By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

GRAY – As the third quarter progressed, Harvey Moynihan’s girls’ basketball team got closer and closer to where it wanted to be Thursday night.

Before the Gray-New Gloucester club could reach its destination, though, the unbeaten Lake Region Lakers squelched hopes for a possible upset in a 45-29 victory.

“I thought we were one basket from being in real good shape,” said Moynihan. “I take my hat off to them. They came into our building. We gave them our best shot, and they took it.”

The Patriots had rallied from an 11-point deficit and got within 25-23 with 2:47 left in the third quarter. Just as GNG sensed things turning in their favor, Lake Region seized control in the final minute. Samantha Allen hit a short jumper and then fed Kate Callahan for a basket that made it 31-25. Early in the fourth, Renee Nicholas stuck a 3 from the top of the key for a 34-25 lead.

“The problem against them is that there’s no margin for error,” said Moynihan.

The Lakers had missed their first eight shots of the third quarter and finished 3-for-11 overall.

“I’m really proud of my kids because they stuck with what we do, and the kids played hard” said Lake Region coach Paul True. “Early in that third quarter, we had great looks at the basket, and we missed at least three or four bunnies to start that period, which could have made a big difference in that game.”

The Patriots couldn’t overcome the deficit in the fourth. GNG’s offense ran out of steam and shot 0-for-5 from the floor. Lake Region managed to open its lead with two free throws from Callahan and back-to-back hoops from Courtney McClean and Callahan.

“We don’t have a deep bench,” said Moynihan. “(Jen) Farynaz is our best point guard, and she was exhausted. I gave her one break, but she was out of gas.”

Callahan led the Lakers (16-0) with 11 points while Z.Z. Leighton and McLean each had eight. Allen finished with seven. The Patriots (10-6) got 15 points from Olivia Ryan and seven from Farynaz.

“What we wanted to do was try to control the tempo of the game and make it a halfcourt game,” said Moynihan, whose team lost to Lake Region 53-31 last month. “They’re smaller then we are, and they don’t match up against our bigger players.”

GNG’s zone made it difficult for the Lakers early. Lake Region missed its first eight shots and hit one in its first 11. GNG couldn’t take advantage, turning the ball over 11 times in the first quarter. The Lakers managed to build a 12-point lead in the second quarter with eight straight points.

The Patriots rallied early in the third when Ryan scored in the paint and added a pair of free throws. After two foul shots from Farynaz, Ana Danieli scored off a Brittany Humphrey feed and later hit a free throw to make it 25-23.