Greely freshman Anna DeWolfe launches a shot during the Rangers’ 40-27 win over Yarmouth Tuesday. DeWolfe led all scorers with 21 points.
Chris Lambert photos.
More photos below.
BOX SCORE
Greely 40 Yarmouth 27
Y- 4 8 5 10- 27
G- 19 9 5 7 -40
Y- Langenbach 3-1-9, Clark 1-5-7, J. Kirk 1-2-4, Brady 1-0-3, Blaschke 1-0-2, Hattan 1-0-2
G- DeWolfe 8-2-21, Train 3-0-8, Faietta 2-1-6, Felkel 1-0-3, Chapin 1-0-2
3-pointers
Y (3) Langenbach 2, Brady 1
G (7) DeWolfe 3, Train 2, Faietta, Felkel 1
Turnovers:
Y- 23
G- 19
FTs
Y: 8-10
G: 3-6
CUMBERLAND—Greely’s girls’ basketball team has struggled finding its championship form so far this young season, but for a short time Tuesday evening, all was right in the Rangers’ world thanks to the arrival of a team they’ve dominated over the past decade.
Hosting neighbor Yarmouth, Greely rode the brilliance of Anna DeWolfe to a 14-0 lead, as the fabulous freshman tallied 11 of those points, and thanks in large part to a dozen turnovers by the Clippers, the Rangers were in command after one period, 19-4.
From a Greely perspective, it’s a good thing it opened up such a big lead, because the rest of way, Yarmouth was every bit the Rangers’ equal.
The Clippers never made a serious run, but thanks to a defensive adjustment, they slowed DeWolfe and her teammates and stayed within hailing distance until the end.
Yarmouth twice drew within 11 points in the second half, but Greely refused to buckle and went on to a 40-27 triumph.
DeWolfe led the way with 21 points, junior Moira Train did a little of everything and senior Lexi Faietta continued her stellar play off the bench as the Rangers improved to 3-1, beat the Clippers for the 20th consecutive time over 11 seasons and dropped Yarmouth to 1-3 in the process.
“It’ll take time, offensively and defensively,” said Greely coach Joel Rogers. “We have the talent. There are moments we look really good and there are other moments we look disengaged. I’m not really sure why.”
Domination
Since Yarmouth won, 56-48, Jan. 8, 2005 in Cumberland en route to its only appearance in a state final, Greely has dominated its neighbor, winning 19 straight heading into Tuesday’s contest, including a pair of decisive victories a year ago (50-29 in Yarmouth and 54-22 at home).
The Rangers won at Cape Elizabeth in their opener (45-24), then lost at home to York (78-64) before getting back on track Friday with a 52-36 victory at Brunswick.
The Clippers lost, 36-27, at Gray-New Gloucester in their opener, then dropped a 39-29 home decision to Lake Region. Friday, Yarmouth got in the win column, with a 42-23 home victory over Waynflete.
Tuesday, Greely got the separation it needed early, but to the Clippers’ credit, they battled for 32 minutes.
Just 42 seconds in, DeWolfe set the tone with a layup and the Rangers were on top to stay.
After DeWolfe made one of two free throws, she made a layup after a nice spin move for a 5-0 lead.
With 4:04 to go in the opening stanza, Train knocked down a 3 and 14 seconds later, after a Train steal, DeWolfe scored on a reverse layup to make it 10-0, forcing Yarmouth coach Chris Strong to call timeout.
It didn’t help, as DeWolfe made a free throw, then sank a 3 from the corner for a 14-0 advantage with 2:35 to go in the first.
Eleven seconds later, the Clippers finally broke through when freshman Clementine Blaschke got a runner to fall.
Faietta then made her presence felt with a 3-pointer and a putback for Greely’s biggest lead to that point, 19-2. A pullup jumper as time wound down from Yarmouth junior Cory Langenbach made it a 15-point game heading for the second period.
In the first eight minutes, DeWolfe had 11 points, Faietta added five and Train had three points, three steals, two assists and two rebounds.
Yarmouth, which committed 12 turnovers in the first period, took much better care of the ball in the second quarter, played stronger defense and didn’t allow the Rangers to turn the game into a blowout.
A putback from Clippers junior Johanna Hattan started the new frame. After Faietta and Yarmouth junior Alison Clark traded foul shots, Train buried a 3 and DeWolfe connected on an even longer 3-pointer for a 26-7 lead, but promising Clippers freshman Claire Brady answered with a 3 of her own and sophomore Jessica Kirk hit a leaner. A leaner from DeWolfe gave Greely a 28-12 advantage at halftime.
In the first half, DeWolfe led all players with 16 points, Faietta had six and Train had six as well, to go along with five steals, three rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
The Rangers hoped for the knockout blow in the third quarter, but the teams only combined for 10 points and the margin wound up the same at period’s end.
Langenbach started the second half with a 3-ball and Kirk added a pair of free throws to pull Yarmouth within 11, 28-17, but a putback from junior Molly Chapin (ending a 6 minute, 5 second drought) and a 3 from DeWolfe made it 32-17 Greely heading for the fourth quarter.
The Clippers started the final stanza with a pair of Clark free throws, snapping a 6;47 drought. Clark, after being fouled on an offensive rebound, added two more free throws and Langenbach hit one of two after a steal to again make it an 11-point contest, 33-22, but Yarmouth would draw no closer.
First, DeWolfe drove for a layup, ending a 4:57 dry spell. Senior Sarah Felkel then hit a dagger of a 3 with 2:26 to play, pushing the lead to 38-22.
With 44.8 seconds to go, the Rangers’ final points came on a Train layup. Clark answered with a layup and as time wound down, Langenbach hit a 3 to account for the 40-27 final score.
DeWolfe continued to dazzle with 21 points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists.
“Clearly, (Anna) has a lot of talent,” Rogers said. “Her ability to rebound is outstanding. I don’t want to play her at the point. At her young age, I don’t want her to have to shoulder carrying the team and looking for a shot. When teams focus on her, we have to put her in different spots on the court where she’ll be more effective.”
Train finished with eight points, a game-high nine steals and six blocks, seven rebounds and three assists.
“Moira’s shot has been slow coming around, but she’s played with confidence,” said Rogers. “She’s far too good an offensive player to be stuck in the doldrums. She showed signs of coming out of it tonight.”
Faietta made the most of her minutes to the tune of six points, eight rebounds, two steals, an assist and a block.
“Lexi has really been our savior,” Rogers said. “She hasn’t had a bad rotation all year long. She’s a really key factor. I might have to start her if we can’t get good starts. She has 100 percent of my confidence. Her prior three years of effort have paid off.”
Felkel added three points and Chapin had two (to go with a game-high 11 rebounds, two blocks, two assists and a steal).
Greely had a 33-26 rebounding advantage, committed 19 turnovers and shot 3 of 6 from the free throw line.
Positive strides
Tuesday was the closest Yarmouth has played Greely since a 56-43 setback four years ago.
The Clippers were led by Langenbach’s nine points and seven points, five rebounds, three steals and a block from Clark. Kirk added four points (as well as six rebounds, three steals and two assists), Brady had three points (to go with five rebounds) and Blaschke and Hattan (six boards and two steals) each wound up with two points
Yarmouth finished with 23 turnovers and shot a solid 8 of 10 from the free throw line.
“It was a very tough start,” Strong said. “They converted on our turnovers. That hurt us a lot. We had trouble getting into our offense and executing. We adjusted and went 2-3 (zone) and extended it and they had trouble handling that. They didn’t move the ball quite as well. We beat them in the second half. I think we have to learn from that first quarter and come out and execute better and take care of the ball. I was very proud of our defensive effort tonight. Our goal was to keep them sub-50 (points) and it was mission accomplished.”
Ringing out the old year
Yarmouth is home against Maranacook Thursday, then closes the 2015 portion of its schedule with games at Sacopee Valley Saturday and Poland Tuesday.
“This gave us a good look at what we need to do,” Strong said. “We need to pound the ball inside to Alison more and get Cory more looks.”
Greely is right back in action Wednesday when powerhouse Gorham pays a visit. The Rangers play host to rival Falmouth Saturday afternoon, then close 2015 with a home tilt versus Morse Tuesday.
“We have a big game tomorrow night,” Rogers said. “It won’t be pretty if we do this again.”
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached atmhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
Greely senior Lexi Faietta grabs a rebound away from Yarmouth junior Johanna Hattan.
Yarmouth junior Alison Clark is sandwiched by Greely junior defenders Molly Chapin (4) and Moira Train.
Yarmouth junior Cory Langenbach looks for an open teammate as Greely senior Sarah Felkel defends.
Greely junior Moira Train goes up for a shot as Yarmouth freshman Clementine Blaschke defends.
Greely senior Lexi Faietta fires a long range shot.
Yarmouth sophomore Jessica Kirk tries to knock the ball away from Greely freshman Anna DeWolfe.
Recent Greely-Yarmouth results
2014-15
Greely 50 @ Yarmouth 29
@ Greely 54 Yarmouth 22
2013-14
@ Greely 51 Yarmouth 28
Greely 51 @ Yarmouth 22
2012-13
@ Greely 68 Yarmouth 29
Greely 57 @ Yarmouth 41
2011-12
Greely 48 @ Yarmouth 18
@ Greely 56 Yarmouth 43
2010-11
Greely 44 @ Yarmouth 16
@ Greely 52 Yarmouth 22
2009-10
@ Greely 57 Yarmouth 28
Greely 59 @ Yarmouth 27
2008-09
Greely 40 @ Yarmouth 36
2007-08
@ Greely 49 Yarmouth 36
2006-07
@ Greely 62 Yarmouth 37
Greely 62 @ Yarmouth 22
2005-06
Greely 52 @ Yarmouth 33
@ Greely 49 Yarmouth 43
2004-05
Yarmouth 56 @ Greely 48
Greely 44 @ Yarmouth 40
2003-04
Greely 41 @ Yarmouth 33
Yarmouth 42 @ Greely 38
Western B semifinals
Greely 47 Yarmouth 29
2002-03
Greely 39 @ Yarmouth 34
2001-02
@ Greely 42 Yarmouth 27
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