After press time: Melrose defeats Watertown 45-33 (Feb 14)
Melrose defeats Malden 63-31 (Feb 16)
Melrose falls to Arlington 49-45 (Feb 19)
Published February 16, 2024
Lamas hits 2 jackpots to save Melrose, 63-62
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—Melrose High’s most exciting boys’ basketball game of the season took place at the perfect time on Friday, Feb. 9 at home at the MVMMS gym. During Senior Night there was a large assembled crowd of MHS supporters on hand to watch one of the most thrilling basketball games in years as Melrose beat Stoneham, 63-62, in overtime on a buzzer beater from MHS junior John Lamas, whose potent inside game secured not one, but two, buzzer-beater shots that set up overtime and later the win over the Spartans.
Melrose is now 11-6 on the season as they soon conclude their regular schedule and prepare for playoffs.
Leading Melrose in scoring was Miles Nzui and John Arens, both with 16 while Owen Mujalli continued his strong second half of the season with 13 points. But several players came up with well-timed baskets and rebounds including Lamas and senior captain Connor Brophy.
Prior to the game, Melrose honored their outgoing seniors: captains Connor Brophy and Miles Nzui, along with Ben Perella, Gino Preziosa, Eli Pezzini, Josh Lopes and John Veillard. They were essential in Melrose’s thrilling win. Melrose sent Nzui, Brophy, Perella, Preziosa, Lopes, Pezzini and Lopes out early and helped Melrose take an early lead. Lopes had an impressive trey to open the game. Melrose took an early and an 11-9 lead at the end of the first behind 5 points from Owen Mujalli, who was fed a great pass by John Arens for his trey.
Arens had quite a second quarter with 6 points, including a flawless foul line appearance. Miles Nzui also went 2-2 on the line, and overall, Melrose outscored Stoneham in the quarter, 14-11. It was an alley-oop kind of night, with Connor Brophy landing a dunk on a John Aren’s three pointer-rebound. That helped Melrose take a larger 27-20 lead at the half.
Stoneham would earn their first lead of the game in the third with a 28-27 edge, then soon a 33-27 lead, but Nzui would hit a three to keep Melrose close. He’d hit two more in the quarter, plus a well-timed basket by Nolan Natale to keep Melrose in the game at end of the third, 38-45.
The fourth quarter was nothing short of wild, with Melrose’s Owen Mujalli hitting 6 points and then another three pointer by Nzui kept Melrose in striking distance, down just 47-49 with two minutes to go. But the last minute was a nail biter and Stoneham threatened to take the game away entirely with four clean foul line shots that prompted some big plays by Melrose to force overtime. First, an Arens layup followed by his huge three-pointer with 6 seconds left. Melrose was down 52-54 when John Lamas had an alley-oop off an Arens three-pointer rebound right at the buzzer to tie it up 54-54 and force overtime. Melrose, with an exciting fan section on their feet, had momentum swinging their way.
But not for long. A relentless Spartan team did a lot of things right, including near flawless foul line appearances and some timely three pointers, one included a bomb by Jack Bunnell to put the Spartans up 60-57 with two minutes in overtime left. Melrose’s John Arens would have an answer for that with a layup and then another layup off his own steal to keep Melrose within a point at 61-62 with just 12 seconds left.
From there, Melrose wisely fouled and sent a Stoneham player to the line, who came up empty. A Connor Brophy rebound gave Melrose critical possession with under ten seconds left on the board. With this, Melrose had time for one play. Brophy used his poised, upperclass experience to guide the ball to a hot Lamas, unstoppable in the paint, who forced his way for ANOTHER buzzer beating layup this time for the win, 63-62.
The Melrose crowd was forced back from the floor, a stunned Stoneham would take the five minute bus ride home in stunned disbelief.
Melrose, already secure in a clinched playoff spot, will look to increase wins to the column for bracket boosting in the Div. 2 field. They next travel to Watertown on Wednesday (post deadline) before hosting Malden this Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. and Arlington on Monday at 6:00 to wrap up the regular season.