The Rangers win their first state title in 20 years.
BANGOR – Cinderella’s Gold Ball turned into a pumpkin Friday night.
After rising from the No. 8 seed in Eastern Maine, the Camden Hills girls’ basketball team couldn’t match the best from the West in Friday’s Class B state title game.
After losing to Mount Desert Island by 25 points last year, the Greely Rangers produced a happier ending at the Bangor Auditorium with a 54-36 win.
“This feels absolutely amazing,” said Greely guard Brigitte Demers. “There’s really no way to explain it right now. It’s just amazing.”
It was the third state title for Greely and its first since winning back-to-back crowns in 1983 and 1984.
Demers led the Rangers with 16 points.
Abby Marstaller added eight for the Rangers (20-2).
Marianne Croce led Camden (15-7) with 10, while Kayla Gushee had nine.
Greely’s defense frustrated Camden all evening, forcing the surprising Windjammers to live off the outside shot.
With Greely dominating the paint and controlling the boards, it was tough for Camden to counter. Foul trouble allowed Camden to stay close and get within 18-15 at the half, but a third-quarter surge put Greely in the lead for good.
“I think we played a lot smarter in the second half,” said Greely coach Jim Seavey. “We took better care of the basketball. Obviously Brigitte shot the ball well, and that opened up the inside for us.”
Demers had 13 of her points in the second half, five in the third quarter.
“The same thing happened in the game against Gorham,” Demers said of the Western B final. “I had one point in the first half. Then I started hitting my shots. I had open shots, and I took them and they fell.”
A 3-pointer and a jumper by Demers followed by a Stephanie Ginn free throw increased the lead to 24-18 early in the third quarter. Camden crept within three on a Gushee trey, but a 6-0 Greely spurt ended the drama.
Marstaller, who spent parts of the first half in foul trouble, sparked the run. She fed Amanda Gray on a backdoor pass, then converted a steal for a 30-23 lead with 2:10 left in the third.
She then set up Gray again. After a Samantha Wiley basket for Camden, Marstaller assisted a Ginn basket.
A free throw by Michelle Robb had the lead up to 35-25 after three quarters. A 9-0 run in the fourth put the Windjammers down 48-39. Demers had eight points to start the final quarter.
Camden was held without a field goal for a span of 8:19 in the first half. They also went over seven minutes without scoring. Greely’s fouls and Camden free throws managed to keep the Windjammers close. A 7-0 run late in the first half brought Camden within one before Greely heightened the halftime lead to three.
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