Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Important Win for Lady Raiders, Capture York Tournament
Melrose improved to 6-0 with a signature win, defeating York, Maine's second ranked team 51-47 in overtime.
Colleen Hanscom sparked the Lady Raiders with 21 points and 5 assists, and everyone contributed in key moments.
York had the better of it in the first half, leading 18-16 after one, and 31-24 at intermission, as their all-state candidate Niki Taylor had her way underneath. Taylor, a potential college power forward, under recruitment by multiple D1 schools, showed her versatility at both ends of the court, scoring 7 of York's first 10 points. A pair of Hanscom 3's kept Melrose in the game early.
Melrose went on a 12-0 run early in the second half, including a pair of key hoops by Siena Mamayek doing some heavy work in the paint as Melrose regained the lead at 32-31.
Still York wasn't done, battling back, abetted by an atrocious call with Hannah Brickley called for an offensive foul going to the basket with Melrose up 36-32, with the basket nullified and the free throw never to happen, allowing York to come back to knot the score at 38.
Both teams had opportunities down the stretch, with Melrose turning the ball over with 24 seconds remaining. As predicted York went to Taylor in the low block, but Melrose triple-teamed her and her shot rimmed out with the score even at 43. Teagan Bell's defense on the York point guard in the fourth period should neither go unnoticed nor unmentioned.
Melrose got off to a fast start in overtime, with a fallaway from the right side, followed by a Hanscom trey to go up five. Melrose then got a Brickley steal and Mamayek lay in to go up seven with 2:07 left in OT. York closed to within three on a pair of Taylor moves inside, but after missing the front end of a pair of one-and-ones, Melrose iced the game with Hanscom making the second of a double bonus to go up 51-47, the finale.
Rim Ramblings: Former Melrose AD, Sonny Lane noted that York is a young, but strong team, with only one senior getting much time, their point guard, and a favorite to win the Maine State Championship. Lane serves as an assistant on the York boys team, and freshman coach. Coach Rob Ferrante got the players' attention with an outburst late in the first half, imploring the team to cut down on turnovers. In a departure from the usual approach, the tournament awarded "sportsmanship" awards to a pair of players from each team, with Teagan Bell and Hannah Brickley the Melrose recipients.
Melrose faces the 'iron' of the Middlesex League beginning next week, hosting Reading Tuesday and traveling to Stoneham on Friday. If the Lady Raiders are to recapture the ML title, getting a sweep next week would constitute a giant step in that direction.
Colleen Hanscom sparked the Lady Raiders with 21 points and 5 assists, and everyone contributed in key moments.
York had the better of it in the first half, leading 18-16 after one, and 31-24 at intermission, as their all-state candidate Niki Taylor had her way underneath. Taylor, a potential college power forward, under recruitment by multiple D1 schools, showed her versatility at both ends of the court, scoring 7 of York's first 10 points. A pair of Hanscom 3's kept Melrose in the game early.
Melrose went on a 12-0 run early in the second half, including a pair of key hoops by Siena Mamayek doing some heavy work in the paint as Melrose regained the lead at 32-31.
Still York wasn't done, battling back, abetted by an atrocious call with Hannah Brickley called for an offensive foul going to the basket with Melrose up 36-32, with the basket nullified and the free throw never to happen, allowing York to come back to knot the score at 38.
Both teams had opportunities down the stretch, with Melrose turning the ball over with 24 seconds remaining. As predicted York went to Taylor in the low block, but Melrose triple-teamed her and her shot rimmed out with the score even at 43. Teagan Bell's defense on the York point guard in the fourth period should neither go unnoticed nor unmentioned.
Melrose got off to a fast start in overtime, with a fallaway from the right side, followed by a Hanscom trey to go up five. Melrose then got a Brickley steal and Mamayek lay in to go up seven with 2:07 left in OT. York closed to within three on a pair of Taylor moves inside, but after missing the front end of a pair of one-and-ones, Melrose iced the game with Hanscom making the second of a double bonus to go up 51-47, the finale.
Rim Ramblings: Former Melrose AD, Sonny Lane noted that York is a young, but strong team, with only one senior getting much time, their point guard, and a favorite to win the Maine State Championship. Lane serves as an assistant on the York boys team, and freshman coach. Coach Rob Ferrante got the players' attention with an outburst late in the first half, imploring the team to cut down on turnovers. In a departure from the usual approach, the tournament awarded "sportsmanship" awards to a pair of players from each team, with Teagan Bell and Hannah Brickley the Melrose recipients.
Melrose faces the 'iron' of the Middlesex League beginning next week, hosting Reading Tuesday and traveling to Stoneham on Friday. If the Lady Raiders are to recapture the ML title, getting a sweep next week would constitute a giant step in that direction.
// posted by Ron Sen, MD, FCCP @ 7:51 AM 
