Waltham pulls away late for 65-49 win
Published April 16, 2021
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High Unified Basketball team is wrapping up their season and enjoyed one of their last home games in their Fall 2 schedule by hosting a tough Waltham Hawks team on Tuesday, April 13 at the Melrose Middle School gym.
It was a high scoring, exciting match up between two heavyweight teams. Representing Melrose were Unified athletes James Donovan, Kevin Burke, Nick Kram, James “The President” Kavanaugh, Grace Zinck and Erik Rego. All of these playmakers helped keep Melrose close during in the entire game. Melrose took an early first quarter lead when Erik Rego fed the ball to James Kavanaugh for a layup. Unified partners Jack Jaggers, Harry Jaggers and Gino Preziosa kept Melrose looking sharp and Erik Rego, a player who is averaging double digit baskets per game, scored off an impressive pick and roll to tie things up at 4. The Hawks came with a couple of strong players in Mike Vaughn and Gabe Milan, who scored about 15 points each and these two helped Waltham take a lead of 16-8 at the end of the first, but not without some fantastic fast breaks by Melrose’s Nick Kram and some blocked shots by Kavanaugh.
Kevin Burke entered the game and he and Kavanaugh brought some energy to the floor. “The President” Kavanaugh had fans on his feet when he hit his signature three pointer and that narrowed the game 16-11 in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Erik Rego went on a shooting tear with three straight baskets, then Nick Kram put on a show with two baskets in a row that kept Melrose in it, 28-19. Gino Preziosa fed Kevin Burke a ball for a nice bank shot. The Hawk’s Gabe Milan hit a shot at the buzzer that made the game 32-23 at halftime. Melrose’s Rego and Kram put on a show in the third, bringing Melrose close to tying things up at 36-29. Kram went on a 9 point run and Kavanaugh hit a shot that kept it close 47-37. Sadie Jaggers connected with Kevin Burke for a basket and he scored again to keep Melrose Melrose in it 53-47. Despite a nice basketball by Melrose’s James Donovan at the buzzer, the Hawks prevailed 65-49.
