AUGUSTA — On a day filled with upsets, top-seeded Maranacook made sure it didn’t follow the trend. 

The Black Bears led throughout and defeated ninth-seeded Carrabec, 51-34, at the Augusta Civic Center on Tuesday in the Western Class C quarterfinals. Maranacook will face Madison in the semifinals. 

The Black Bears (16-3) hit three 3-pointers in the opening quarter to build a 16-10 lead. Elizabeth D’Angelo, Christine Miller and Sarah Clough all knocked down shots from behind the arc in the first quarter. 

The Cobras (12-8) clawed within 16-14 — the closest they would get — on baskets by Bailey Atwood and Jerzee Rugh in the first two minutes of the second quarter. Maranacook responded with a 13-4 run to close the half. 

Maranacook couldn’t buy a basket in the third quarter as Miller’s bucket early in the frame was all it could muster. But Carrabec couldn’t find its touch out of the locker room as well. The Cobras scored just six points, but closed the gap to 33-24. 

“We needed to take care of the ball better, but when it comes down to it we’ve battled through some really tough games and when it comes down to the last few minutes we’re going to do what it takes to win,” Maranacook coach Jeannine Paradis said. “They’ve proven to me that they can have a bad quarter and recover from it. I know Carrabec’s not going to give up, but I also knew neither were we.” 

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Five straight points by Carrabec’s Liberty Chestnut had the Cobras within six, but the Black Bears ended their opponent’s upset bid with an 8-0 run to stretch the advantage to 45-29. They ended the game on a 16-5 run. 

Miller had seven points and Sanborn had six during the final run. 

“They’re the two that settle everybody,” Paradis said. “They’re smart basketball players. They’re smart athletes, period. When it comes to the game on the line, they’re going to come get the ball and settle down their team. They have been our leaders all season long.” 

Miller finished with a game-high 19 points. D’Angelo (11) and Clough (10) also ended in double figures. 

Mickayla Willette and Chestnut each had nine points for Carrabec. 


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