(Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption: FAMILY MATTERS: Hun School post-graduate guard Tyler Melville fires a shot last weekend at the Peddie School Invitational Tournament (PSIT). Last Sunday, Melville scored 16 points as Hun topped host Peddie 59-45 in the PSIT title game. Melville was named the tournament MVP, following in the footsteps of his father, Randy Melville, who was named MVP of the tournament in 1975 when he helped Princeton Day School to the championship. Melville’s younger brother, sophomore guard Myles, also starred for the Raiders last weekend. Hun, now 3-3, plays at St. Benedict’s on December 16 before playing in the Make-A-Wish Tournament in December 18 and 19 and facing Paramus Catholic on December 20 in the Tip-Off Tournament.

Hun Boys’ Hoops Rebounds From Blair Defeat to Win Peddie School Invitational Tournament

Bill Alden

Myles Melville and his teammates on the Hun School boys’ basketball team were down in the dumps after they lost last Wednesday to visiting Blair Academy.

The Raiders fell behind 12-0 to Blair as they dug an early hole. Hun, though, essentially played the Buccaneers even over the second and third quarters and trailed 40-27 going into the last eight minutes of the contest. Blair went on a 9-0 run to start the quarter and cruised to a 55-39 triumph.

In assessing the setback, sophomore guard Melville didn’t pull any punches.

“Blair hit us in the mouth in the first half, they let us know where we are,” said Melville, who had a team-high 13 points in the loss. “We just didn’t come out mentally prepared. We need to get on the same page; we’ll be alright.”

Bringing a 0-3 record into the high-powered Peddie School Invitational Tournament (PSIT) last weekend, the Raiders didn’t look like much of a threat to win their fourth PSIT crown in the last six years.

But with Melville’s older bother, post-graduate Tyler, returning from an ankle injury, Hun got on the same page in a hurry.

The Raiders topped Princeton Day School 75-43 on Friday in the opening round and then topped Lawrenceville 49-37 a day later in the semis.

Last Sunday, Hun culminated its title run with a 59-45 win over host Peddie as Tyler Melville scored 16 points on the way to winning the tournament MVP award.

For the younger Melville, who chipped in four points in the title game, his sophomore season has been about developing a comfort level on the court. “I think Jon Lee helped me out a lot last year,” said Melville, whose oldest brother Sterling, also starred for Hun and is now playing at Colgate.

“He was more like a mentor to me; I really learned what to do in a game and how to keep my composure on the court.”

Hun head coach Jon Stone likes the composure he is seeing in the younger Melville this winter. “Myles works so hard; he competes as hard and as much as anybody,” said Stone.

“He’s really coming along; the great thing is that I have him for three more years. I can’t wait to see how good Myles is as a senior; he’s going to be great.”

Stone acknowledged that his team had to make a great improvement from the effort in the Blair loss in order to be a force in the Peddie tournament.

“We had moments that were very, very good; we just had some moments that were pretty bad,” said Stone, reflecting on the loss to Blair.

“We definitely did some good things today but we have got a lot of work to do. We have been struggling all year with offensive continuity. We’ll figure something out. We are still a work in progress; we’ll get there.”

Melville, for his part, is looking to do whatever he can to help the team progress.

“I just do what the team needs,” maintained the 6’3, 180-pound Melville, who will look to keep the Raiders on the winning track as they play at St. Benedict’s on December 16 before playing in the Make-A-Wish Tournament in December 18 and 19 and facing Paramus Catholic on December 20 in the Tip-Off Tournament.

“If coach wants me to rebound, I will rebound. If he needs me to play defense, I’ll play defense. If he needs points, I’ll get points. It’s about the team and getting wins.”

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