Wins over Lexington, Arlington has Melrose 2-0

Published in the December 22, 2017 edition

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—The Melrose Lady Raider basketball team is sitting on top of the Middlesex Freedom League with back to back wins over large school

Freshmen Sam Dewey is giving the league notice she’ll be a force to contend with this season. (Steve Karampalas photo)

opponents, Lexington and Arlington, to start their season off a perfect 2-0. 

Melrose opened their season at home on Tuesday with a nail-biting 55-52 victory over Arlington, in a down-to-the-wire thriller that saw Melrose’s Alexis Doherty score a team high 17 points including five 4th quarter points that turned the tide against a competitive Spy Ponder team. Melrose faced a deficit of 19-9 in the first quarter but battled back to a 27-26 halftime score and soon launched an offensive battle in the second half to take the game. 

“This was a big team win,” said head coach Bill Hirschfeld. “Arlington is a scrappy team who kept pushing and coming at us. But I thought our defense was strong and never quit.”

A big part of Melrose’s two wins has been the play of 6’0 Melrose freshmen Sam Dewey, their starting center who is proving to be must-see viewing. Dewey led the team in numerous rebounds and blocks, and posted 13 points in the night, causing misery to Arlington shooters trying to get under the net. Against Lexington she had some eye-popping stats: 18 points and 14 rebounds. An early Christmas present for Melrose fans. 

“I can’t complain having this player,” chuckled Hirschfeld, “It’s a blessing, along with Emily Hudson [freshmen] because both are pleasures to have on the team, they are listening and learning.”

Melrose’s defense meanwhile, shined behind efforts of Doherty, Lily Cunningham, Abby Cunningham and Peri McDonald. Emily Hudson was also key in rebounding and Sam Smith showed a hot hand in the first quarter when her trey helped put Melrose on board 5-4. Melrose had to wrangle with Arlington’s strong outside shooting game, including three’s thrown by Ellie Demanee, who had 14 points in the night, including ten in the first that put Melrose down ten by the end of the quarter. Melrose’s 16 point second quarter, led by Lily Cunningham (6 points) and Sam Smith (4 points) helped Melrose reached striking distance in the half. Abby Cunningham also went 4-4 on the foul line in her 6 total points in the night. 

By the third, Melrose went on an offensive tear, with Sam Dewey leading with 9 points, going 3-3 on the foul line. She tied it up 30-30 on the line while Doherty hit a layup that drew a foul that gave Melrose a 37-35 edge. Arlington tied it up 37-37 but Dewey hit two in a row, including a layup that drew a foul. Still, another three by Arlington’s Demanee put Melrose down 45-42. 

The fourth quarter belonged to Doherty, who scored 9 points, including a three pointer to start the quarter. After Lily Cunningham went 2-2 on the foul line, Peri McDonald tied things up 50-50 with a layup. From under the Arlington net, Dewey found Doherty across the court and with a half court pass in hand, Doherty drew a foul and hit both shots, giving Melrose a 52-50 edge. Her three pointer seconds later gave Melrose a lead they wouldn’t let go out and eventual 55-52 win. 

“It was a great finish,” says the coach. “And even when we got in a hole, these girls didn’t quit.”

Melrose hopes to make it three in a row when they travel to Woburn on Thursday (post deadline) for a 6:00 p.m. game.