinals.

The Melrose senior class has a lot of accomplishments to remember.

• Four ML championships, extending the record to nine. They accomplished this in a more competitive league, with a group of three other strong teams at the top this season (Lexington, Reading, Belmont) and up-and-comers Watertown and Stoneham
• Three trips to the Tsongas Arena including a D2 North title and one trip to the Garden to the EMASS finals.
• 84 wins against just nine losses during the four year period.
• Individual honors, including a league MVP for co-captain Meg Kirwan and All-League honors for the other co-captain Emily Clark. We look forward to following their future.
  
• A great example of sportsmanship and competitive effort for future generations of Lady Raiders.
  

The season provided more excitement for fans with the opening of the new gymnasium, and the opportunity to watch a team filled with young players mature and look ahead to future success.

• Hannah Brickley added All-League honors to her already impressive athletic resume which already included All-State and All-Scholastic honors in volleyball. Eleven post-season appearances in just two years (basketball, volleyball) mark her career as extraordinary, along with the other Lady Raider volleyball-basketball scholar-athletes.
  
• Siena Mamayek achieved All-Star status in her second year starting up front.
• Colleen Hanscom grew in the pivotal role of point guard.
• Laura Irwin added energy, toughness, rebounding, and defense
  
• Nicki Devereaux gained valuable experience at both the one and the two which will help her going into her senior year.
• Nicole Meuse also got extended minutes in the backcourt which should augur well for future teams.
  
• The remainder of the team showed heart and hustle when they got opportunities and provide a nucleus for future success.

Congratulations to Reading on their victory, bringing the Middlesex League to 7 wins thus far, with Lexington (D1), Reading (D2), and Watertown (D3) still in the hunt.

The community salutes the success, competitiveness, and year-round efforts of this team to be the best they can be, and looks ahead to more success in the classroom and on the court in the future.