LEWISTON — The fact that it was even close at the end Tuesday night was a small victory for the Lewiston girls’ basketball team.

Down by as many as 11 in the fourth quarter, the winless Blue Devils rallied late and were within two points twice in the final minutes. Lewiston couldn’t get over that final hump, however, and watched Brewer pull away in the final minute for a 45-39 victory.

“The kids don’t quit,” said Lewiston coach Mike McGraw. “It’s not always pretty, but they don’t quit. They work hard and you can’t ask for any more than that.”

Brewer (2-6) took the lead late in the first quarter and never relinquished it, but Lewiston (0-8) was able to hang around and stay within reach. The Witches were able to produce enough offense to preserve the lead and was stellar at the free-throw line down the stretch.

“We’re happy to come here and win,” said Brewer coach Andy Nickerson, whose team has just one senior and nine freshmen and sophomores. “The only way we’re going to learn how to win is to put ourselves in a situation to win. We’re extremely young and a little on the small side.”

Faith Thomas led the Witches with 11 while Holly Nickerson added seven, all from the foul line in the fourth quarter. Lewiston got 19 points, 16 rebounds and nine blocked shots from Atong Reyak.Dani Estes, Jaime Swart and Patricia DeFosse each added four points.

“She’s done a really good job,” said McGraw of Reyak. “She’s a kid that wants to be there. She’s got the passion to play, and that’s very important.”

Reyak was a force in the paint and had 14 of Lewiston’s first 26 points through three quarters. Though Lewiston stayed with Brewer for much of the game, the Witches were able to maintain the lead. The Blue Devils offense wasn’t consistent enough or balanced enough to make the run they needed.

“It seemed like we extended ourselves to get close, and it just didn’t happen to even it or go ahead,” said McGraw. “That’s the case when you have to recover so quickly and so much in such a short time.”

Brewer had the lead up to as many as five in the second quarter and used a Thomas 3-pointer to make it 28-21 late in the third. Lewiston came right back and got a steal from Ruth Choate and a basket by Estes to cut it to three. Brewer got free throws from Thomas and a basket by Lindsay Houp to make it 32-26 after three.

Three points by Rylee Hutchins to open the fourth had the lead up to nine, and free throws by Nickerson made it 39-28 with 5:01 remaining. After a Sage Silvia jumper, Reyak hit a free throw and scored to make it 39-33. A jumper by Kailey Martin and an Estes basket off a Kirstin McCombs feed made it 39-37 with 2:28 remaining.

“We were there,” said McGraw, who was missing Kayla Hamel to an ankle injury. “Kailey Martin hit a big shot. Dani came in and did a great job for Kenzie (Sullivan), who is our point guard and fouled out. Our kids are battling adversity. I’ve got to give them credit. As tough as it is, they keep coming back and keep playing hard. As long as they keep doing that there’s got to be success down the road.”

Lewiston could never even up the game or get the lead. After Nickerson hit two free throws with 2:21 left, Reyak scored on a rebound to get within 41-39, but Brewer got free throws from Nickerson and Thomas to seal it. The Witches sank seven straight free throws in the fourth and eight out of nine during one stretch. 

“Obviously, the kids are working at that,” said Nickerson, who said his team has struggled from the line at times this year. “That’s a credit to their work and certainly a credit to their composure and stepping up and hitting those shots.”