Bangor goes on a 13-2 fourth-quarter run to finish off Oxford Hills, 40-27.
SOUTH PARIS – In a span of 18 seconds in the third quarter, the Oxford Hills girls’ basketball team matched their offensive output from the floor in the first half.
Back-to-back jumpers by Lauren Austin helped spark a Viking comeback in the second half, but the early offensive woes were too much to overcome as Bangor beat Oxford Hills 40-27.
The Vikings missed their first seven shots of the game and fell behind early 8-0. Oxford Hills managed just two field goals (2-for-22) in the opening half and trailed by a 21-7 score by halftime.
“I think that tells the story of the game,” said Oxford Hills JV coach Shane Slicer, filling in for head coach Craig Jipson, who missed the game due to an illness.
“We attacked a little better in the second half. We played nervous and didn’t really attack their zone pressure. We just sat back and tried to break it with the dribble and attack it that way. Once we got a little more comfortable in that role, we went on a little bit of a run, but we never got comfortable in that halfcourt set and that showed in the fourth quarter.”
The Vikings got within 25-20 early in the fourth but watched Bangor (4-1) speed away with seven straight points to start a 13-2 run that finished Oxford Hills (3-2) off.
“The first half we went in spurts but in the fourth quarter, I thought we did a pretty good job (offensively),” said Bangor coach Tom Tennett. “You have to give them credit. They did a nice job with Craig not being here.”
The Vikings were hampered by Jipson’s absence. He missed Monday’s practice and Slicer was informed late Tuesday afternoon that he’d have to coach both the JV and varsity games.
Oxford Hills was also without Annie Foster. The junior guard was out with an ankle injury.
“She gives us a little more aggressiveness,” said Slicer.
Bangor, which was missing injured starter Alyssa Ogden in the post, got 11 points from guard Ilyse Angst. Guard Laura Clarke added eight while forward Kelsey Curtis had seven.
The Vikings were led by guard Brianna Thompson with seven, and forward Allison Fox added six.
A Fox 3 early in the second had the Vikings within 10-6, but Bangor finished the half with an 11-1 run. The Rams couldn’t get the offense working in the third quarter as Oxford Hills’ defense came to life. Bangor shot just 4-for-14.
The Vikings got within 23-16 at the end of three quarters and cut it to 25-20 with a rebound from Darcy Herrick and a Katie Martin score off a steal. The Vikings defensive pressure only worked for so long though. Bangor managed to break the press and missed just one shot in nine tries in the final quarter.
“At that point, we needed a few more,” said Slicer. “We had a good run to get within five. I was pleased with the girls for not giving up being down 14 at the half. They were able to handle our pressure, and that was all we had left, to pressure them in the full court.”
Bangor came right back with a rebound basket by Serena Dubois and a fast break hoop from Clarke. Angst hit a 3 with 5:28 left to quickly turn the five-point game into a 32-20 lead.
“I wanted to start Serena to start the third quarter, but I was worried she’d pick up the third foul,” said Tennett.
“With two sophomores, you always worry, are they going to be able to play with two fouls? So I may have kept her out too long, but I felt when she came back, we’d be able to go to her.”
After a Kristina Bowden basket with 4:07 left, Angst scored twice and Dubois scored again for a 38-22 lead.
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