MHS ALUM Shannon Kirwan and her family were present for the MHS girls basketball banquet to unveil a new award named in her honor. (courtesy photo)

 

By JENNIFER GENTILE

SAUGUS—The Melrose High girls’ basketball team celebrated their 2023-24 season with a year-end banquet at Rosaria of Saugus on Thursday, March 14. It was a night to honor their three teams and unveil some new annual awards that pay homage to former star hoop players.

On hand was special guest, Shannon Kirwan, a MHS 2003 alum and inducted member of the MHS Athletic Hall of Fame, who was a two-time league MVP and a Gatorade Player of the Year while playing at Melrose High from 2000-03. The Boston Herald Dream Team’er, who went on to play at Bentley, joined the event with her family to be honored for the distribution of the inaugural Shannon Kirwan Most Outstanding Player Award, which will be displayed in the lobby at the gym. Kirwan was present with her family.

“I named the award after her,” says Melrose first year head coach Andrea Razi Thomas. “She was 91-6 while in high school and was the ML League Player of the Year and the Gatorade Player of the year for the state of MA in 2003. She was awesome.” That award was given to Melrose senior captain Lily Nolan.

Another award unveiled was the Shey Peddy Award: Commitment to Culture, Work Ethic and Excellence, which will also be displayed in the lobby at the gym. Arguably the finest and most accomplished basketball player ever to play at Melrose High, she was a McDonald’s High School All American, Boston Herald and Boston Globe Dream team player, a Div. 1 college commit and a current player for the WNBA (Connecticut Suns). This was awarded to a player showing commitment and hard work in different ways, all exemplifying what coaches want to see in the program. The varsity player awarded this honor was Scarlett D’Addio (’25).

 

THE MELROSE High girls’ basketball team named their captains for the 2024-5 season. Alexandra Leeman (left) will join current junior captain Scarlet D’Addio as team captain. They are pictured with outgoing captain Lily Nolan. (courtesy photo)

The award was also given on the JV level to Sherrine Driggs- Brooks(JVB, ‘26) and Aisling Donegan (JVA, ‘26).

Peddy (2003-2007) was available via video feed from London where she is playing in EuroLeague and she thanked the program for honoring her with this unique award. “Playing at Melrose High was the best 4 years of my life. We won 4 ML Championships and I had a chance to play at TD Garden.”

She noted the long days that came as a high school player and Metco student, who woke at 5:30 to be ready to catch a bus to Melrose. “Sacrifices had to be made in order for be made for the team to be successful. It helped me get a scholarship to play in college and set the path to the me playing overseas and in the WNBA.”

“Shey is arguably the best player to ever don an MHS uniform,” says coach Razi Thomas. “She was committed and resilient! She took the bus from Boston every day to play for MHS as a student in the METCO program. Also she was cut from the WNBA for 7 years after college! In 2019 she made the WNBA and has been an impact player in the league ever since. She just signed a contract with the Connecticut Sun.”

Additional awards were given over the night:

Middlesex League All-Star: senior capt. Lily Nolan

Most Improved Player: 9th grader Anna Burns

Defensive Stopper Award:     11th grader Alex Leeman

Offensive Weapon Award:     11th grader Sophia DiCalogero

And next year’s captains were announced to be junior Scarlett D’Addio (returning) and junior Alexandra Leeman.