Neck-in-neck with Wakefield for league rights

Published in the February 9, 2018 edition

By JENNIFER GENTILE

MELROSE—The five remaining games for the playoff-bound Melrose Lady Raider basketball team will pit them in second round play against Freedom League rivals in their final stretch towards post season. 

On Tuesday, Melrose began that second take when they hosted the Stoneham Spartans and ran away with a 49-32 victory, which brought the Lady Raiders to 12-3, their best record in nearly a decade, thanks to their stellar defense and assorted offensive weapons. 

JANAJIA WALKER-Hollliman (1) and Alexis Doherty provided ample defense Tuesday night in Melrose’s 49-32 victory over Stoneham. (Steve Karampalas photo

Melrose is in the position to attempt a league championship over Wakefield (13-2) and make a formidable post season run. They will battle the Warriors for a second time next Tuesday at home, and as they are just one game behind Wakefield, every league game is going to count. 

On Tuesday, Melrose helped their effort with a solid win over the Stoneham Spartans, who found themselves down 25-20 at the half, despite solid shooting from center Kaitlyn Driscoll. Stoneham couldn’t contend with Melrose’s tough starting five, and in the second half, Melrose saw efforts from Sam Dewey, Alexis Doherty, Peri MacDonald, Sam Smith and Lily Cunningham outscoring the Spartans by a good margin and take the game away from them.  

Doherty started the second half with a clean layup followed by another from Peri MacDonald. Sam Dewey made it a 31-22 game before forcing a turnover and drawing a foul that increased that score to 33-22. Doherty nailed a three and Cunningham finished the third with a basket that gave Melrose an advantage of 38-28. Peri MacDonald showed relentless defense and rebounding in the fourth while Sam Smith hit a three to help give Melrose a 42-28 lead. JaNajia Walker-Holliman and Abby Cunningham shined on the foul line to help finish the job, 49-32. 

Melrose travels to Watertown on Friday night for another league contest. On Tuesday, they host Wakefield in a highly anticipated rematch from their Jan. 12 bout, when Wakefield prevailed in a 51-50 thriller. Should Melrose top Wakefield on Tuesday, the two teams could find themselves tied at the top of the league. Tuesday’s action starts at 6:00 p.m. at the MVMMS gym.