FREEPORT – The Yarmouth Clippers traveled to Freeport Saturday night to take on the Falcons. Despite an impressive performance by junior Grace O’Donnell, Yarmouth couldn’t keep pace with Freeport, who jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Freeport carried the night, 60-43, on strong play from several girls, in particular junior Nina Davenport, but also seniors Leigh Wyman, Aubrey Pennell and Jocelyn Davee.
“Our kids came out and played well,” Falcons head coach Jim Seavey said after the game, before referencing the team’s 62-35 win over Poland on Friday. “Kind of picked up where we left off last night. We played real well last night. We’re starting to get that confidence in the team, and understanding that Nina doesn’t have to do it all. We get more kids contributing.”
The Falcons are now 8-6 on the year heading into Tuesday’s matchup at home against Fryeburg Academy, played after the Tri-Town Weekly’s deadline. On Friday at 7 p.m., the Falcons host Traip Academy.
Yarmouth, who fell to 1-13 with the loss, got on the scoreboard first, with sophomore Shannon Fallon draining an early two. But then Pennell, Wyman, and Davenport combined for a run of nine to jump ahead. O’Donnell dropped in her first two of the night before Freeport dashed off another six. Yarmouth junior Monica Austin added two, but Freeport again answered with six, two from junior Ashley Richardson and another four from Davenport. In the course of one quarter, the Falcons had built a 23-9 lead.
They similarly dominated the second. Davenport alone tallied 10 for Freeport, but Davee, Richardson, Pennell, and senior Hanna Chase all put points on the board for the Falcons on their way to a 17-7 quarter. Going into halftime, Freeport stood atop the Clippers, 40-16.
Seavey said his team’s intensity level gave them the edge Saturday night.
“I think the press in the first half got [Yarmouth] to play a little quicker than they wanted to,” he said. “We kind of dictated tempo. We talked about dictating tempo to our opponent and our opponent not dictating it to us. And we rebounded. When we rebound, we’re a good basketball team.”
In the third, O’Donnell and Fallon continued to lead the Yarmouth offense. The Falcons, however, would outstrip the Clippers’ efforts once again, diminishing further any hopes Yarmouth had of closing the gap. O’Donnell posted eight, but so did Davenport, and with Wyman, Davey, and Pennell also knocking down shots, Freeport managed to increase its lead to 54-31 by the end of three.
The fourth quarter opened with a two by O’Donnell and a response by Pennell. Chase next scored four for the Falcons, before Yarmouth went on an eight-point run, racing to regain lost ground. They couldn’t regain enough before the final buzzer, though.
Despite the large margin by which his squad won, Seavey complimented the Clippers.
“Knowing that they were finally healthy – they’ve had two or three kids out with injuries and they were finally back, and they got into the win column last night, so I really expected a lot in playing the game. Just because of the little rivalry – only seven miles apart.”
Freeport senior Leigh Wyman and junior Ashley Richardson race Yarmouth sophomore Shannon Fallon for the ball Saturday night. Staff photos by Adam Birt
Freeport’s Nina Davenport, left, and Hanna Chase fight to block an incoming Yarmouth player Saturday night.
Yarmouth’s Grace O’Donnell releases a jumper over the head of Freeport junior Nina Davenport.
Yarmouth’s Sean Cahill fights through Freeport defenders in her team’s loss against the Falcons Saturday night.
Freeport’s Ashley Richardson digs in to block a Yarmouth attacker.
Freeport senior Leigh Wyman approaching the net unimpeded Saturday night.
Freeport senior Aubrey Pennell backs off Yarmouth’s Grace O’Donnell.
Freeport’s Nina Davenport plows upward for two versus Yarmouth Saturday night.
Freeport senior Aubrey Pennell goes to the floor as she struggles with Yarmouth junior Grace O’Donnell in the teams’ matchup.
Yarmouth sophomore Lane Simsarian looks to pass past a Freeport defender Saturday night.
Yarmouth’s Grace O’Donnell dashes around a Freeport defender.
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