OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The Richmond Bobcats and Old Orchard Beach Lady Gulls are familiar opponents when it comes to the Class C South tournament.
Last season a sixth seeded Richmond team upset No. 3 OOB in the quarterfinals. The year prior it was OOB’S turn to upset an unbeaten Richmond team in the semi final. This time the Lady Gulls overcame a slow start and a hot-shooting Bobcats team to take a Class C South preliminary round game 38-32.
The visiting No. 10 Bobcats went 3-for-5 from beyond the 3-point line to jump out to an early 10-5 lead. Hannah Moholland knocked down all three treys, and finished the quarter with all 10 Richmond points as the Bobcats led 10-7. On the defensive end, Richmond limited the Lady Gulls to 3-for-12 shooting from the field.
“I thought we did a really good job on defense,” said Richmond coach Mike Ladner. “Its just the fouls started to catch up with us. It ended up biting us in the fourth quarter.”
“We knew (Moholland) could shoot, we made a couple defensive errors and needed to find her,” said OOB coach Dean Plante. “I thought we did a good job on her the rest of the game, but they got a little spark and then we were playing catch up.”
Richmond quickly extended the lead when Bryanne Lancaster knocked down another 3-pointer to start the second quarter. The Lady Gulls responded with a 5-0 run to pull within a point, 13-12. The Bobcats wouldn’t surrender the lead as Bryannah Shea chipped in four points to close out the half to give Richmond a 17-13 lead.
“Every time we got within one or two we seemed to give up a basket,” said Plante. “Richmond does a nice job of playing their brand of basketball. They slow it down and make you work every possession. Mike does a good job with them.”
Shani Plante opened the scoring with a floater to start the half, but Lancaster responded at the other end with a trey. Lancaster’s 3-point field goal was Richmond’s only succesful shot from the field in the third quarter as the OOB press started to create some turnovers and difficult shots. Despite limiting shots, the Lady Gulls only had two field goals from Plante in the quarter and still trailed 22-19.
The pressure started to pay off for OOB as Richmond got into foul trouble. Moholland fouled out early in the fourth quarter. The Lady Gulls began to chip away at the free-throw line. Plante went 4-for-6 from the line to start the quarter, and then hit from beyond the 3-point line to give OOB its first lead 31-30.
Samantha Donnell knocked down a jumper to extend the Lady Gulls lead. Donnell added four points down the stretch at the free-throw line to cement the win for OOB.
“I think we did a good job of attacking them,” said Dean Plante. “We were aggressive off our offensive sets and we fouled out a couple kids which always helps. Then we made some free-throws down the stretch which is nice.”
“We struggled from the foul line and we got in some major foul trouble,” said Ladner. “I think that was the story of the game. It was some adversity for us. It’s always tough when you lose three starters. Hats off to them though they played well.”
The seventh ranked Lady Gulls improved to 12-7 and will head to Augusta Tuesday for a Class C South quarterfinal against Winthrop. Plante led Old Orchard with 17 points, while Donnell and Maggie Strohm each chipped in seven. Moholland’s 10 points led Richmond. Shea added eight points for the Bobcats.
“I think every round is going to be a battle. Coach Burnham does a good job with Winthrop. I’m sure they have a little revenge on their mind. We beat them in the prelim last year to go to Augusta. We have some experience on the floor with our team so we’re hoping that pays dividends up there.”
“The season was very up and down, but overall I’m very pleased with the girls,” said Ladner. We’re a young group. I had a fun time and they’re good kids.”
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