Mustangs Ready for Playoff Run

The road to the MIAA Div. 1 North playoffs started last year for Leo Burke and the Medford High girls basketball team.

Burke was in his first year of coaching and his team was one game away from securing a playoff spot with one game to play. However, last year wasn’t the year as Burke’s team was on the losing end of a heartbreaking one-point loss that ultimately spelled the end of the 2009-10 season.

The drama in the finale wasn’t necessary this time around.

The Mustangs capped off a 14-6 regular season this year and grabbed a No. 9 seed in the Div. 1 North playoffs. They will travel to Lincoln-Sudbury on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the first round of the playoffs.

It was that motivation at the end of the year that got Burke and his team thinking about the postseason this year.

“That left a sour taste in my mouth and I know it did with the girls,” said Burke. “I think we built on that to start the year.”

Last season was a struggle for Medford out of the gate, but Burke’s squad got off to a 3-1 start this season. Four of the Mustangs six losses came against Revere and Salem, two teams that combined for 31 wins this year.

The Mustangs fell in their final game of the year to Salem by a point, but Burke believes the close games against some of the best teams in the tournament — Revere is the No. 1 seed in Div. 1 North — helped his team figure out what is needed to win this week and beyond.

“It was a tournament atmosphere and it was an up and down game,” Burke said of season finale. “After that game I think the girls know that they don’t want that feeling of losing again.”

Greater Boston League MVP Tania Holmes will lead the Mustangs into the playoffs. Holmes capture the honor for the second straight season with a stellar 16 points a night from the point guard position.

Burke looks at Holmes as the leader on the court, but if he needs a player coach so to speak he turns to senior Kasey Moran.

“Kasey is our heart and soul when it comes to the defensive end,” said Burke. “She’s always covering the opponents best ball handler”

Burke has been able to get help from a host of players this season to have what he believes one of the deepest teams around.

Kathleen Callahn and Lydia Regan are two sophomore whom stepped up from junior varsity to be contributing factors for the big club this year. Juniors Kathryn Ellersick Bianca Nargi also add team depth all over the court.

“We are much deeper team and we are a little bit more experienced too,” said Burke.

Lincoln-Sudbury finished with an identical 14-6 record and has a key win over then undefeated Wellesley under its belt. The winner of the game could be looking at a matchup with No. 1 Rever later in the week.