2024 Battle of the Bridge
The Brunswick Dragons beat their rival from across the green bridge, the Mt.Ararat Eagles, this Thursday evening 44-38.
This Tuesday MTA had a disappointing loss to tenth ranked Deering (3-4), losing by six points. However, the Eagles have managed to stay in first place in girls Class A with six wins and one loss. This team has two strong guards that take control of the court. Junior guard’s, Kennedy Lampert and Cali Pomerleau. Underneath the basket is Senior forward, Abbie Doble. She’s proved reliable on the free throw line this season and provides the Eagles with easy baskets.
Fresh from a win against Gray-New Gloucester, Brunswick remains in second place with a record of six wins and one loss. Senior forward Maddy Werner has been dominating on the block for the Dragons, but, Doble is quite a physical matchup for Werner which could cause some issues for Brunswick. Nonetheless, this team brings its own aggressiveness on defense with high intensity trapping on their opponents that tends to cause several turnovers.
The Eagles struggled early in the first quarter with turnovers and had a slow start on the scoreboard. Brunswick was successful on defense causing many steals and stoppages on the court with their quick hands, they also had an early lead in the game. MTA Sophomore guard, Jaelyn Jensen, tied the game 11-11 from two free throws with thirty seconds left in the quarter. The clock wasted down to ten seconds with the ball in Brunswick Senior forward Dakota Shipley’s hands. She made a contested post move over two defenders in the middle of the key to take the lead at the end of the first 13-11.
The second quarter is where things began to take a turn. Girls were diving on the floor to regain possession and the crowd was begging for fouls as players flopped. Amidst the hostile environment, Lexi Morin, a Junior forward, cashed a three from the top right corner of the arch two minutes in for the Dragons, making the score 18-13. Doble collected rebounds on both ends of the court, making it rare for Brunswick to get second chance shots. However, the Eagles had little success this quarter on the offensive end, scoring only two points. Up by eight, Senior forward Abrielle St.Pierre added two to the board in the last seconds of the half giving the Dragons a ten point lead. Brunswick outscored MTA 10-2 and led going into the second half 23-13.
MTA threw out a full court press to open the second half. But, Morin threw a full court pass from the baseline in response; hitting a teammate and drawing a foul on the Eagles. The ball traveled end to end without touching the net for several possessions due to each team’s aggressiveness on defense. Playing through contact, Werner finished a post move over three defenders below the basket furthering Brunswick’s lead 35-19. In response Lampert sank a three from the baseline with fifteen seconds to go. But, as is usually the case, Morin hit a three to hush MTA’s hopes. The Dragons led 38-22 at the end of the quarter.
Pomerleau showed up in the final quarter, hitting shots from all over the floor. After making a deuce from the elbow, Pomerleau converted an and-one play from the block two minutes in. Scoring the bonus she put MTA within 11 points. Brunswick got sloppy on defense, awarding the Eagles many chances to catch up, which they happened to capitalize on. Pomerleau drilled a three along with Junior guard Avery Beal and Sophomore guard Jenna Jensen, making the score 40-36 with three minutes to go.
Jaelyn Jensen made a key steal to give MTA another possession right after their three-point frenzy. It was looking like the right time for the Eagles to make a comeback, however, the Dragons didn’t lay off. Fed up, Werner rejected an Eagle on the block with two minutes and thirty seconds left in the game. The Jensen twins worked hard on defense to regain the ball for MTA. But, Brunswick crossed the bridge and claimed the victory 44-38.
Battle of the bridge part two takes place on February 6th at Brunswick High School and is sure to be another great game.
Both teams compete this Saturday, January 6th. The Dragons will face Falmouth at home while the Eagles will play at Freeport.
