Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Home Whites Win Post Christmas
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.
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.
// posted by Ron Sen, MD, FCCP @ 9:56 PM 
