RallyNorth.net

Presentation of Mary Girls Basketball Preview

2006-07 record: 11-10, lost in Division 4 North first round

Returning starters (4): Marlene Paulino, 5-4, Sr., guard; Natalie Quinn, 5-5, Sr., guard; Becky Smith, 5-11, Jr., forward; Jessica Brasil, 5-2, Jr., guard

Returning lettermen: Jennifer Ladd, 5-5, Sr., forward

Newcomers: Sandy Acosta, 5-9, Jr., forward; Patrice Darby, 5-4, Jr., guard; Devon Lavoie, 5-7, Jr., forward; Kaitlin St. Peter, 6-0, Soph., center; Meg McDonough, 5-5, Soph., guard; Stephany Galinsky, 5-5, Soph., forward; Jessica Goulet, 6-1, Frosh., center; Danielle Silva, 5-4, Frosh., guard

Candidates in all grades: 38

Captains: TBA

Returning leaders: Becky Smith 11.4 ppg

Returning honorees: Becky Smith, All-CAC

Assistants: Len Eddy, JV

Opener: Dec. 11 at Essex Aggie, 5 p.m.

Odds and ends: PMA finished above .500 after three straight two-win seasons and 10 total wins in the previous four years. ... Ex-coach Liz Donovan went 21-77 in five years. ... Bob Melillo, a 30-year boys high school and men's college coach, will try to rebuild a program which for decades was one of the most successful in the region. He was head coach at St. Clement (1977-82), Tewksbury (1982-89), Lowell (1989-94) and Lincoln-Sudbury (1994-97) and was head coach at Fitchburg State (1975-77) and an assistant at Merrimack (1998-2004). He said his high school record was 239-159. ... Jessica Brasil is an All-CAC soccer player.

Coach Bob Melillo (1st year): "I'm very excited. It's going to take them four or five weeks to learn all the things we're trying to do. They're really eager to learn. Becky Smith's a very, very good player. She's looked really good in practice so far. She can play inside and outside."