Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Title Hopes Live, Melrose 51 Stoneham 46
Melrose faced a 'must' win at home, and stared down the challenge, stopping Stoneham late to remain in a first place tie with Reading, 51-46.
The game had all the action you could want, with ferocious defense holding Melrose scoreless for the first 4:15. Melrose broke through with free throws, but trailed by seven at one point in the first, before closing to within three.
The second period showed more tight action, with Stoneham stoning Hannah Brickley, and holding the All-League forward to a single point in the half. Fortunately, Colleen Hanscom responded with 9 first half points, and Lia Limone added 5. Amanda Peters was the unsung hero of the game, with 5 points in two minutes in the quarter, and tight defense on Stoneham star Cassie Liston. Melrose trailed 24-22 at the half, as the Lady Raiders struggled on the defensive boards.
Melrose play-by-play announcer Ralph Labella predicted a huge second half for Hannah, and she delivered, inside and outside, as well as playing Liston tight at the defensive end. With Stoneham shooting at the open end ("Bermuda triangle") the second half, their offense cooled, scoring many of their points off Melrose's ineffective 1-3-1 trap. Finally, Melrose abandoned the trap in favor of tight man-to-man defense, and the advantage swung to Melrose.
The Lady Raiders went away from the motion offenses in favor of the "two-man game", running the high-low offense to Hannah and another unsung hero, Siena Mamayek, returning from injury, with six points, including four big ones late. Siena also made the defensive play of the game late, with Melrose leading by three. She deflected an entry pass to Bramante, and came up with the steal, before being fouled. After missing the front end of a one-and-one, Colleen Hanscom stole the outlet pass, and converted a pair to ice the game with eight seconds left.
Colleen finished with 18 points and Hannah 17, including 16 in the second half.
Lady Raider notes: The Middle School Gymnasium saw an enormous crowd with the stands filled and the sellout overflow seated on the floor. Much of the Reading team came to watch (and root for Stoneham) after their game. The victory raised Melrose's record to 15-2 and 13-2 in the Middlesex League. Melrose has a tough road contest Friday at Winchester, where a maximal effort will be needed to remain tied with Reading for first.
The game had all the action you could want, with ferocious defense holding Melrose scoreless for the first 4:15. Melrose broke through with free throws, but trailed by seven at one point in the first, before closing to within three.
The second period showed more tight action, with Stoneham stoning Hannah Brickley, and holding the All-League forward to a single point in the half. Fortunately, Colleen Hanscom responded with 9 first half points, and Lia Limone added 5. Amanda Peters was the unsung hero of the game, with 5 points in two minutes in the quarter, and tight defense on Stoneham star Cassie Liston. Melrose trailed 24-22 at the half, as the Lady Raiders struggled on the defensive boards.
Melrose play-by-play announcer Ralph Labella predicted a huge second half for Hannah, and she delivered, inside and outside, as well as playing Liston tight at the defensive end. With Stoneham shooting at the open end ("Bermuda triangle") the second half, their offense cooled, scoring many of their points off Melrose's ineffective 1-3-1 trap. Finally, Melrose abandoned the trap in favor of tight man-to-man defense, and the advantage swung to Melrose.
The Lady Raiders went away from the motion offenses in favor of the "two-man game", running the high-low offense to Hannah and another unsung hero, Siena Mamayek, returning from injury, with six points, including four big ones late. Siena also made the defensive play of the game late, with Melrose leading by three. She deflected an entry pass to Bramante, and came up with the steal, before being fouled. After missing the front end of a one-and-one, Colleen Hanscom stole the outlet pass, and converted a pair to ice the game with eight seconds left.
Colleen finished with 18 points and Hannah 17, including 16 in the second half.
Lady Raider notes: The Middle School Gymnasium saw an enormous crowd with the stands filled and the sellout overflow seated on the floor. Much of the Reading team came to watch (and root for Stoneham) after their game. The victory raised Melrose's record to 15-2 and 13-2 in the Middlesex League. Melrose has a tough road contest Friday at Winchester, where a maximal effort will be needed to remain tied with Reading for first.
// posted by Ron Sen, MD, FCCP @ 10:02 PM 
