By Kalle Oakes,Staff Writer

JAY – Think of basketball season as a political campaign and ask yourself one question: Is your team better off than it was a month ago?

Winthrop can answer with a resounding yes after a 61-36 Mountain Valley Conference landslide over the Jay girls Thursday night at the Tiger Dome.

Six-foot senior Emilie Knight scored 22 points and ripped down 14 rebounds. Sophomore Justine Woodman chalked up 14 points and freshman Lindsey Gordon added 10 for the Ramblers (12-4), who expunged their memory bank of a 71-62 home loss to the Tigers four weeks ago.

“I think we had a little revenge going for us,” said Knight. “We came out really vengeful.”

Jay (10-6) hopes the last two games aren’t a referendum on its Western Class C tournament prospects. The Tigers have been out-hustled, badly out-rebounded and run out of the gym by Livermore Falls and now Winthrop over the last four nights.

There were few bright spots other than Kaylie DeMillo’s typical 23 points for the Tigers, who started the week on the brink of a possible first-round playoff bye but now might need a win over Madison or Dirigo next week to solidify a home preliminary game.

“We’re just struggling. I’m at a loss right now,” said Jay coach Chris Bessey. “Getting after them doesn’t seem to work. Not getting after them doesn’t seem to work. Trying to be ultra-positive, that isn’t working.”

DeMillo nailed a 3-pointer and Liz LeBlanc swished another in the first five minutes, staking Jay to an 11-5 lead.

Then it was all Winthrop. The Ramblers scored nine straight points, five by Knight, to grab the lead by quarter’s end. Woodman continued the onslaught with back-to-back hoops to christen the second quarter. By the time Knight’s put-back concluded a 24-5 run, the Ramblers led 29-16 with 19 seconds remaining in the half.

DeMillo hit all three free throws after she was fouled beyond the arc with five seconds left, but that was enough time for the Ramblers to run the length of the floor and feed Gordon’s 15-foot buzzer beater for a 31-19 edge at intermission.

Jay went 0-for-7 from the floor in the second period, 4-for-20 in the first half and 10-for-42 in all. Nobody other than DeMillo or LeBlanc (seven points) scored for the Tigers until the fourth quarter.

“They are a good team, and it’s not just DeMillo. We couldn’t stop LeBlanc the first time,” said Winthrop coach Sam Farrell. “We just played good, fundamental basketball, finally.”

Knight and the 5-11 Gordon (eight rebounds) staked Winthrop to an advantage of better than two-to-one on the boards. Woodman and Amanda Garwood combined for five steals, while point guard Katie Pushard finished with seven points, five assists and four swipes.

“We’re still a young, inexperienced team,” Knight said, “and every game all of us, including me, are getting better. By the time we get to the tournament, we’ll have 18 or 19 games under our belt. I’m pretty optimistic about our chances.”