LEWISTON — An untimely breakdown and a four-hour ride on a cold Friday night didn’t slow down the Bangor Rams.
As soon as they arrived in Lewiston, the Rams warmed right up and used their height and patience to whittle down the Lewiston Blue Devils to produce a 51-28 victory in a Class A girls’ basketball opener.
“It was a great way to break up a long road trip — sit two hours at a restaurant,” a light-hearted Bangor coach Joe Johnson said.
Johnson could afford to brush off the delay and a two-hour meal after his Rams quickly dismantled Lewiston.
“I thought our size all the way around the basket hurt them,” Johnson said. “I thought we were patient enough on offense and worked it around enough to get it inside to the big girls.”
Center Cordelia Stewart and Hailee Campbell had no problems dominating the boards, with Stewart scoring eight points. Forward Sarah Bragg led Bangor with 11 points.
“I thought (the Blue Devils) competed very hard. I just think they weren’t ready for our size,” Johnson said.
Johnson added that once his Rams broke Lewiston’s press, life got a lot easier for Bangor’s transition game.
“We had a game plan, but they were just too quick,” Lewiston coach Lynn Girouard said. “I mean, they got the ball down underneath fast. Mary Butler is just a great passer.
“Their size was the difference. Their transition was the difference. They run the floor really well.”
Butler scored all her six points from the free-throw line. Her sister, Katie, also dropped in six points.
By halftime, the Rams were well on their way to victory after they built 29-13 lead. Bangor’s defense then went work on Lewiston’s offense, holding the Blue Devils to just four points in the third quarter. Bangor ended up with a 45-17 lead heading into the final quarter.
Kristina Blais led all scorers with her 14 points — and that included a three-pointer. Forward Amanda Swart scored eight points.
In the fourth quarter, Johnson sent in his reserves with about four minutes left. Blais scored seven of her 14 points in the final quarter.
As far as turnovers go, the Blue Devils had 10, while the Rams accounted for 12.
In the first quarter, the Blue Devils managed only six points, and as their offense sputtered, Bangor jumped out to a 14-6 lead.
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