BY Christopher Tremblay, 

Staff Sports Writer

It’s been well over a decade since Carlie Marrella and Melissa Leon first met and became best friends.

While it was in preschool when the two bonded for the first time, it was on the basketball court that their friendship soared to another level.

The duo began playing youth basketball in Ashland during their early years before it morphed into playing on a travel tea, AAU and high school hoop.

“It was around the fourth grade when a connection was made,” Marrella said. “Although we were friends, basketball brought is together on another level and we’ve built this great bond.”

Leone is 6 feet tall and can play inside and outside, while her counterpart is the team’s point guard. Together the two are kinetically connected and can read one another like a book and knows exactly what the other is planning on doing during any specific play.

“These girls are unbelievable and as second-year captains they possess a natural leadership. They love the game and set the pace in everything we do,” second year Coach Dave Padavano. “You won’t find two better girls who not only love the game but will do anything you ask of them without hesitation. My only regret is that I only get to coach them for two years.”

While the second-year Clocker Coach is boasting about his two senior co-captains, the two credit the new coach to making them better than they already were. 

“Coach has definitely made us better. Last year, his first season, we made the tournament and were winning games, something that we hadn’t done in a long time,” Leone said. “He not only brought the team together, but he cares about everyone on the team and his resources were beneficial to our college recruitment.”

Marella added that with Padavano having so much basketball experience he has brought the team to another level on the court. 

It’s been quite some time but the duo was able to capture a championship while playing youth basketball together and now they are hoping to recapture that excitement with a high school title.

While in the 8th grade, the two were called up to the junior varsity team seeing some high school action, but it want until their freshman season when they suited up for the varsity time for the first of many games.

And although only first-year players, they were used to the high school atmosphere having practiced with the team while on the varsity squad.

Their sophomore season was cut short due to Covid, and they only got to play a handful of games, but come their junior year, their first under Padavano, the team responded and qualified for the tournament. The Clockers were awarded the number 22 seed out of 44 teams to venture into the Division 2 State Tournament last winter. After defeating Sommerset Berkley 54-44, Ashland was sent home in the second round by Chicopee the number 11 seed.

“We may have only gotten one win last year in the tournament, but it was definitely great to finally get that win,” Marrella said. “With that experience were are looking to take it to the next level this year.”

During last year’s experience, which include a tournament visit, Marrella, a deadly three-point shooter, averaged 15 points and 4 assists as the team’s point guard, while Leone, who also shoots threes with great accuracy, averaged 16 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks on the year and according to her Coach she moves like Celtics great Kevin McHale in the post.

On the McHale reference Leone was unfamiliar with the Celtics’ 6th man during their Championship seasons.

“Honestly I don’t know who he is, but I can visualize what Coach was thinking when he said that” she said. “I’m a tall and aggressive player who can play any position, in the post or on the wing. I can also shoot the three and handle the ball if needed.”

Marella, who had been shooting lights out last winter, felt that she could use more practice and got herself a shooting coach to help her game this year.

“I can shoot threes with accuracy, but I went out and got a shooting coach to help me with the adjustment of my shot and I have been working on my follow through,” she said. “I’ve worked countless hours trying to perfect my shot.”

While everyone has the need to get better, Padavano believes his two athletes already have talent that others just don’t have.

“Last year Carlie missed the first two games of the season; her first game back with no practice, she drops 28 on Hopkinton and we beat them for the first time in 5 years,” Padavano said. “During the Nashoba game she comes into the huddle and tells me to draw up a play to get her the ball. She hits a three-point shot to tie it and we win by 6 in overtime.”

During the first few games with Marrella on the bench, Leone knew that she needed to pick up her game. Against Holliston, despite being double and triple teamed she still managed to put up 23 points. Padavano is working on trying to get Leone more into transition this year and if, so he is expecting big things from her.

With the season opener still on the horizon both Leone and Marrella have been working on improving their skills for the upcoming battle with the Tri-Valley League contenders. As second year co-captains they also want to expand their leadership rolls to lead the team back into the playoffs; both athletes firmly believe that the Clockers are primed to making a deep run through the tournament this year, especially after playing talented, high division teams in the TVL.

In addition to improving their skills for the TVL season, they are both looking to enhancing their ability to play basketball in college. Both girls are committed to play Division 3 collegiate basketball. Leone will head to Bowdoin University in Brunswick, Maine, while Marrella will be playing a little closer as she attends Brandeis University in Waltham. 

With the college recruitment out of the way the Clocker girls are looking forward to a stress-free season on the court.

 

“We’re thrilled to be going into a new environment after high school,” Marrella said. “Last year the recruitment process took a lot of time and now that it’s done with and we know where we are going we can have a more relaxed and fun senior season.”

Having played basketball together for some time now this, their senior campaign at Ashland High School, will be there last together as they will both go their separate ways come next fall when they head to college. 

“We thought about looking at schools where we could play together, but ended up landing where we best fit in,” Leone said. “We may be playing for schools that best fit our style of play in different leagues away from one another, but we’ll still be best friends and watching each other’s progress.”

With the inevitable departure on the court coming next winter both girls are looking toward their senior season with the rest of the Ashland team, while hopefully posting a winning season and a memorable trip through the tournament.