Melrose is 5-1 & now a team to beat in the ML

Published January 10, 2020

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—The Melrose High Red Raider basketball team is now a team to beat in the Middlesex League and is riding high after picking up four straight wins as they enter the new year. 

The Red Raiders prevailed over Medford, Lynnfield, Wakefield and Woburn consecutively to improve to 5-1 overall.

ANDREW NORTON Jefferson fends off Wakefield’s Brett Akundaye during Melrose’s 58-47 win over the Warriors. (Steve Karampalas photo)

Their last two home games on Jan. 3 and 7th were key league contests and big wins for Melrose. On Friday, the Red Raiders picked up a win over Wakefield, 58-47, in front of a raucous home crowd at the MVMMS gym. It was a big night for Luca Vlajkovic, who led with 20 points in a double-double performance. Melrose overcame a slow start and a 10-2 deficit to tie it up at halftime thanks to smothering second-quarter defense that restricted Wakefield to two baskets and helped Melrose climb into the game, 20-20, and stay there. Much of that on the efforts of Ryan Maher, who stole several Wakefield balls and stopped their first-half momentum. 

Melrose’s Brandon McSorley had a big third quarter both defensively and with a series of baskets, while Vlajkovic simply swatted away shots like mosquitos, mostly from Wakefield standout Brett Okundaye, who led in scoring for the Warriors. Melrose was on a scoring bonanza thanks to baskets from Vlajkovic, Charlie Borstel (sharp on the foul line) and McSorley, who had a well-timed 3 that gave Melrose a 34-27 edge. Andrew Norton Jefferson hit a layup that drew a foul and a trey by Ryan Maher gave Melrose a larger lead of 41-27 going into the fourth. Maher (8 points in the fourth quarter) came on strong after he drew a foul on a layup before Charlie Borstel hit a three that had fans on their feet. Melrose had a big lead of 49-30 before Wakefield’s Okundaye helped Wakefield make it a 7 point game at 54-47, but some solid foul line shooting from Borstel and Vlajkovic and a basketball from McSorley took Wakefield from the game in a 58-47 final. 

An equally impressive win came on Tuesday when Melrose welcomed the Woburn Tanners (4-3) and soundly beat them, 58-41, in a defensive gem. Senior captains Charlie Borstel (19 pts) and Luka Vlajkovic (19 pts) both combined for nearly 40 of Melrose’s points over the night. And Ryan Maher and Chris Paul and did an effective job fending off Woburn standout Dylan McLaughlin. 

After the game, Melrose coach Dan Burns credited the Red Raiders for their defense. “Woburn is a team that scored 80 points against Lexington so I’m proud that they held them to 41 points. It was a great defensive effort.”

Editor’s note: for fans who missed the Wakefield game, both the boys and girls games can be found on YouTube via Melrose High TV. 

Freedom League Standings

               League Overall

Burlington  4-0      7-1 

Melrose      3-1      5-1 

Wakefield   2-2      4-3 

Watertown  2-2      3-3 

Wilmington 1-4      1-5 

Stoneham   0-4      1-5