AUBURN — For the past nine games, many things have gone right for the Brunswick High School girls basketball team. The Dragons had reeled off nine consecutive wins, setting up a big-time rematch with Edward Little on Saturday.

Things went the Red Eddies’ way, though, in a 35-22 Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference win.

EL improved to 12-2, while Brunswick fell to 9-5.

The first quarter told the tale, as the Red Eddies rebounded, stole and shot out to an 18-3 lead.

“To beat Brunswick defensively we were tough tonight and luckily we scored enough points in the first half,” EL coach Craig Jipson said. “This was a good bounce back for us. The three days of rest helped us a lot.”

“We didn’t make any plays. That was the difference. We have to make plays and make shots to compete and we just didn’t,” Brunswick coach Sam Farrell said.

In the first quarter the Dragons went 0-for-12 from the floor, and EL shot out quickly. Emily Jacques had six points, Jordyn Reynolds four, Karli Stubbs sank a trey and Grace Beaudet came off the Red Eddies’ bench and hit a key 3-pointer.

EL’s offense slowed from there, but the Red Eddies’ defense was relentless. The lead ballooned to 22-3 on a Reynolds putback before Brunswick’s Sabrina Armstrong canned the Dragons’ first field goal with 2:03 remaining until halftime.

In all, Brunswick made just 1-of-20 from the floor in the first half, committed 13 turnovers and trailed 24-5 at the break.

Second half

Brunswick found its footing a bit in the third quarter. Led by Armstrong’s five points, the Dragons climbed to within 17, 29-12 after three quarters.

“We have to look to score. We play keep-away too much on offense,” said Jipson after his Red Eddies were just 2-of-9 from the floor in the third quarter and committed eight turnovers. Brunswick kids play really hard. They are a good offensive basketball team. The good thing this year is they are in A and we will not have to see them again.”

Brunswick made a run in the fourth quarter as the game’s intensity picked up. Two Dragons went to the bench with injuries, but Adrianna White gave the Brunswick faithful some hope, scoring six straight points to get the Dragons to 33-22 with 1:05 remaining.

“We were giving up some easy baskets down the stretch, with Jacques and Reynolds (four fouls each) worried about fouls,” Jipson said.

But, EL rode its fast start, with Jacques finishing off her eight-point, 11-rebound effort with two free throws to complete the 35-22 Red Eddie win. Reynolds matched Jacques with eight points and added seven boards, while Beaudet pitched in seven points. Perry chipped in five points, four steals and three assists.

“Jade Perry and Grace Beaudet played really well today after three good practices. Both had to play more due to foul trouble,” Jipson said.

For Brunswick, White led the way with a game-high nine points and picked up five rebound s and three steals. Armstrong added eight points, six boards and four steals.

Both teams returns to action on Tuesday — Brunswick at home against Cony and EL visiting rival Lewiston. Both tips are slated for 7 p.m.

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