THE MELROSE Red Raider hoop team (1-3) picked up a key league win over Wakefield on Dec. 17, 62-51. (Jennifer Gentile photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High boys varsity basketball team gave fans exactly what they wanted with a 62-51 road win over rival Wakefield on Friday, Dec. 17 at Wakefield High. Melrose (1-2) had a large contingent of Melrose fans that followed the Red Raiders to Warrior territory and rooted them to their first victory of the year.
Against Wakefield, Melrose was led in scoring by Cam Lippie (15 pts.) Ellis Davis (12 pts) and Max Kirby (10 pts). It was a game in which Melrose never lost their lead, though Wakefield would come close to tying on a few stretches. Otherwise, it was all Melrose who jumped out to quick and decisive leads of 11-4 and 16-11 behind the work of junior Cam Lippie, who nabbed a plus one on a layup which was followed by two impressive treys from Max Kirby. Ellis Davis and Sage Jones also got in the scoring action but Wakefield chipped away to stay down by one at the end of the first, 16-15.
FANS TRAVELED in droves to see the MHS boy’s and girls’ basketball teams take on Wakefield. (Jennifer Gentile photo)
Two straight hoops from senior captain Zac Federico helped Melrose increase that lead to 20-15 in the second while Lippie continued his strong first half, drawing fouls and coming up on the line to keep Melrose ahead 24-19 before he assisted on an impressive three by Ellis Davis that had fans on their feet and Melrose way ahead 30-24. Senior captain Owen Dewey got in on the action with a plus one foul call and Davis closed off the half with a three that had Melrose way up 35-24 at the half.
Max Kirby kicked things off in the third with a steal-turned layup while Cam Lippie and Sage Jones both hit the foul line successfully, helping Melrose keep leads of 39-31 and 43-35. Melrose owned the boards on the rebound game in the fourth, thanks in part to Zac Federico and Cam Lippie, and that made much of a difference as Wakefield was in striking distance 49-44 with four minutes left to go in the game. Federico grabbed a rebound on a three by Rob Colozzo, fed him the ball again outside the line, and Colozzo nailed his second attempt to put Melrose up 52-44. Melrose would enjoy additional baskets from Dewey, Jones, Davis and four points from Kirby to finish the game out. It was the kind of effort that reflected the team’s strengths (speed, rebounding, passing and three-point shots) and perhaps a preview of what fans might see come 2022.
At press time Melrose was hosting Burlington on Wednesday (post-deadline) before picking up after the new year against Belmont at home on January 4 at 7:00 p.m.
