By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

KENTS HILL – As much as it was approached as a normal game, deep down the Mustangs knew better.

The Monmouth Academy girls hoped Tuesday’s playoff game at Kents Hill School would feel like any other, but if their heads didn’t tell them otherwise, their stomachs and nerves certainly did.

“I had the butterflies,” said sophomore guard Brittany Scirica. “I was like, Holy crap.’ I’ve never been in a playoff game before in my whole life. I didn’t know what to expect. We hadn’t played this team before. So I didn’t know if they were going to come out strong or what they were going to do. Once I got used to it, it was really good.”

Scirica helped spark 13th-ranked Monmouth early, scoring 11 points in the opening quarter and lifting the Mustangs to a 62-38 victory. Monmouth advances to Tuesday’s Western C quarterfinal against fifth-ranked Jay.

“I think the girls have a tremendous amount of pride in themselves and in the program,” said Monmouth coach Rick Amero. “They wanted to play hard every single night, and it’s nice to see them rewarded for their hard work.”

After a 2-16 season last year, the Mustangs (10-9) return to Augusta for the first time since 2000. This was the Mustangs first win in Class C since Monmouth beat top-seeded Winthrop, coached by current Monmouth assistant Ray Convery, in 1985.

“It’s exciting,” said Scirica. “I never thought we’d get this far. I figured our team would win some games, but I didn’t think we’d get here and we’d win and we’d be going to Augusta. It’s really great.”

Monmouth’s defense stymied Kents Hill. After Aleigh Mills scored to open the game, Kents Hill missed 13 straight shots, finishing 3-for-18 in the first quarter. Monmouth’s pressure proved too much, especially since Kents Hill was missing guard Olivia Clukey. She was suspended Monday night for violating school policy. Kents Hill had nearly 20 turnovers in the first half.

“We were missing our key point guard, our leading scorer, leading assist-maker, leading steal-maker,” said Kents Hill coach Jim Smucker, who used just six players until the final minutes. “That put a damper on the equation when the press hit. We couldn’t get the offense rolling because we really relied on her so much.”

Mills finished with 21 points. Though she was a force inside, it was Monmouth’s perimeter game that opened up the lead. Scirica sparked a 12-0 run in the first quarter, ending with Monmouth up 17-6. She finished with 14 points.

“I think that really loosened us up especially when Kents Hill collapsed into a zone,” said Amero. “We’ve got kids that can shoot the basketball. It was real nice to see the young kids do what they’ve done all season.”

Scirica hit her second of two 3-pointers to open the second quarter. Jen Lola added two more in the second in a 7-0 run. When Kents Hill tried to guard the perimeter, that opened up things for Cortney Barrett and Jill Armstrong inside.

Barrett finished with 16 while Armstrong and Lola each scored 11. Monmouth increased the advantage to 36-17 by halftime and Kents Hill never threatened beyond that.

“When they started going out to the shooters, it opened up the game for Cortney, and she did a great job finishing,” said Amero.