AUGUSTA — Tough defense and unselfish offense helped get the Rangeley girls’ basketball team earn the top seed in the Class D South tournament.
It’s also what the Lakers used to beat Seacoast Christian, 56-23, in a quarterfinal Saturday morning at the Augusta Civic Center.
Rangeley (18-1) will next play No. 4 Valley (10-9) on Wednesday. Seacoast Christian finished 2-17.
Rangeley had three players score in double figures. Brooke Egan scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half. Freshman forward Winnie LaRochelle got 10 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter, and Olivia Pye added 10 points for the Lakers.
“Those three have been doing it for us all year,” Rangeley Coach Heidi Deery said. “I kind of had a little chat with (LaRochelle), going ‘OK, come on, you’ve got to ball-fake inside.’ … I felt like once she was turning and facing (the basket) and taking the lane and ball-faking, that’s her game.”
The Lakers were just as tough on the defensive end, forcing 34 turnovers.
“Throughout the season, we’ve been really focusing on playing team defense,” Egan said. “We’re going to get those 30-plus turnovers by playing good team defense and working together.”
After trading early baskets, Rangeley took control with a 14-0 run that stretched over six minutes between the first and second quarters. They added an 8-0 run over the final four minutes of the second quarter to take a 30-13 halftime lead.
“It took a little bit for us to get settled in,” Egan said. “Offensive patience helped us, especially with their zone (defense).”
Each team had struggles with ball control in the third quarter, but Rangeley outscored Seacoast Christian 20-6 in the fourth.
The Guardians showed fight throughout and had an advantage at times on the boards. Fouls and turnovers were just too much to overcome, however. Two of Seacoast Christian’s top players – forward Abigail Wirling and guard Katie Pilkington – fouled out in the final four minutes. Pilkington led the Guardians with 12 points.
It also didn’t help that LaRochelle became a force down low in the fourth quarter.
“It’s great seeing Winnie get those rebounds,” Egan said. “Just being really strong inside, ball-faking, trying to get that basket and foul after (the basket).”
Rangeley took advantage of Seacoast Christian’s foul trouble, going 15 of 18 at the foul line.
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