Melrose falls just shy to Winchester at buzzer, 39-36

Published February 7, 2020

By JENNIFER GENTILE

SENIORS MAGGIE SULLIVAN (left), captain Mary Kate Mahoney and Olivia Scarpa were honored on Senior Night on Tuesday. (Jeff Maté photo)

MELROSE—The stage was set for the Melrose High girl’s basketball team: it was Senior Night, the gym was decorated and family and friends gathered to celebrate seniors Maggie Sullivan, Olivia Scarpa and Mary Kate Mahoney. They also got to watch one of the more competitive games in Melrose’s season. And with 51 seconds left in regulation, the Melrose Red Raiders took their first lead of the game, 36-35, but ultimately fell at the buzzer in a heartbreaker, 36-39. 

It was nonetheless a terrific game for Melrose seniors Mary Kate Mahoney and Olivia Scarpa, who played one of their best games of the season. Mahoney was clutch with 13 points, including a stretch of 8 straight points in the fourth that helped reverse a 35-28 deficit to a 35-33 game with a minute and a half to go. Meanwhile, Scarpa dunked a three and had a clutch layup in the fourth to tie the game up at 35. 

With 10 seconds left in the game, and Winchester up by one at 37-36, Melrose fouled and sent Reagan Pagan to the foul line and she hit for both, giving the Sachems a crucial three-point lead of 39-36 and giving Melrose about 7 seconds left to attempt a three-pointer that missed and ended the game in Winchester’s favor, 39-36. 

Melrose had fought deficits of 16-11 at halftime, thanks to some smart shooting from Adriana Centeralla, Chloe Halligan, Gia Vlajkovic and Jenna Champagne. A trey by Scarpa put Melrose within firing range at 29-23 at the end of the third. Melrose outscored the Sachems in the fourth and was helped with the defensive block of tall freshmen Chloe Gentile and Gia Vlajkovic, along with the speed and rebounding of Sofia Centrella. Jenna Champagne chipped away with a basket that narrowed the game to 29-25 before Mahoney went on her scoring frenzy. Chloe Gentile fed a ball to Scarpa for a timely layup and it was a new game at 35-35. Unfortunately, the smooth foul line shooting of Winchester, plus a swift basket by Katie Degnan, kept Melrose just an inch short at the buzzer. 

For Melrose, it was the latest in a series of losses in a challenging, rebuilding season that has seen two of their early starters, senior Maggie Sullivan and junior Emily Hudson, out with season-ending injuries. And while Melrose will not be returning to playoffs this season, there is plenty of basketball left and that includes their last home game against league-leading Burlington this Friday at home at 6:00 p.m. 

Remaining schedule 

February 7 vs Burlington 5:15 p.m.

February 11 at Lexington 6:00 p.m.

February 13 at Wilmington 5:15 p.m.