Melrose Lady Raiders Basketball

The greatest coach you never heard of. "The memories are the only thing you can keep."

Melrose (1-4) hosted Wachusett (5-0) in the final of its holiday tournament and came away literally licking their wounds, with a 48-35 defeat at the Middle School. Wachusett had a front line standing over and above the Lady Raiders, and parlayed that size advantage into rebounding and interior superiority en route to victory.

*Exaggeration you say?
 Note: the other arm looks worse. Tetanus toxoid anyone?

Wachusett powered out of the gate with a 15-6 opening period lead behind the play of Shannon Holt. But Melrose responded in the second frame with better passing, better ball movement, and better shooting to close to within four at 22-18 at the break. Melrose got seven points from Sydney Doherty (7) in the period, Lia Limone's (8) second trey, with a 12-7 advantage.

Although Melrose came out with the opening hoop of the third period, to close within a pair, Wachusett responded with man-to-man defense and a devastating fast break to go up by double figures, before Melrose closed to within eight after three as Brooke Bell (7) finished the period with a traditional three point play.

The visitors kept the pressure on down the stretch, with Holt doing more damage late as Melrose got worn down by the Wachusett size. Melrose couldn't get off much inside because of the shot blocking and altering, and Wachusett remained undefeated by holding the Lady Raiders to five fourth period points.

Game Analysis:This was a classic David and Goliath contest, and as the saying goes, "the race is not always to the swiftest or the battle to the strongest, but it pays to bet that way." Melrose improved its ball movement against the zone at times. and showed flashes at times, but the size and strength of Wachusett showed.

Melrose hosted Tewksbury in the first round of its Holiday Tournament and left with its inaugural win of the 2011-12 campaign 45-37.

Every team searches for its identity, and today's performance demonstrated the potential rewards of uptempo basketball. Melrose came into the game averaging 30 points per game and struggling in the half court offense.

The early going continued to prove uneven, as Melrose led 9-8 after one, as turnovers frustrated their offensive continuity. Tewksbury came in with a young (3 sophomores and a junior) starting lineup and their inexperience in the paint showed.

Melrose looked to gain control in period two, and opened up a 20-16 halftime lead, behind five points apiece from Brooke Bell (10) and Lia Limone.

Tewksbury showed some resilience in the third, tying the game at 20 before Sydney Doherty (13 points, 10 second half) and Jenny McGee each delivered a pair of hoops to bring a 30-27 lead into the final stanza. The big change was Melrose committing to more transition offense leading to easier scoring opportunities.

Leading by three into the fourth, Melrose got offense from juniors Doherty, Bell, Shannon Lahiff and Rachel Johnson who delivered all of Melrose's final frame scoring. Once again it was the running game and some aggressive offense rebounding down the stretch that sealed the win.

Game Analysis: Teams need to find a way to win, and Melrose started to find their offensive identity using the slashing drives of Bell and Doherty on the fast break to advantage. Every team needs to find players able to fill various roles, and Melrose looked to be finding theirs. The defense forced the visitors into making more mistakes at key junctures, and Melrose made enough plays when it counted.

Steve Pacheco has a pretty sound perspective on ML hoop. Here's his preview.

Melrose traveled to Lexington and while it wasn't a "Last Friday Night" disaster in the ilk of Katy Perry, Melrose dropped its third game of the "big" schedule falling to a solid Lexington club 43-30.

The game started well with a hoop by Sydney Dohery, but Lexington behind Cat Costello and Kaitlin Kajko began to take control, leading 8-4 before a late Shannon Lahiff hoop, trailing 8-6 after the first.

Lexington broke the game open in the second period, leading 18-8 with a 10-2 run. Costello was held down by tight Brooke Bell defense, but Kajko and company got to the hoop for some easy baskets. A late Melrose run got the game to within 24-12 at half.

Melrose tried to get the game to a higher tempo in the third, but several passes from the perimeter into the post couldn't connect. Four minutes into the third, Melrose had authored only a single field goal, making hopes of a comeback slim. Lexington led 35-19 after three.

Melrose showed some life in the fourth, getting the game to within nine courtesy of a seven point quarter from Bell (12 points) and some offensive penetration from Doherty (10 points), but Lexington got solid efforts from a number of players including freshman Lucy Lang (7 points) and Melrose never threatened.

Game analysis: At times Melrose attacked the basket more effectively, and improved their defense away from the ball, particularly Bell on Costello and Lia Limone denying front cuts. But Melrose still struggled on the defensive boards, and was unable to generate any field goals from the post.

Melrose traveled to Woburn, and showed flashes of improvement, but Woburn's defense and three point shooting earned the Tanners a 42-26 victory.

Melrose went up early on hoops by Sydney Doherty and Kayla Wyland to take a 4-1 lead, but Woburn responded and deadlocked the score by the end of the quarter at eight. Melrose had opportunities, but turnovers kept Melrose from getting the scoring opportunities necessary.

The second period proved to be the difference for the Tanners, as they exploded for a 19-2 run, including 19 consecutive points. Melrose's half-court offense couldn't generate points and Woburn heated up from the outside en route to a 27-10 halftime edge.

Melrose made in-game adjustments in the third period, trying to take the game uptempo and applying some full court pressure. Brooke Bell and Lia Limone heated up for 11 points and Rachel Johnson had a nice stickback as the Lady Raiders brought the lead into single digits at 32-23.

But Woburn reasserted control in the fourth, again forcing turnovers and capitalizing on some outside shooting as they coasted to a 42-26 win. Brooke Bell had 12 points, Lia Limone 6, and Sydney Doherty 5 for Melrose. Melrose shot well from the stripe, going 12-13, but could only muster seven field goals.

Game Analysis: Although Melrose has a number of returning players, on the whole the young team still is working out the kinks, especially with a short turnaround since volleyball season. The Lady Raiders are still looking for answers offensively and need to take better care of the ball.

Basketball is still a game of mistakes. Generally speaking a team gets 15-20 possessions a quarter, and if half of them or more aren't creating shots because of turnovers, a team will need exceptional shooting and dominant offensive rebounding to put points on the board. And unless a team is a great shooting team, it must become a great passing team to create easy shots.

Melrose travels to Woburn tonight in an important 'measuring stick' game. Woburn has a solid and balanced team, that plays physical and aggressive basketball that will challenge Melrose.

As a player or a coach, you have to ask yourself, "what are your core basketball beliefs?" You must be able to answer that to play quality basketball; in other words, you can only expect players to respond to what is emphasized. And to excel, a solid knowledge of the game means so much in a game that has more to it than meets the eye. As Dr. James Naismith reminded players, "basketball is an easy game to learn, but a difficult one to master."

On the Melrosegirlsbasketball.com site, I've talked about 'symmetry' in basketball, how good players use their knowledge of the game effectively on both sides of the ball.

Don't have a philosophy? I'd suggest starting with some core 'quality' values:

• Everything begins with defense and rebounding. Defense and rebounding can keep you in the game when offensive struggles occur. which happens for every team, in every sport. 
• Every possession is important. Games are won by winning possessions. Defensively that means allowing (at most) ONE BAD SHOT. Offensively that means taking care of the ball to get (at least) one QUALITY SHOT.
• Your attitude determines who you are and how you play. Confidence leads to success and success reinforces confidence. You can develop through having both an identity statement (who your are) and a performance statement (how you play). 

Melrose faced Reading for the only time this season, and happily sent the Rockets away with Reading doubling up Melrose 71-35.

The pre-game keys to the game were 1) establish defensive intensity early, 2) winning the rebounding war, and 3) taking care of the ball offensively. Reading came out with three quick hoops, dominated the glass at both ends, and Melrose struggled with turnovers throughout.

After taking the early lead behind 2010-11 MVP Olivia Healey, Reading opened up 22-6 and 35-16 halftime leads and coasted from there on. It could have been worse as Reading's other outside sharpshooter, Morgan O'Brien couldn't find the range in the first half. Only a pair of Lia Limone threes kept Melrose from an even bigger deficit.

Reading continued to expand the lead in the third period, leading 55-28, before closing out the Lady Raiders with a big dose of payback for almost a decade of domination (18 consecutive wins at one point).

Melrose had nine players score, led by Limone with eight and Jenny McGee with six. One senior basketball observer named Katy Sullivan and Jill MacInnes as his standouts for showing some toughness and moxie.

Game analysis: Reading dominated for the second consecutive season. Melrose couldn't stop Reading from getting easy baskets in transition and generated little offense amidst struggling with turnovers. Melrose is still a young team despite a year of varsity experience for many of its players.

Somerville's Tom Hellen gives his preseason outlook. Four Middlesex League teams get recognition, but Melrose will have to play its way into the rankings.

Opening night Friday.

ESPN.com previews the local girls basketball scene. They don't give any love to Woburn, which plays an aggressive, attacking style that can give anyone fits on a given night.

Melrose's Middlesex League schedule for 2011-2012. Under the new large and small division setup, Melrose will face traditional rival Reading only once this season.

Reading, last year's champion, is the league favorite, led by Olivia Healy, Marissa DalPozzo, and Morgan O'Brien. Reading historically favors individual assignment defense and transition offense, and dominated Melrose on the boards last season in a pair of victories.

A turnaround for Melrose this season will have to begin on the defensive end, including an assiduous commitment to defensive rebounding. Melrose faced some physical teams in the preseason, and will need to expect physical play from the Rockets in the opener Friday.

Keys for the home opener include:

• Establishing defensive intensity from the outset
• Toughness on the glass
• Ball and player movement to get quality shots while limiting turnovers. 

Melrose has had a couple of scrimmages as the girls prepare for the upcoming season.

Basketball is a game of mistakes. Defense is about forcing offenses to make errors, which could include drawing charges, creating turnovers, getting deflections and steals, and above all forcing bad shots, preventing easy baskets, and rebounding relentlessly. Players unwilling to make maximal defensive commitment, regardless of offensive ability, will lose opportunities to contribute.

Conversely, solid offensive players will maximize their chances to create scoring chances for others and themselves by integrating spacing, player, and ball movement. Spacing allows dribble penetration, clears passing lanes, and makes help defense and trapping more difficult. Good offensive players move to open spots, cut to the basket, and set screens. They are NOT magnetized to the ball. Ball movement creates defensive malpositioning, sets up easier shots, and deforms zone defenses.

The best coaches teach their players to see the game. And as players see the game, opportunities arise consistently. Coach Bob Knight says that the mental is to the physical in basketball four to one. I couldn't agree more.

I saw a lot of good things reviewing the scrimmage video, particularly a lot of unselfish play.

Here's a cross-post from the MelroseGirlsBasketball.com basketball blog. We don't expect consistent defense, we demand it. You can have a bad shooting day, but you cannot have a bad 'showing up to play defense' day.

The importance of defensive communication to deny easy baskets cannot be overemphasized.

Examples of defensive communication include:

• Calling cutters
• Calling out picks and switches (you should have rules regarding playing the pick-and-roll)
• Informing teammates where the help is "Help baseline"
• Informing teammates when help leaves "Empty"
• When the dribbler picks up the ball, call "Pinch" or "Deny"

melrosegirlsbasketball.com/varsity.html Schedule for 2011 as we have it.

A couple of points to remember:

"Activity is not achievement." - John Wooden

Certainly, selection for the team merits both congratulations and pride.  Take the opportunity to make the most of your experience.