The Eagles cruise past Elan, 43-20.
NEW GLOUCESTER — Eastgate Christian’s encounter with Elan was the first game of the Class D girls’ basketball campaign for both schools. In the Eagles’ case, however, Tuesday’s contest was their first in Double-A.
As in After Annie.
Annie McIntosh, the most prolific scorer and rebounder in Eastgate history, has emerged as the leading scorer at Husson College in Bangor after a rare five-year high school varsity career. The program she left behind has taken on a new look but enjoyed a familiar result in its 2003-04 debut, beating the Buccaneers, 43-20.
Eastgate is less explosive but more balanced this winter, with seven of nine players cracking the scoring column in the one-sided triumph.
Angie Elvin scored seven of her game-high 12 points in the first quarter. Haley Veilleux, who scored her 1,000th career point last season as a junior, amassed 10 points, 13 rebounds, seven steals and five assists, while Elizabeth Tillson provided additional low-post presence with nine points and eight boards.
“They’re looking for one another to step up, almost calling to each other for help out there,” said Eastgate Christian coach Ron Giasson. “I think eventually someone’s going to have a real big night individually. Even Haley, who has been a scorer for us, had a bunch of assists.”
Brittany Legare’s seven steals and five assists fueled a determined effort at both ends of the floor for the Eagles, who forced 33 turnovers and limited the Bucs to 10-for-55 (18 percent) proficiency from the field.
Elvin’s jumper with 2:27 remaining in the first quarter put Eastgate on top to stay. Elvin added a 3-pointer and Veilleux scored a second-chance hoop to make it 13-8 at the end of one.
Legare delivered two hoops early in the second period. Tillson later struck twice inside, the second time a traditional 3-point play, to trigger a 7-0 run and establish a 26-12 halftime edge.
“Angie’s seven points in the first quarter set the tone, but it was big for us to have three or four different girls do a lot of the scoring,” Giasson said. “There’s going to be more movement. We’re not always going to be trying to work the ball inside.”
Shirley Vogtritter led the Buccaneers with eight points and eight rebounds.
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