After press time:
Melrose defeats Belmont 51-47 (Dec. 13)
AMONG THOSE returning to the 2024-5 MHS varsity basketball team is senior captain John Arens. (file photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose High boy’s varsity basketball opens their winter campaign this Friday evening on the road in Belmont at 7:15 p.m.
Melrose returns after a strong 13-7 season (and an impressive 6-3 Freedom League record) last year that saw them draw a No. 31 seed in the MIAA Div. 2 playoffs before falling to Marblehead in a 64-61 heartbreaker.
Melrose was just one game behind Wakefield and Burlington, who tied for the Freedom crown last year. And in 2024-5 they hope to be just as competitive.
“We have a lot of multi-sport athletes. Most of the kids on our team are two and three sport athletes and I like that,” says Melrose head coach Dan Burns of his returning team. “We return seven seniors four juniors and four sophomores.”
Leading the team as captains are seniors John Arens, John Lamas and Owen Mujalli.
Those three starters plus last year’s 6th man Nolan Natale and junior guard Connor Smith are expected to see a majority of starting time, as it stands now.
“Our starters will play a lot of minutes with some seniors and juniors and sophomores to help out in key spots,” says coach Burns. “We are senior heavy and so the seniors will be relied on to play lots of minutes.”
According to the coach, defense will be a key component for Melrose as they kick their season off. “Defense is something we will emphasize,” coach Burns says. “We have an athletic group and so we plan to pressure teams and switch everything.”
So far, Melrose’s athleticism and an essential chemistry have been on display in its early season.
“Based on scrimmage play we tend to play well together as a team. The boys have worked hard all off season and they seem to have good chemistry,” notes Burns. “We have had some unforced turnovers that we need to clean up and not make a habit of.”
“Overall, our attitude and effort is really the result of having a senior leading group of players. Many of them have now been with me for 3 and 4 years.”
Melrose’s home opener is slated for Tuesday, Dec. 17 against Reading at 6:00 p.m.