Peddy steals win for Red Raiders
LOWELL -- Entering the Division 2 North girls' final, there was little separating Melrose and Masconomet, who had identical 22-0 records, but yesterday, there was Sheylani Peddy.
Peddy, who missed a last-second layup against Gloucester in last year's North final that would have given Melrose the title, had 26 points, 13 steals, and 6 assists as Melrose rolled to a 68-54 victory at Tsongas Arena.
''She's a special, special player and we're so lucky to have her," said Melrose coach Dave Brady. ''I thought she just took the game over today."
Peddy's dogged defense altered the complexion of the game.
She had eight steals in the first half alone as the Red Raiders rode an 18-0 run to a 33-14 lead.
During the stretch, Melrose held Masconomet scoreless for 6 minutes 38 seconds before Chieftains star Caroline Stewart finally broke the drought with her first hoop of the game with 3:52 left in the first.
''That stretch was really the difference because I think we played them fairly even other than that," said Masconomet coach Bob Romeo.
Melrose stretched its lead to 21 points (37-16) on yet another Peddy steal and layin with 2:23 left before the half and held a 42-25 lead at halftime. Behind Stewart, who scored 16 of her team-high 18 points in the second half, and guard Michelle Fauci (17 points), Masconomet got as close as 12 points twice, but every time Masco made a push, Melrose pushed back.
The Red Raiders restored their lead to 21 (58-37) on, you guessed it, a Peddy steal and hoop with 5:21 remaining.
''They just had too much for us today," said Romeo.
Peddy had plenty of help. Guards Cara Lynch (12 points) and Lynley DeAmato (9 points) combined for 21 points and 6-foot twins Karen and Paula Sen had 10 and 9 points, respectively.
For Melrose it was a victory 12 months in the making, as the memory of the heartwrenching 52-51 defeat to Gloucester in last year's North championship game has served as a rallying cry and a source of motivation ever since.
Brady said the win was worth the wait for Melrose (23-0), which moves on to play Oliver Ames in the Division 2 EMass final Monday at 6 p.m.
His star agreed.
''Yes. No more nightmares, no more nothing. It's over with and now we can move on to the Garden," said Peddy.
