You Want Intensity...Then Bring It

Melrose hosts Reading in a battle of unbeatens Tuesday. We can try to teach you a lot of skills, but we can't teach intensity.

"If you want to run with the big dogs, you gotta get off of the porch."

Principles

Click video to play.

I've created a smaller video with some illustrative clips from the 2006 highlight video...the point isn't the players involved but the actions portrayed.

Some people learn more through 'visual' learning, and these videos will help them 'see' what we are preparing you for.

1) Post defense with steal and pass to guard Shey Peddy to start the break...Paula follows with a cleanup rebound, and note the jump shot with high release and guide hand staying with the shot

2) Lynley drives (one dribble) from the top of the key in Boston Garden

3) Paula with a reverse direction bounce pass to Karen for an easy two

4) Shey with the greatest play in Melrose basketball history, a strip steal from behind, goes behind the back, and drives in for a layup...should have been a foul as well

5) Shey again drives hard to the basket...gets bumped and lays it in (underhand)

6) Shey hits Meg Kirwan with excellent body control for the layup

7) Shey hits Karen (note where the pass is received) for two.

8) Karen with the face up, "swim move" from the elbow in Boston Garden.

9) Shey with the strip steal on the crossover, and goes hard to the basket for two...and a foul...note the layup technique

10) Paula goes hard for two.

11) Cara Lynch cuts hard from the wing and gets rewarded for a layup.

12) Lynley, again with great body control, pausing for a moment before getting the layin.

13) Paula with a one-dribble move to the hoop from the corner.

14) Cara hits Paula cutting to the basket with a bounce pass through traffic.

15) Paula with a jump shot from three-point land, note the release, jump, and follow-through.

16) Shey gets her 1000th point. These are the memories teams can keep forever.

17) Shey gets a steal, doubling down in the low post, and goes coast to coast in the D2 North championship game.

18) Lynley gets rewarded for a hard drive to the bucket.

19) Shey goes to basket and gets fouled. Note the layup technique.

Progress Made, Victory Not

The team traveled to Westford's Stony Brook School for a River Valley 'A' tilt and lost an exciting game 29-25.

Before the game, the coaches reviewed the important concepts of "jumping" into the passing lanes to prevent the 'give and go' as well as another emphasis on "help" defense.

Melrose got off to a slow start, trailing 8-0 early and 14-9 at halftime.

The second half saw another slow start, with the team falling behind 21-9, before an exciting comeback knotted the score at 23 late. With the score tied at 25 in the final minute, Westford got a steal and a layup, followed by a late hoop to seal the win.

The coaches continue to note individual and team progress, with better ball movement and willingness to take the ball to the hoop.

Sunday's activities were cancelled because of inclement weather.

The coaches will devote the entire practice Monday to specialty offensive work.

Drowned in the River Valley

Melrose lost 37-28 in a midweek tilt with Andover. The Warriors got off to a quick 8-0 lead and led 21-8 at the break.

Melrose rallied behind better defense and more intensity, closing to within three on multiple occasions before Andover assumed control in the final minutes.

What went right?

• The rebounding on the offensive boards came alive at times.
• The kids didn't quit when facing adversity.
• The defensive switching improved.
• Overall the intensity ramped up.
• Several individuals showed the capacity for on-the-ball defense, a must to succeed in the Melrose system.

Next up, Westford. As coach Belichick would say, we have to coach better.

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

After a morning win yesterday, the girls had a disappointing Saturday afternoon River Valley contest, dropping a 28-18 loss to North Reading.

Playing in the River Valley League presents challenges that these young players haven't experienced, and the coaches understand that understanding the game takes time, and we'll look for gradual improvement. Consistency is needed to:

• Protect the ball
• See the floor
• Defend the pick and roll

Today, the girls won the third game of the weekend, in a Middlesex League contest. They played better, but Somerville is behind where the girls are right now. The players attacked the basket better and worked on proper shooting technique to the point that gains are obvious.

All of the players continue to work hard, and the team record stands at 5-2.

Weekend off to a Good Start

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery. Today is a gift, that's why the call it the present."

The fifth grade travel team continued their season with a 32-28 victory over Waltham.

Melrose got off to a slow start, trailing by as much as eight, but rallied behind increased team defense to move to 4-1. Improved help defense down the stretch enabled the girls to hold onto the lead.

This afternoon, they travel to North Reading.

Drawing Board

Melrose hosted Billerica Wednesday, and the River Valley League power showed the locals that they needed plenty of practice. Billerica had superior movement to the hoop and defensive technique en route to a 35-5 rout.

Melrose had difficult working out of the set offense, with switching, and with getting to the basket.

The good news? Billerica had beaten their previous opponent 56-3.

It's back to the drawing board.

Experience without Tuition

"Experience is the best teacher, but sometimes the tuition is high."

Melrose hosted its first home game of the season and narrowly escaped Watertown 23-21. Watertown was very well coached and played tough, physical basketball. The visitors also had "the big girl", about a 5' 9" shot-blocking force in the paint who had at least a dozen blocks and influenced other shots, as well as leading Watertown with a dozen points.

After Melrose got off to a 10-6 lead, Watertown stormed back to take a 15-14 lead. The second half was tightly contested with the teams trading leads until late when Melrose hung on as a Watertown close-in shot went awry in the final seconds.

What went well?

• The team hung in their first tightly-contested game.
  
• The defense held Watertown to six second half points, with pressure on Watertown's guards and better defense in the post.
  
• The number of three seconds violations shrank after pre-game emphasis.
• The team got valuable experience playing against 'height'.

What needs improvement?

• In-bounds and sidelines plays remain missed opportunities.
• Triggering the fast break with the outlet pass continues to be elusive.
  
• Spacing broke down more than the coaches would like.
• Foul-shooting (a challenge at this age) needs a lot of work.
  

Today's contest should help prepare the team for its first "River Valley" game Wednesday night at home, as the girls will see consistent tough competition.

Progress and Another Win

Melrose traveled to Revere with an emphasis on improving execution of fundamental basketball with special attention to help defense and improved transition. Building on a 15-6 halftime edge, Melrose prevailed 39-16.

Significant gains included:

• Defensive rotation to reduce easy opportunities
• Better rebounding
• Fewer turnovers
• A successful pick and roll

Areas needing more attention:

• Dribbling with the head up to identify open players down court
• Identification of guards off the defensive rebound to start transition...with the initial pass from the fours and fives to start the break
• Emphasis on individual defensive positioning
• Running the set offenses

The next game (weather permitting) is tomorrow (Sunday) at the Marcoux Gymnasium at 8:15 a.m. This will be the first home game for the girls.