Tuesday, January 31, 2012
7 out of 8 with 53-40 Win Over Spy Ponders
Melrose hosted Arlington for the first time since their entry into the Middlesex League, and emerged with a 53-40 win for their 7th win in the last eight outings. The victory moves the Lady Raiders to 8-5 and within two wins for post-season play.
The first period was largely nightmarish, with a 9-4 deficit on one for twelve shooting and seven turnovers. The scoring drought continued into the half with the Lady Raiders struggling with the half-court offense en route to a 20-17 deficit. Brooke Bell and Lia Limone led with five apiece at the break.
Melrose dialed up the defensive intensity and went off the reservation with free lance and transition offense to go up 33-27 with balanced scoring.
The hosts put the game away early in the fourth, with a pair of treys from Lia, and eight free throws from Lia and Sydney Doherty amidst twenty fourth period tallies.
Lia led with eighteen points, Kayla Wyland had eleven off the bench, and unofficially Melrose had only four second half turnovers.
Game Analysis: Melrose's backcourt superiority, coupled with foul trouble for the Arlington point guard doomed Arlington. Melrose was as cold as ice from the floor in the first half (6-30), but put up thirty-six points in the second half to get a late January thaw.
More than anything else, better basketball away from half-court sets and fewer turnovers have rejuvenated the offense and restored enthusiasm to the court.
The first period was largely nightmarish, with a 9-4 deficit on one for twelve shooting and seven turnovers. The scoring drought continued into the half with the Lady Raiders struggling with the half-court offense en route to a 20-17 deficit. Brooke Bell and Lia Limone led with five apiece at the break.
Melrose dialed up the defensive intensity and went off the reservation with free lance and transition offense to go up 33-27 with balanced scoring.
The hosts put the game away early in the fourth, with a pair of treys from Lia, and eight free throws from Lia and Sydney Doherty amidst twenty fourth period tallies.
Lia led with eighteen points, Kayla Wyland had eleven off the bench, and unofficially Melrose had only four second half turnovers.
Game Analysis: Melrose's backcourt superiority, coupled with foul trouble for the Arlington point guard doomed Arlington. Melrose was as cold as ice from the floor in the first half (6-30), but put up thirty-six points in the second half to get a late January thaw.
More than anything else, better basketball away from half-court sets and fewer turnovers have rejuvenated the offense and restored enthusiasm to the court.
// posted by Ron Sen, MD, FCCP @ 10:27 PM 
