AUGUSTA – There are teams in the Western Class D girls’ basketball tournament draw that Eastgate Christian could have beaten in the quarterfinals.

Valley, the perennial playoff pest led by arguably the most complete player in the bracket, isn’t one of them.

Sophomore point guard Kristen Baker rolled up 28 points, nine assists and six steals Tuesday morning for the No. 4 Cavaliers, who accelerated to a 20-point lead in the opening quarter and coasted to a 68-43 victory over the fifth-seeded Eagles at Augusta Civic Center.

“We didn’t lose this game. They just beat us,” said Eastgate Christian coach Ron Giasson, who guided the Eagles into the quarterfinals for the eighth consecutive season.

The last two years, Eastgate (14-6) had too much experience for North Haven and too much size for North Yarmouth Academy.

In Valley, though, the Eagles encountered a foe that reached the regional final last February and flaunts a polished high-low game.

When the backcourt of Baker and Melanie Vicneire (15 points) weren’t turning heads in transition, center Emma McAllister (10 points, 10 rebounds) presented problems in the paint. So did forwards Loretta and Jeri-Dee Fitzmaurice, who collaborated for 14 points and 22 boards.

It added up to a 25-5 lead for Valley (17-2) after eight minutes, and although Eastgate essentially won the second and fourth quarters, those periods were a mere formality.

Valley finished the first quarter on an 18-0 run after two free throws by Eastgate’s Elizabeth Tillson with 5:33 remaining.

“We’ve come out strong the last five or six games,” Baker said. “That’s what we wanted to do today. Move around, get open shots, look to the low post and get a lead on them.”

Eastgate made a modest 6-2 push to start the second stanza. But the disparity underneath the hoop widened when the tallest and most prolific player in the Eagles’ regular rotation, 5-foot-7 senior Haley Veilleux, retreated to the bench after

acquiring her fourth foul

with 3:19 remaining in the first half.

Angie Elvin drained back-to-back 3-pointers to diminish the deficit to 37-19 at the half. It remained that close until late in the third, when Valley scored the final 10 points and made it a 57-28 cushion.

Veilleux concluded her career with a 16-point, 16-rebound effort for Eastgate. Elvin added 11 points and eight boards.

Eastgate’s other two seniors went out in style in the fourth quarter. Brittany Legare (nine points, seven rebounds, six assists) produced seven points in the period, while Amy Turgeon nailed the Eagles’ sixth and final 3-pointer.

“I’m satisfied, getting back here to Augusta without a really strong rebounder,” Giasson said. “We’ve been here eight years in a row and won a game a couple of those years. That’s something these girls can be proud of.”

koakes@sunjournal.com

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