Maddie Hasson’s big night – 25 points – led South Portland to victory over their Stags counterparts Friday night, Jan. 17. Hasson and Co. built the majority of their lead in the first half, so when play evened out in quarters three and four, they merely had to maintain. They did so, and took the W, 72-56.
The win, at Cheverus, moves South Portland to 9-3 on the season.
“I expected it to be a battle to the wire,” said South Portland head coach Lynne Hasson. “I thought it would be a really close game. I told my kids that we’re one of the top teams in the league, and if we play hard, we’ve got a chance to win every game.”
The Red Riots put up nearly two points for Cheverus’ every one in the first 16 minutes, and enjoyed a particularly prolific, 25-point second quarter. Going into the break, South Portland led the Stags by a comfortable 38-20.
“I think the kids had too many turnovers early on, but once we settled, we took care of the ball,” Lynne Hasson said. “We did a good job boxing out. We move our feet and keep them in front and play good defense. We don’t get beat off the dribble. We play good team defense.”
No lead is ever perfectly secure, though, and Cheverus out-bucketed the Red Riots in the third, sinking 15 points to South Portland’s 12. To start the fourth, then, the scoreboard read 50-35 in the Red Riots’ favor, but they couldn’t afford to sacrifice any further momentum.
“[Cheverus’] Jess Willerson is one of the better players in our league,” Lynne Hasson said. “Definitely a strong post player. She’s going to get some points. But I thought we did a really nice job limiting her.”
South Portland kept their head of steam in the fourth. Indeed, in the early going, they jumped to their most commanding advantage yet, 62-39, on more nimble basket-weaving by sophomore Hasson and freshman teammate Lydia Henderson, who hashed 16 in her time on the court.
Cheverus intensified their attack as the minutes ticked away, ultimately managing to mostly keep pace with the Red Riots, but at the final buzzer, South Portland still stood on top, 72-56.
“I didn’t expect us to win by that much,” Lynne Hasson said. “We shot really well tonight; we shot well from the foul line, we shot well from the floor, played hard.”
Freshman Lydia Henderson leaps toward a two for South Portland at Cheverus Friday night.
South Portland’s Erica Magnuson and Cheverus’ Laura Holman collide following a free-throw.
Red Rioter Lillian LaRochelle dances the ball forward against Cheverus Friday night. South Portland won the bout, 72-57.
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