Coach Dan Burns takes over for Melrose
Published December 20, 2019
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE—The Melrose Red Raider basketball team has a new face leading them this season: coach Dan Burns, who is coming in from the Winchester High basketball program to lead Melrose this season. So far, it’s been a successful one: his team earned their first win with a season-opening home victory against Stoneham last Friday by a score of 63-44.
The Woburn High graduate (2003) was a four-year letterman as a Tanner and played hoop at Westfield State. For the last five years, he was an assistant boy’s basketball coach at Winchester High, so he’s quite familiar with the Middlesex League. His familiarity with Melrose and respect for its long winning tradition is something that drew him to Red Raider territory. He says, “I grew up watching some great Nick Papas Melrose teams. They have a great tradition of very competitive basketball.”
So far, Burns really likes what he sees in his players. “These are very athletic, multi-sport athletes who are so committed to the sport. That is such a huge thing for me, knowing these kids were working out at 5:30 in the morning at the YMCA. The shared love of the sport really shows itself.”
Leading the team as captains this year are Charlie Borstel, Luka Vlajkovic and Chris Cusolito, who is recovering from a leg injury. They are three players who have already drawn admiration from their coach. “We hope to have Chris back on the court around mid-January. But he’s been a great teammate and rallying the guys. Charlie is a great athlete and performed well in our Stoneham win, and I’ve known Luka on the circuit for years. He’s a player who always works hard to get better and organizes those 5:30 a.m. pre-season practices.”
Rounding out the roster are senior Rob Wiesen, junior Ryan Maher, senior Matt Morrisey, junior Hooper Ward, sophomore Chris Paul, junior Andy Beauchesne, junior Andrew Norton-Jefferson, senior Brandon McSorley, sophomore Max Kirby and freshman Cam Lippie.
On Friday against the Spartans, Luka Vlajkovic led with 22 points, but overall Melrose enjoyed a wide array of scoring from Charlie Borstel (12 points) Brandon McSorley (6 points) and Ryan Maher (6 points), among others. It was a strong defensive game for the Red Raiders, who saw contributions early from Chris Paul, Andrew Beauchesne and Ryan Maher, helping Melrose take leads of 4-0 and 13-7 behind baskets from McSorley, Wiesen and Vlajkovic. Charlie Borstel flipped a 9-7 game to a 13-7 score with a 2 for 2 foul line shooting followed up by a basket. Luka Vlajkovic went on a tear by the end of the first half, scoring six points in a row, which helped Melrose take a 27-22 lead at halftime.
It was an explosive second half for the Red Raiders as Borstel nearly dunked the ball and Chris Paul had a steal turned layup to keep Melrose up 32-22. Borstel continued to be on a roll with several baskets and McSorley earned two shots on assists by Vlajkovic and Ryan Maher, respectively. Maher closed out the third with a basket that kept Melrose ahead 46-33. Vlajkovic and Maher put on a show in the fourth, but earning some varsity minutes and making them count was sophomore Max Kirby, who provided smothering defense and ended the game on a three. Final score 63-44, Melrose.
Burns was pleased with the high energy play. “We have good-sized kids with athleticism so we wanted to play a quick game and utilize the bench to get everyone involved in a total team effort, and that’s what they did.”
Of course, Vlakovick’s 22 points were key for Melrose. Burns says, “Luka is a hard player to guard. He can play any position on the court. He can shoot outside or inside and pass well. He’s also strong on the foul line. There’s just so much he can do.”
The Middlesex League should be up for grabs this season but expect league champ Wakefield to be Melrose’s toughest competitor. “This is a league where any team can beat another…it’s just a matter of who shows up to play, but it’s also a league with tough, multi-sport athletes like ours.”
Season schedule
12/17 6:00p @ Arlington
12/20 5:15p @ Watertown
12/22 2:15p v. Medford @UMASS Boston
12/29 v. Lowell TBA
12/30 6:30p v. Lynnfield
1/3 5:15p v. Wakefield
1/7 6:00p v. Woburn
1/10 5:15p @ Burlington
1/14 6:30p @ Belmont
1/17 5:15p v. Wilmington
1/21 7:30p @ Stoneham
1/24 7:00p Watertown
1/26 3:00p @ Lynnfield
1/28 6:00p v. Reading
1/31 7:30p @ Wakefield
2/4 6:00p @ Winchester
2/7 7:00p v. Burlington
2/11 6:00p v. Lexington
2/13 7:00p @ Wilmington
2/18 6:00p v. Medford