Melrose Lady Raiders Basketball

In a season replete with 'what ifs' and 'could have beens', Melrose shares the Middlesex League title at 15-3, coupling a 67-43 win at Wakefield, with a Stoneham 51-34 mauling of Reading.

Melrose parlayed 24 points from Hannah Brickley and stout second half defense to claim their share.

But tonight Stoneham kicked it up a notch at home, before a sellout crowd in a very physical game. The thrill of victory (standing Stoneham fans) stands in high relief against the somber Reading crowd.

It was Senior Night in Stoneham, and the Athletic Director recognized the seniors.

Both teams came out hard, with Reading starting both of its frosh, Olivia Healy and Morgan O'Brien and the nerves showed early, as Reading shot poorly and Stoneham missed a bushel of layups en route to a 9-5 lead. Appropriately enough, Senior Cassie Liston sparked the Spartan offense, with her steady ball-handling and experience, often taking the Reading youngsters to school. Stoneham center Vanessa Bramante dominated the period on the glass but struggled to find the blue sky around the hoop.

But the difference maker on the night was Senior Marisa Cataldo, whose ball-hawking defense stymied Reading's point, Deshanti Perera, and prevented the Rockets from getting into their offense. Cataldo's relentless pressure denied Perera from allowing Carlene Kluge and Olivia Healy from getting the ball in their sweet spots in the paint, limiting the damage. Cataldo's effort of on the ball was a film clinic of end-to-end pressure, the best individual defense I've seen in the Middlesex League in several years.

Reading struck back in quarter two, with some screens off the ball, and trailed 18-14 at the break.

In the third quarter, it was more Liston and Cataldo, and Stoneham's defense keyed a 12-3 outbreak yielding a 30-17 third period lead. Reading tried to get into a pressure mode, but Stoneham's Liston and  Arianna Tuccelli controlled the ball with a minimum of turnovers, and Ariana Sicuso provided some key offense.

The final stanza simply turned into a slug fest, as the officials, already calling the worst game I've seen this season, allowed the bodies to fly around before trying to get the game under control and leading into a free throw shooting contest. Down the stretch, Tuccelli drained a number of one and ones to keep Reading from sniffing a comeback or closing nearer than eight points. Stoneham also showed poise with reasonable game management allowing them to shorten the game.

Lady Raider Notes: Within the sellout crowd, the Back Row boys had their quorum and Coach Storm, Tom Hellen shared his thoughts on EMASS basketball as well.