Melrose Lady Raiders Basketball

From Leagueathletics.com

Melrose goes into the lions' den tomorrow, facing the Reading Rockets who have been on a roll since their upset by Woburn.

Reading features the potent frontcourt duo of Carlene Kluge and Morgan Healy, and historically has played a sagging man-to-man defense, looking to force teams to use time on the shot clock and take lower percentage shots.

Melrose also plays predominantly man-to-man defense, relying on experienced inside players with the foursome of Hannah Brickley, Siena Mamayek, Laura Irwin, and Annemarie Wiesen, complemented by All-League to be point guard Colleen Hanscom and improving shooting guard Lia Limone. Limone's development forces defenses to come outside and also takes pressure off Colleen, who can focus on getting everyone involved and playing stingy defense.

Siena got a taste of action in the fourth period of Friday's game, as she recovers from injury.

A home tilt Wednesday against Stoneham and a trip to surging Winchester Friday mark this as "Fired Up February", as the Lady Raiders seek to reclaim the Middlesex League title wrested away last season.

Lady Raider Notes: Danny Ventura's Boston Herald rankings place the Lady Raiders at the top of D2 North, ahead of number 2 Arlington Catholic. In D2 South, Fontbonne and Oliver Ames get the nods. 


Beantownhoops ranks Melrose in its top 10. Brockton, New Bedford, Pentucket, and St. Mary's fans probably don't like these rankings. 

Melrose faced the first of four 'must win' contests, defeating Woburn (8-3 Middlesex League) 58-34 with a very solid performance at the Middle School Gym.

Woburn played tough basketball in the opening frame, holding Melrose to a 10-8 lead, as Colleen Hanscom collected a pair of free throws with 0.1 seconds to go in the period.

Melrose had perhaps their best quarter of the year next, with a 20-12 performance sparked by eight points from Sophomore shooting guard Lia Limone, who hit a pair of threes to break the game open. Hannah Brickley had ten at the half and Lia eight. Woburn's shifting defenses and zones did not bother Melrose at all.

Melrose continue their domination in the third, with balanced scoring and good work inside from Annmarie Wiesen, and some good passing from Hannah. A 15-4 edge put Melrose up 45-24 after three.

The Lady Raiders continued solid work at both ends in the fourth, closing out Woburn with solid defense and rebounding, and a strong overall effort from Hannah (15 points), Lia (14) and Colleen (14).

Lady Raider Notes: Melrose goes to 14-1, 12-1 ML with the victory. Overall the team played much more consistently, dramatically reducing turnovers, not forcing the ball into traffic or taking as many low percentage shots. I would say it was the best quarter of action against a good team this year. Siena Mamayek got some action late as she recovers from a recent injury, and local fans gave her a great ovation when she returned. The "Back Row Gang" was enthusiastic to see the team play with more consistency as we come down the stretch into next week's huge schedule, at Reading, home against Stoneham, and at Winchester.

Every team has a chance to establish its own legacy, more so with a senior squad. Melrose faces its top three competitors in the next three games, fully aware that it holds its own destiny.

Tonight the Lady Raiders host Woburn, Melrose having escaped foul trouble and defeating Woburn away early this season.

Although All-League forward Siena Mamayek is improving and participating in some basketball activities, we don't know her status for tonight. Laura Irwin looks back to full strength with improved running and jumping from the 'eyeball' test.

The keys for Melrose are simple, continuing the solid defensive work and making each possession count, by minimizing turnovers and by avoiding forced shots. The best teams are the most consistent, and consistency will count mightily in this critical three-game stand. A sweep guarantees Melrose its tenth Middlesex League title in the last eleven seasons.

From The Boston Globe

Melrose traveled to last place Burlington and exorcised the Red Devils again, thumping them early with a 23-7 opening period en route to a 54-26 victory. The Lady Raiders spent a lot of time at the charity stripe, scoring 15-24 from the line.

Colleen Hanscom got off to a fast start with ten in the period as Melrose ramped.

Melrose led 29-15 at the half, 41-20 after three, and closed out with a 13-6 final period for the easy win as the tune up for three big games coming up against Woburn, Reading, and Stoneham.

Colleen Hanscom led Melrose with 22 points and Hannah Brickley added 12.

Lady Raider Notes: Melrose moves to 13-1, 11-1 in the Middlesex League with the victory. Reading remains a game behind with a 44-40 win over Watertown. Rumors abound that Winchester upset Stoneham, which would move Melrose back into undisputed first place. Certainly Winchester's scoring forward duo of Sam Mangano and Shelby Santini have the capability to light up the scoreboard. If it happened, it should show up here.

The Coaches' Toolbox.

Maxpreps doesn't have all the games included, but it's system has the advantage of objectivity using records and opponents' records.
7 of the top 16 teams are Catholic private schools, reflecting some non-random school choice.

Melrose entered at 11-1, facing Belmont (3-7) and dispatched the Marauders at the Middle School Gym.

Melrose opened up a quick 19-8 first quarter lead behind eight points from All-League forward Hannah Brickley, and were never headed.

In something of a reversal, Belmont outscored the Lady Raiders 17-16 as Belmont got some good work from Jenna DiSalvio and Annmarie Fransen, although Melrose went into the locker room up 35-25. Hannah's 15 first half points compensated for the ongoing absence of Siena Mamayek (ankle injury). A pair of Lia Limone treys gave her six and Laura Irwin also put up half a dozen.

The third period saw defenses dominate, with each club scoring only six points.

Melrose closed out the game with a 13-7 fourth, although Belmont hung tough, with special note to the effort of freshman guard Katie Leinbach whose pressure kept Melrose's guards in check.

Hannah led the scoring for Melrose with 19 points, followed by Laura with 9, as she moved well on the court, recovering from her injury. The girls shot (unofficially) 7 for 12 from the free throw line.


Lady Raider Notes: Coach Rob Ferrante deserves credit for substitutions keeping key players out of late foul trouble in the first half. He has also used situational offense-defense substitutions to keep players in foul trouble in the game this season. Amanda Commito's knee injury will sideline her for the remainder of the season, as she begins a lengthy recovery process. Lady Raider hoop and volleyball fans wish her the speediest recovery.



The latest standings from the Globe reflect the Middlesex League race, with Melrose tied at the top with Stoneham and Reading close behind. Stoneham slammed Wakefield 60-31 and Reading ripped Winchester 44-32.

Melrose hosted Watertown in a rescheduled game, getting balanced scoring en route to a 65-49 victory. Melrose won despite 39 points from Brittany Obi-Tabot, their senior center headed for Fairfield on a basketball scholarship.

Melrose came out hard and used superior team play to open up a 20-7 first period lead, with 6 points from Hannah Brickley and 5 from Laura Irwin.

The second period showed more Melrose dominance as they opened a 44-20 halftime edge, behind 13 points from Hannah and 10 from Lia Limone who had a nine point scoring outburst in the second stanza. Nicole Meuse also added six off the pine in the period.

The second half belonged to Obi-Tabot, however as she scored all but two of Watertown's 29 second half points. She scored all around the basket with a variety of deft touches, especially from the right block.

Hannah led Melrose with 18 points followed by 13 from Lia and 10 from point guard Colleen Hanscom.

Melrose's victory allows them to remain in a first place tie with Stoneham that defeated Woburn yesterday and a game ahead of Reading.

New Maxpreps.com rankings are out, with the Fontbonne Ducks holding the top spot. Melrose checks in at 19 (up three) on their system that uses winning percentage and strength of victory/defeat looking at who beat whom.

It's all designed to create discussion; nothing comes down on stone tablets.

The first half of Middlesex League play has reached its conclusion with a sharp division between the first division and second division clubs.  Melrose emerges at the turn with a tie for the league lead and a 10-1 record. 


As a matter of record, the top teams have beaten each of the second division teams, and most of the games among the leaders have been very competitive. For example, Melrose lost to Stoneham by one in double overtime, beat Reading by 13, Woburn by 6, and Winchester by 12, although the latter game was a four point contest with just over two minutes left. Stoneham lost to Reading by 6, and Woburn defeated Reading by 2 in a remarkable fourth period comeback (outscoring Reading 22-3).

Stoneham has been the highest scoring team in the league, Reading the stingiest defense, and Melrose has the largest average margin of victory, reflecting its offensive and defensive balance.

Any one of the top four teams could claim the Middlesex League title, as the competitive balance at the top of the league is closer than it has been probably since the 2004-2005 season, when Melrose, Reading, Lexington, and Belmont all fielded strong teams. Woburn has been something of a dark horse in the league, having won five straight games, including their tilt with Reading.

Winchester has too far a hurdle to overcome to make a run at the title, but could act as a spoiler, with a pair of high scoring forwards in Sam Mangano and Shelby Santini.

Watertown has the capability of springing an upset occasionally as they have the most dominant player in the league Brittany Obi-Tabot. She has a Division I scholarship to Fairfield, great footwork in the paint, and suffers principally from lack of high level talent around her. I won't speculate whether she is the League MVP, which usually goes to a player on a contender, but she is the most talented player in the league.

Reading has the unquestioned 'Rookie of the Year' in freshman Olivia Healy, averaging a double double in her first season. Carlene Kluge is their most experienced player, and Kim Penney's coaching shouldn't be underestimated.

Stoneham blends both youth and experience, returning All-League guard Cassie Liston, who plays under control consistently, has a solid outside game, and clever passing skills. They complement her with a very solid surrounding cast, with a variety of underrated players from Vanessa Bramonte, to Marisa Cataldo, and Ari Sicuso. With Bramante in foul trouble, they struggled against Melrose's front line and Reading's Healy lit them up for 27 points in their first meeting, so they will work to strengthen their interior defense.

Assessing one's 'own' team becomes the most difficult task of all. Few teams do any self-scouting, and observer bias (self-attribution in psychological terms) tends to reduce the usefulness, as analysts attribute success to their own competence and problems to 'bad luck'. With that preface, Melrose hasn't fully gotten in sync, for a variety of reasons (the 'beyond' our control view).

• The volleyball run delayed the transition from volleyball season to basketball
• Volleyball left Melrose depleted because of the injury to one of its expected big contributors, Laura Irwin
• Injury to All-League forward Siena Mamayek has disrupted the continuity at both ends of the court.
  
• Game management/situational basketball continues to be a work in progress

On the very positive side, Hannah Brickley and Colleen Hanscom have done everything that could be expected of them and more. AnneMarie Wiesen has provided toughness and rebounds and is capable of doing her best work without the ball. Sophomore Lia Limone has gained valuable experience and had her moments, at York, Woburn, and late at home against Winchester.The team has run the set offense better than many previous Melrose teams, partially out of necessity. Many of Melrose's undefeated regular season teams relied on the transition game to a far greater extent.

The challenges for coach Rob Ferrante and his staff going forward:

• Get healthy.
  
• Develop a reliable and consistent rotation. Lack of consistent reserve play inevitably results in exhausted regulars, particularly in the post-season.
  
• Maintain 'fundamental' discipline. Shot selection and ball security (offensively and defensively), possession by possession, create championships.
• Incorporate continual game management with strategic fouling, use of the thirty second clock, and managing time outs both strategically and for rest of "high minutes" regulars.
  

The Boston Herald ranks teams by Division and Section.

Maxpreps uses a system based on wins and strength of schedule...wins against teams with greater 'power' results in higher ranking.

Reading held off a Stoneham comeback and produced at 47-41 victory to elevate Melrose into a first place tie with Stoneham.

Melrose will host Watertown and Belmont next week.

Melrose hosted Wakefield and dismantled the Lady Warriors 59-31.

After Wakefield tied the score at six, the game was never in doubt, as Melrose roared out from there to overwhelm Wakefield, which started three sophomores. Colleen Hanscom (17 points) had a huge first quarter with ten points and had fourteen at the half and the Melrose guards dominated.

The second half produced some good work on the boards from Hannah Brickley (14 points) and AnneMarie Wiesen, and six points in four minutes from freshman Brooke Bell. Melrose led 43 to 22 heading into the fourth period. Brooke is the third Bell sister to play for the Lady Raiders, and she saw action alongside sister Teagan in the fourth period. Jill Slabacheski also put in a tough drive from the right corner late in the game

Lady Raider Notes: Melrose had more success when they went to the basket and dominated the inside, and eschewed the trey, for which they went 2-9. Melrose completes the first turn around the league at 8-1, 10-1 overall including the York Holiday Tournament.

After a stunning loss to Woburn, 39-37, with a 22-3 fourth for Woburn, Reading leads Stoneham 25-13 at the half, with freshman Olivia Healy firing in 18 points. A Reading win would leave Stoneham and Melrose tied for the ML lead.

Melrose completed the road portion of the first half of Middlesex League play, defeating Lexington 57-33. The Lady Raiders completed the first half of the season 9-1, and host Wakefield Friday.

The first half was reasonably close, as Melrose's offense continues to miss Siena Mamayek's versatile game. Melrose held a slim 25-19 lead at the break, led by nine points from Colleen Hanscom and seven from Hannah Brickley.

Melrose put that behind them in the third period, blasting the Minutewomen 18-6, and putting the game out of reach. Colleen Hanscom had ten points in that frame to lead Melrose, and she and Amanda Peters each put up a trey to walk away with an eighteen point lead.

Melrose got ample time to play everyone, and Kelsey Gilbert recorded her first varsity point with a free throw in the period. Eleven players scored for Melrose. Colleen Hanscom had 21 points and Hannah Brickley 12 to lead Melrose.

Rankings.
Maxpreps' objective system shows Melrose at 17. Note the dominance of the Catholic Schools in the rankings.


Lady Raider Notes: A Melrose win Friday, if it were coupled with a Reading victory hosting Stoneham would throw the Middlesex League into a three-way tie at the break. Coach Storm's site ranks Melrose at 25, one behind Stoneham.

In one of the lowest scoring games in recent memory, Melrose (ML, 6-1) defeated Winchester (4-3) at the Middle School Gym.

Thr first half was tightly contested, with Melrose trailing after one period 11-14. Winchester slowed the game down, and hit some outside shots with the forward pair of Mangano and Santini. The game was tied at the break at 20, with Winchester content to try to slow the pace and shorten the game. Hannah Brickley had eight points at the half and Laura Irwin and Colleen Hanscom each had four.

AnneMarie Wiesen came out strong in the second half scoring Melrose's first four points, and an 11-4 run in the period gave Melrose a seven point advantage, with another pair of Brickley buckets the difference maker late.

Melrose maintainted their advantage during the first half of the fourth frame, but Winchester closed to within four with 2:26 remaining. Then Lia Limone went to work with seven points late, including a pair of jumpers and two free throws to ice the victory.

Lady Raider Notes: Siena Mamayek was on the sidelines with crutches although is improving. Laura Irwin got her first start as she returns from a volleyball ankle injury. Melrose shot 9-15 from the free throw line, including 6 for 8 during the fourth period.

The non-perishable food drive held by the teams appeared to be a success.

Coach Rob Ferrante introduced former players who were in attendance during Alumnae Night. They ranged from ever-young Carol Farr to the most recent MHS graduate Lauren Murray. Former Coach Dave Brady was also in attendance but declined to take a bow.

Melrose has a pair of additional games this week, Wednesday at Lexington and Friday hosting Wakefield. The team will need to keep winning and get some help from Reading which hosts Stoneham Friday in a pivotal Middlesex League contest.

At tomorrow's girls' (5:30 p.m.) and boys' (7:00 p.m.), the teams will collect donation for A Servant's Heart Food Pantry, located at Faith Evangelical Church, 200 Franklin Street, Melrose.
Admission is half off for fans who bring a non-edible item for the pantry. Some suggested items include:

• Liquid laundry detergent and kitchen cleaning supplies
• Dishwashing liquid
• zip-lock freezer bags
• Trash and garbage bags
• Facial tissues
• Toothpaste and liquid shower soap
• Shampoo, conditioner, and women's (only) deodorant

Recent information has shown that about one in eight residents are on food stamps, and one in seven Americans has hunger. More information is available at 781-662-2230 according to the Melrose Free Press.

Monday is also Alumnae Night, when former Lady Raiders are recognized for their contributions.

Speaking of Alums:

• Meg Kirwan, former ML MVP, a sophomore on the UMASS-Lowell Women's 8-5 team is averaging 3.7 ppg and 3.5 rpg.
• Lynley DeAmato, a UMASS Dartmouth junior who returned to basketball after a two year layoff, leads the team with 12.2 ppg and over 3 steals/game.
  
• Emily Clark, a sophomore at Framingham State, averages 8.6 ppg and 6.6 rpg for the Rams.
  

Melrose hasn't lost many Middlesex League games in the past decade, but three have occurred at Stoneham. Stoneham overcame a late third quarter 10 point deficit, and won in double overtime 58-57. Worse than the loss however, was an unspecified ankle injury to senior forward Siena Mamayek.

Both teams came in undefeated, and Melrose came out firing fast, with Colleen Hanscom spearheading a 16-10 lead with nine first period points. Hanscom, Hannah Brickley, and AnneMarie Wiesen all did yeoman work in the marathon forty minute contest.

Stoneham roared back in the second period to tie the game at 20, led by the all around excellence of Cassie Liston and the defense prowess of Marisa Cataldo. Melrose still took a 27-22 lead into the break with 13 from Colleen, and 5 apiece from Siena and Hannah.

Stoneham came out strong in the second and knotted the contest at 27, with Siena getting hurt in the rebounding fray. Melrose then ran off a ten point lead, but Stoneham countered with a six point run, with the quarter ending with Melrose up four, 39-35. Hannah had eight of Melrose's twelve for the period doing the heavy work underneath.

Melrose tried to pull away in the fourth but couldn't, as Stoneham used balanced scoring and a late jumper from Sarah Benmir to tie the game at 47 and send it into overtime. A desperation three pointer from near midcourt by Hannah rimmed out at the buzzer.

The first overtime saw more back and forth action, with Melrose converting two points out of six possible on one and ones, the game tied at 51.

The second overtime saw more seesaw action with another critical basket by Benmir and more good play from Liston, Stoneham's all-league off guard. Hannah Brickley added another four points in the second overtime, and Melrose enjoyed a 57-56 lead with fourteen seconds remaining, and the ball out of bounds on the Melrose sideline. Melrose couldn't inbound the ball and took a time out. After the time out, the inbounds pass went astray, recovered by Stoneham for a layup.

Melrose had a final opportunity with 3.7 seconds remaining as a Stoneham inbounds pass went out to half court, but a desperation try at the buzzer went wide, and the Spartans and their crowd went wide.

Lady Raider Notes: Hannah Brickley had a phenomenal game, with fifteen second half points and 26 overall. Colleen Hanscom added 19 in an exhausting effort at point guard. Laura Irwin made her return from injury, logging unexpectedly heavy minutes after Siena's injury.

Monday is Alumnae Night, where former Lady Raiders are invited to be recognized for their contributions.

All Melrose fans wish Siena a speedy recovery from her injury.

Melrose's former AD Sonny Lane, a member of the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, didn't get there by accident. He coached Wakefield to a State Championship and a Division I Sectional title. One of his many sayings was, "the ball is gold." And that was in the day where the yellow metal was thirty-five dollars an ounce, not eleven hundred.

This was the Cuban Missile Crisis of girls' basketball, about determining whether a nearby power was to establish a foothold in your back yard. That didn't happen as Melrose paralayed a 29-12 first half advantage into a 53-40 victory.

Melrose ran out to an old-time feeling quick 8-0 lead before the Lady Rockets got off the schneid. Reading was ice cold from the outside and the Melrose defense ruled the defensive boards. It was a team victory in more than name, as Melrose got big performances from AnneMarie Wiesen, Lia Limone, and Amanda Peters en route to the victory. Reading, absent the outside shooting of graduates Jackie Lyons, Alison Staiger, and Cat Carey struggled with only 2 points in the first seven minutes of period two.

The first half however, was the Hannah Brickley show, as the senior forward dominated Reading inside, scoring 13 of her 17 points. Hannah had six in the first period to get Melrose off to a fast start, leading 18-6 after the first period.

The second period saw even more extension with a 29-12 halftime edge, with key boardwork on both ends from AnneMarie.

Reading outscored Melrose 14-12 in the third, as Carlene Kluge heated up. Colleen Hanscom had a key trey in the frame to expand a Melrose lead from ten to thirteen.

Reading frustrated Melrose at times in the fourth, bringing the lead under ten, but Melrose responded with some critical hoops from the entire cast, including a trey from Amanda.

Hannah Brickley led Melrose scoring with 17 while Lia and Siena Mamayek each added eight, Colleen seven, and AnneMarie six.

Lady Raider Notes: Melrose (7-0) has a chance to assume undisputed first place in the league with a victory at Stoneham Friday. Coach Storm (Tom Hellen) was in the crowd along with Rob from Beantownhoops.com. The first half of action was as dominant a Melrose half seen since the 2005 season, when an undefeated regular season Melrose team beat a 15-3 Reading squad 70-37 at the old Daffinee Gym.

Melrose hosts Reading tomorrow at 7 P.M. in a battle for first place (along with Stoneham) at the Middle School Gym. Beantownhoops has a brief preview.

The Boston Globe has an article on Middlesex League star Brittany Obi-Tabot. AnneMarie Wiesen did a great job containing her in their earlier battle.

Melrose hosts Reading Tuesday in a battle of unbeaten Middlesex League teams.

Melrose enjoyed total domination over Reading for much of the past decade, sweeping the series from at least 2000-2007 during Coach Dave Brady's reign. The Lady Raiders always seemed to have whatever it took to win, big plays down the stretch (Shannon Kirwan at Reading in 2003 comes to mind), unexpected production despite injury (e.g. Marianne Foley out at Reading in 2004), or just superior talent.

Something changed. Reading's athletic juggernaut keeps producing athletes, and Reading turned the tables in 2007-8 with two of three wins including the postseason, and the Lady Rockets captured both games last season with a senior-dominated team.

In addition to a quality youth program producing talent like freshman Olivia Healy, classy Coach Kim Penney's program has undergone its own paradigm shift. While Melrose has had some exceptional basketball players, the foundation of the program has always been team basketball. Reading's offense revolved around a series of 'core players', sequentially Jen Shoemaker, Justine Lyons, and Mary Silvia. Simply, if you could contain the stars, then you could beat Reading. Now Reading has developed a more diversified style of offense, such that they no longer rely on one player to carry the load. Certainly, Jackie Lyons was huge for them last season, but they also had Cat Carey, Alison Staiger and others, who could rise to the occasion when given the opportunity.

Additionally, Penney has spent plenty of time with area college coaches developing kryptonite for Melrose's offense that Reading has seen for the past decade. Reading incorporates elements from the successful Bentley program and others with good effect.

This season, Reading relies on Carlene Kluge as their principal scorer, but they have senior defensive stalwarts in Kamy Forlizzi and Desh Perera and future potential All-Scholastic players in freshmen Healy and Morgan O'Brien.

Melrose counters with senior leadership and production. Senior co-captains Hannah Brickley, Colleen Hanscom, and Siena Mamayek have held the fort while co-captain Laura Irwin recovers from a volleyball injury, and Melrose has gotten strong production from AnneMarie Wiesen on the boards and some key hoops from off guard Lia Limone. Melrose's reserves haven't been called on much so far to step up, but with Reading jamming the passing lanes, Melrose may need some outside shooting from seniors Nicole Meuse and Amanda Peters.

Last season Reading prevented Melrose from getting to the basket and forced the Lady Raiders to struggle with the shot clock and to take lower percentage shots, holding Melrose to 47 and 39 points respectively. Melrose will need to maintain good spacing and discipline, and try to capitalize on Reading's youth and aggressiveness to identify play-making opportunities backdoor and from the wings to recapture the advantage.

Only time will reveal whether the past two season represent tremors or a tsunami.

Maxpreps has a rating system involving both winning percentage and strength of schedule. As the season progresses, reflecting broader sample sizes, the rankings make more 'sense'. These ratings don't have any subjectivity (e.g. polling) so, it is what it is.

Early in the year, ratings can swing wildly. Andover comes out on top after handily defeating Central Catholic. Melrose moves up to 12th, based on their victory over Maine's second ranked York. Maxpreps relies on input from others for schedule, scores, rosters and other information, so many records are incomplete.

As we get closer to Tuesday's pivotal matchup with Reading, we'll have more information on both teams.