Wakefield wins can’t dampen spirits
Published February 19, 2021
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High girls’ basketball team competed in a series of two games with Wakefield this week to wrap up their regular season. Both games (losses) have Melrose still searching for wins since their season-opener victory over Stoneham. The defensive minded Red Raiders struggled to get offense going in these pair of games, while Wakefield proved much more competitive than in year’s past. Melrose lost by scores of 47-26 and 54-29.
On Monday, Melrose hosted their last home game which also served as Senior Day, celebrating the team’s departing seniors: captains Adriana Centrella, Sofia Centrella and Megan Fogarty along with Jenna Champagne, Kira Maté and Chloe Orcutt. The upperclassmen were honored with their parents at the start of the game.
Melrose gave Wakefield a run for their money in the first quarter, which proved to be a low scoring, defensive battle. Leading scoring for Melrose was Jenna Champagne with 11 points and Adriana Centrella with 8. After a scoreless first three minutes Wakefield was on the board first with a trey hit by Sofie Brown, who led the night with 15 pts. Melrose took a 4-4 tie into the second behind baskets by Adriana Centrella and Gia Vlajkovic. Melrose took a brief lead of 6-4 before Wakefield’s Emma Shinney hit a three to give Melrose a 7-6 lead. Brown would hit her own three for Wakefield and Shinney another basket to give Wakefield a larger lead of 12-6. Warrior Brianna Lotti and Wakefield defense forced many Melrose turnovers and capitalized on it, taking a large lead of 20-6 before Wakefield’s Hannah Butler made it a 25-8 game at the half. Melrose simply didn’t have answers to Wakefield’s speed, smooth transition, and effective zone play.
As Shinney and Brown fired away for Wakefield, Melrose made small progress. Senior Jenna Champagne had the game of her season with 11 points, starting with a jump shot off her own foul line shot, then later in the fourth, a great three-pointer that made it a 35-15 game in the early fourth quarter. Starter Kira Maté nailed her signature three which had the Melrose bench on their feet and with four minutes left, Melrose was finally finding their footing on offense. Wakefield continued to drive right to the net behind the efforts of Brown, Shinney, Brianna Lottie and their final basket was by Reign Yah Grant. However, Melrose seniors, still out in the floor with hot hands, came around. It started with two steals from Jenna Champagne and ended with a half court pass from Adrianna Centrella to Champagne for a layup at the buzzer.
Despite the twenty point 47-26 loss, Melrose seniors enjoyed competitive play against a quality opponent. Just two games prior Melrose had also fallen to Wakefield by a score of 54-29.
This week Melrose is slated to take part in a two day Middlesex League Tournament. Melrose is scheduled to travel to Lexington on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. to take on the Minutemen. Further event details were not available at press time.
