Friday, February 03, 2012
Winning Streak Continues, Devils Fried 41-27
Melrose came in tied with Wilmington for the lead in the Middlesex Small division and departed with a 41-27 win over visiting Burlington. Melrose has now won eight of its last nine games and moves to 9-5.
Melrose won the game on the defensive end. Shutdown defender Brooke Bell stymied the Burlington guards and Melrose grabbed a 10-2 lead that they never relinquished. Melrose had only one first period turnover along the way.
The Lady Raiders expanded the lead along the way, outscoring the Red Devils 11-8 in period two, with Lia Limone leading the scoring at halftime thanks to a pair of threes. Sophomore Jill MacInnes had a spectacular three minutes, with four points, one rebound, one steal, one assist, and a forced turnover. She did everything except take tickets.
The third period saw Melrose scuffle in the half-court offense, with only two hoops and periods with poor flow. At the end of three, Melrose led 28-21.
Burlington pulled within six early in the fourth, but Melrose threw away the conservative game plan and was able to put up thirteen points with some drives and better cutting and passing. A thirteen point final frame iced the win. Brooke Bell finished with thirteen points, Jenny McGee added eleven, and Lia Limone ten.
Game analysis: at times the Lady Raiders seemed conflicted, unsure whether to press transition or settle for the half-court game. In the set offense, they didn't consistently generate high probability scoring opportunities, but their defense kept them in front. Good free throw shooting (10-14) also helped them to get within a game of qualifying for post-season action, headed into games at Wakefield and Wilmington next week.
Melrose won the game on the defensive end. Shutdown defender Brooke Bell stymied the Burlington guards and Melrose grabbed a 10-2 lead that they never relinquished. Melrose had only one first period turnover along the way.
The Lady Raiders expanded the lead along the way, outscoring the Red Devils 11-8 in period two, with Lia Limone leading the scoring at halftime thanks to a pair of threes. Sophomore Jill MacInnes had a spectacular three minutes, with four points, one rebound, one steal, one assist, and a forced turnover. She did everything except take tickets.
The third period saw Melrose scuffle in the half-court offense, with only two hoops and periods with poor flow. At the end of three, Melrose led 28-21.
Burlington pulled within six early in the fourth, but Melrose threw away the conservative game plan and was able to put up thirteen points with some drives and better cutting and passing. A thirteen point final frame iced the win. Brooke Bell finished with thirteen points, Jenny McGee added eleven, and Lia Limone ten.
Game analysis: at times the Lady Raiders seemed conflicted, unsure whether to press transition or settle for the half-court game. In the set offense, they didn't consistently generate high probability scoring opportunities, but their defense kept them in front. Good free throw shooting (10-14) also helped them to get within a game of qualifying for post-season action, headed into games at Wakefield and Wilmington next week.
// posted by Ron Sen, MD, FCCP @ 10:22 PM 
