Basketball: Girls' Scrapes By Melrose in Home Owner; Boys' Goes Overtime to Win

Rather than calling Belmont High School Girls' Basketball team's victory over Melrose in the Marauders' home opener a "W" (win), it would be more accurately called a "D" as in defense. 

Belmont's 54-49 win over the Red Raiders Wednesday night, Dec. 18, was a result of stand-up defending that led to numerous steals in the final quarter, led by senior guard Gabby Joyal (6 points), who put the breaks on Melrose's sophomore spark-plug point guard and leading scorer Sarah Foote (11 points), while junior center Linda Herlihy (4 points) who grabbed many of her double-digit rebounds in the final stanza. 

Belmont's smothering press in the final quarter held the Raiders to seven points during which the Marauders erase a six point deficit (42-36) and outscore the visitors by 11 to even their season record to 1-1. 

In the final frame, first-year starter sophomore forward Sarah Stewart racked up seven of her game-high 13 points coming off the bench while the guard pairing of junior point guard Sophia Eschenbach-Smith (6 points) and senior off-guard Ashleigh Chinn (12 points) controlled the game and tempo between the keys. 

"Sophia really stepped forward when we needed it the most," said Head Coach Melissa Hart.

Boys leave Melrose with an extra-time victory

Senior guard Matt Kerans (21 points) made two bigs threes in overtime and junior center Adam Kleckner (24 points in a double/double performance) kept Belmont in the game in the first 32 minutes of regulation as the Marauders upset the Raiders, 61-59, in extra time at Melrose.

"We played two very different halves and were fortunate to come away with the victory," said Belmont's Head Coach Adam Pritchard. "I'm very proud that we came back against a talented and well-coached Melrose team," he said of the hosts who were 22-1 last year and North Division II semi-finalists last season.