By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

AUGUSTA – The hot shooting hand that fed Skowhegan earlier in the week nourished the Cony Rams instead Friday night.

After setting the single-game record for 3-pointers in an Eastern A tournament game in the semifinals, the Indians lost their shooting touch. The three-time defending regional champs from Cony found the hot hand instead in a 65-58 victory at the Augusta Civic Center.

“We’ve been building up to this all season,” said Cony center Rachel Mack. “We want to play our best at the end of the season.”

Like the Indians did against Oxford Hills days earlier, the Rams hit five 3-pointers in the first quarter and built a 23-10 advantage. Cony, which has beaten the Indians three straight times in the regional final, had the lead up to as many as 22 in the second half before Skowhegan finally found its intensity and rallied.

The Indians got within four in the final minute but came up short.

“They came out of the locker room and hit five 3’s in the first quarter,” said Skowhegan coach Heath Cowan. “That was the difference in the basketball game. They hit six 3s. That’s the old Cony.”

Cony’s outside shooting opened the inside for post players Mack and Cassie Cooper. They did plenty of damage against the smaller Indians. Mack finished with 23 while Cooper added 12. The Rams were playing without forward Kristi Violette, who has missed the last two tournament games with an illness.

“Cassie and I have had the height advantage all season, and we want to use that to our advantage,” said Mack.

Skowhegan was led by Bethany Sevey with 25 points while Danielle Miller and Megan Smith each chipped in 10. The Indians finished with seven 3-pointers, breaking the record for most 3-pointers in an Eastern A tournament with 23. Cony set the old mark in 1996 with 22.

Skowhegan struggled from the outside early, however, and couldn’t keep pace. Skowhegan shot just 3-for-13 in the first quarter and 8-for-30 in the first half.

“We wanted to get the ball on the rim so badly that I thought we rushed some shots,” said Cowan.

“I don’t have a problem with them shooting 3s, but I want them to be good 3s. Some of them were forced. I think we got caught up in the moment and were trying to do it on their own.”

Cony (21-0) got a trio of 3-pointers from Monica White and one each from Shelby Pelkey and Maggie Rende. An 8-1 run midway through the quarter built a 16-7 lead, thanks to a pair of White 3-pointers. Cony finished the quarter with seven straight points, including another White 3-pointer.

Mark and Cooper took over in the second quarter, combining for 13 points as the Rams built a 16-point lead. A Rende 3-pointer during eight straight points to open the third made it 47-25.

The Indians (19-2) made things interesting down the stretch. Six Cony turnovers and an offensive surge by Skowhegan had the Indians roaring back. Nine straight points got Skowhegan within 58-53 with 3:03 left.

Cony missed five straight free throws but got the lead back to eight with a Rende fast break hoop. A drive by Miller and a score by Smith in the final minute got the Indians within 62-58.

“Our kids didn’t quit,” said Cowan. “We got outplayed by Cony in the first half, actually for three quarters. We really had no business being in the basketball game, but we got it to a two possession game with the ball.”