Lady Raiders top Cougars, 46-44
Published in the March 2, 2018 edition
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High girls’ basketball team prevailed in an overtime thriller against reigning Div. 2 North champ Arlington Catholic in the opening round of D2 North playoffs in front of jam-packed fans at the Melrose Middle School gym on Tuesday. A capacity crowd from both schools enjoyed a fight-to-the finish effort as Melrose (18-3) prevailed, thanks to an 18 point game from senior Alexis Doherty and a game-winning, overtime three-pointer by junior Sam Smith.
Both Melrose High basketball teams have scored victory in overtime in playoffs (see accompanying story.) With the win, Melrose advances to host #6 Danvers this Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m.
ALEXIS DOHERTY’S 18 points helped the Lady Raiders top Arlington Catholic in overtime, 46-44, during the opening round of Div. 2 North playoffs. (Steve Karampalas photo)
It was a slow start to the game for Melrose, who had to contend with 5’11 center Kristen O’Keefe, who blocked many Melrose basket attempts, and junior guard Erin Donlan, who recently scored her 1,000 point for AC and was a menace until fouled out late in the game. Melrose was down 8-5 at the end of the first and 16-10 at the half, tripped up in violation calls and feeling the brunt of Donlan and O’Keefe. But Melrose came out a different team after the half, with Alexis Doherty turning a 16-10 deficit into a 20-18 lead with 8 unanswered points, including two treys and a steal, that had the Lady Raiders, and their fans, back in the game.
From there, the two teams traded leads nearly a dozen times in the second half including five ties. The game picked up towards the end of regulation when Doherty forced three steals and hit a three pointer with less than 30 seconds left to give the Red Raiders a 35-33 lead. That was matched by a layup by Cougar Isabella Petrillo (15 points) who tied it at 35-35 and forced OT.
Both teams came out charged in the extra quarter. Melrose scored first with a Sam Dewey layup. Arlington Catholic tied it up again at 37 before Abby Cunningham nailed a three that gave Melrose an overtime lead of 40-37 they would not lose, despite a basket by Arlington Catholic’s Julia Maniatis that made it a 40-39 game with 59 seconds left in overtime. Melrose took a lead of 42-39 as Peri MacDonald found Doherty under the basket for a layup.
Samantha Smith took the game away from the Cougars with her game-winning three and the rest was history for Melrose, who advances to play host to No. 6 seed Danvers this Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. at the MVMMS gym.
Fans are encouraged to visit www.miaa.net for up-to-date playoff information.
