Thursday, January 08, 2009
Season's Observations
The Division II North continues to provide likely major challenges with strong teams including Reading, AC, Westford, Melrose, Masconomet, and Bishop Fenwick.
Probably the biggest surprise in the North has been Andover's strength, led from the guard position, with their dynamic duo of Boudreau (as a frosh under the eyes of UCONN) and Gomez, with an annihilation of their Sparta, Central Catholic.
What has that got to do with Melrose? Plenty. In post-season play, you cannot thrive without superior play from the guard position, as the best teams bring pressure defense, quickness to the ball defensively, and often 'the big girl', a shot-blocking interior presence that can challenge smaller teams, like Melrose.
Fortunately, Melrose has the opportunity to continue building their guard rotation. Colleen Hanscom played what I thought was her best game against Stoneham, with leadership, controlled offense with ball security, good shot selection (shooting almost fifty percent), and steady defense. She has improved her assist to turnover ratio and has an effective complement in defensive stopper Niki Devereaux who added nine second half points Tuesday. The third guard in the rotation, Nicole Meuse, has the best 'pure' outside shot of the group and has the potential to be a consistent scorer off the bench.
Melrose has gotten strong play up front from Hannah Brickley and Siena Mamayek, and Laura Irwin continues to regain her form after a volleyball injury. Melrose's bench has provided steady effort and will work hard to contribute going down the stretch. Annemarie Wiesen and Ashley Cunningham have both shown toughness on the boards.
The strength of the team has been defense, the twin post game of Brickley and Mamayek, steady point play from Hanscom and leadership from the guards, and at times the transition (fast break) game. The team will work to strengthen their blocking out to prevent opposition offensive rebounding that Reading showed, has improved their free throw shooting recently, and reduced their three-point shots, which were not firing on all cylinders early this season. For a comparison, Shey Peddy drilled three pointers at a 62 percent clip her senior season.
The Middlesex League title runs through Reading now, with their one game in hand, an overall down year for the league, and a home rematch against the Rockets for a chance at a tenth consecutive ML crown for the Lady Raiders.
Melrose travels to Winchester tomorrow at 5:30.
Probably the biggest surprise in the North has been Andover's strength, led from the guard position, with their dynamic duo of Boudreau (as a frosh under the eyes of UCONN) and Gomez, with an annihilation of their Sparta, Central Catholic.
What has that got to do with Melrose? Plenty. In post-season play, you cannot thrive without superior play from the guard position, as the best teams bring pressure defense, quickness to the ball defensively, and often 'the big girl', a shot-blocking interior presence that can challenge smaller teams, like Melrose.
Fortunately, Melrose has the opportunity to continue building their guard rotation. Colleen Hanscom played what I thought was her best game against Stoneham, with leadership, controlled offense with ball security, good shot selection (shooting almost fifty percent), and steady defense. She has improved her assist to turnover ratio and has an effective complement in defensive stopper Niki Devereaux who added nine second half points Tuesday. The third guard in the rotation, Nicole Meuse, has the best 'pure' outside shot of the group and has the potential to be a consistent scorer off the bench.
Melrose has gotten strong play up front from Hannah Brickley and Siena Mamayek, and Laura Irwin continues to regain her form after a volleyball injury. Melrose's bench has provided steady effort and will work hard to contribute going down the stretch. Annemarie Wiesen and Ashley Cunningham have both shown toughness on the boards.
The strength of the team has been defense, the twin post game of Brickley and Mamayek, steady point play from Hanscom and leadership from the guards, and at times the transition (fast break) game. The team will work to strengthen their blocking out to prevent opposition offensive rebounding that Reading showed, has improved their free throw shooting recently, and reduced their three-point shots, which were not firing on all cylinders early this season. For a comparison, Shey Peddy drilled three pointers at a 62 percent clip her senior season.
The Middlesex League title runs through Reading now, with their one game in hand, an overall down year for the league, and a home rematch against the Rockets for a chance at a tenth consecutive ML crown for the Lady Raiders.
Melrose travels to Winchester tomorrow at 5:30.
// posted by Ron Sen, MD, FCCP @ 9:57 PM 
