Second straight league title for 14-3 Melrose

Published February 15, 2019

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—The Melrose Lady Raider hoop team (14-3) has earned their second straight Freedom Division title after beating Wakefield last Friday at home during Senior Night, 50-40. 

The playoff-headed team will aim to add more wins to their record this week in order to secure a top seed in the Div. 2 North tournament, where they are favored, along with Pentucket. Melrose is steamrolling at this point, winners of 7 in a row, with two more games on the regular season schedule. 

On Friday, coach Bill Hirschfeld was pleased that Melrose persevered after a slow start against the Warriors. 

“We were a little sluggish in the beginning,” he said. “They played well and the zone they used jammed us up a bit, but we got through it and it was a hard-nosed game from there.” 

THE 2019 Middlesex Freedom League Champion Melrose girls’ hoop team. (courtesy photo)

Melrose took a quick 6-1 lead behind shooting from Sam Dewey (who led with 17 points) and Sam Smith, helping Melrose finish the quarter up 8-5. Melrose defense thwarted the Warriors and Smith, Dewey and Lily Cunningham continued finding the net. Cunningham was sent to the foul line frequently and scored baskets. 

“Lily came up big for us tonight,” said Hirschfeld. “She’s been playing well in our last few games.”

A beautiful Abby Cunningham assist to Peri McDonald gave Melrose a larger lead of 18-12 before the half. Wakefield showed a little more life in the third, but Melrose’s offense kicked into gear thanks to work from Peri MacDonald, Lily Cunningham and a three-pointer by Mary Kate Mahoney. As the third drew to a close, Sam Dewey hit a layup that drew a foul and Lily Cunningham hit a jumper that made it a 32-23 game at the end of three. 

Both teams generated far more offense in the 4th. Wakefield nailed a pair of treys, while Mary Kate Mahoney hit a three pointer and Dewey nailed four baskets that helped Melrose prevail in the end, 50-40. 

At press time, Melrose is poised to capture either the second or third slot in Div. 2 North. Pentucket (17-2) currently tops the division, and that’s a team Melrose may face again for a rematch of last year’s Div. 2 North Final.

Playoff brackets are expected to be released February 22.   

Freedom League Standings

                  League     Overall

Melrose      12-2       14-3 

Wilmington  9-5         11-5

Burlington    4-9         6-9 

Wakefield    4-9         4-11 

Watertown   3-11       7-11 

Stoneham    2-11      2-13