B North girls semifinal recap

OT v MDI

The 2nd place Old Town Coyotes beat the 6th place Mount Desert Island Trojans 37-35 on Wednesday afternoon in a thrilling Class B North semifinal match.

The Coyotes have a record of 16-2 while the Trojans carry a 12-6 record. Old Town has lost this season only to 1st place Ellsworth. During the season the Coyotes defeated the Trojans twice, winning by about 20 points each match.

Although Old Town was wracking up the offensive rebounds for second chance shots, it wasn't enough to hold back Senior forward, Mollie Gray. She drained a triple on an inbounds play four minutes into the quarter to tie the game 6-6. Then in the next possession she lined up again for another three to take the lead.

On the defensive side the Trojans made sure to watch Makayla Emerson, a Senior guard. She hit a three-pointer in the first quarter, but didn’t see much of an open basket. But, the Coyotes had their own outstanding defender helping out. Saige Evans, a Senior forward, ripped the ball out of her opponents hands under the basket several times, reeling in the steals. Due to the lack of productive offense, MDI took the first quarter 12-8. 

MDI continued to work hard on offense this half. Sophia Brophy, a Senior forward, made a ball fake and powered past her defender on the block for a basket. Down 19-12, Emerson drained a three in the corner to keep her team in the game.

Eventually the Coyotes stepped into stride. Senior guard, Alexis Degrasse, swished an elbow jumper with three minutes left in the half. Evans stole the ball again and went for the full-court layup to tie the game 19-19. In the last minute Old Town scored another deuce taking the lead 21-19 at the half.

Lexi Tozier, a Junior forward for the Trojans, came alive in the second half. She made a shot a minute in to tie the game and drove a few minutes later to advance MDI’s lead 25-21. Then, Emerson realized she needed to take control. 

With two minutes left in the third she nailed a three to tie the game 27-27. In the next possession she hit another triple to take the lead. The Coyotes scored another basket as the clock wound down, taking the lead 32-27 going into the final quarter.

The Trojans made a quick layup in the last eight minutes of the game to lighten their load, but Evans stabbed right back. Winding around her defender on a baseline drive, she scored two for a 34-29 advantage.

Sophomore guard, Lily Norwood, cashed two free throws before a timeout was called to cut MDI’s deficit 34-33. Out of the timeout the Trojans threw on a full court press to regain the ball, causing the Coyotes to use one of theirs to talk it over.

Old Town was up by one point with one minute left in the match when they stepped out of bounds. MDI gained the possession and Gray drove for two to take the lead 35-34. With 30 seconds left Emerson drove and was fouled, she made one to tie the game. 

The Coyotes had the sideline inbounds with 15 seconds left in the game. They got it in the hands of Emerson. She stalled until the last three seconds where she drove and secured the win 37-35.

Ellsworth v Caribou

The 1st place Ellsworth Eagles defeated the 4th place Caribou Vikings 64-44.

The Eagles, with a record of 18-0 have ruled Class B North this whole season. The only opponents that have come close to defeating them have been within 15 points. The Vikings, one of those teams, have a record of 12-6. Their most notable game was a loss to 2nd place Old Town in overtime by just three points, showing their capability of scoring. 

Last time these teams played each other was on January 27th. The Eagles took the at home win 70-50, but the Vikings stayed in the game until the third quarter.

Grace Jaffray, a Junior forward for Ellsworth, made the first baskets of the game. She threw up a shot while driving towards the hoop, drawing a foul, she swished her two foul shots for a 2-0 lead. Two minutes in, Liv Adams, a Sophomore forward, got the ball in her hands after a scuffle at half court. She drove for the basket to tie the game 5-5.

Caribou went on a little bit of a scoring run in the first quarter. Madelynn Morrow, a Senior guard, made a drop step on the low block with three minutes to go, advancing the Viking’s lead 11-7. This was the last time Caribou scored in this quarter, due to Jaffray and Abby Radel, a Junior guard, sticking their free throws. Ellsworth led 17-11 at the end of the first. 

The Eagles went on a run this quarter, out-scoring the Vikings 23-11. Abby Radel, a Junior guard, hit a three a minute into the second quarter. Shortly after Jaffray stuck a three while her teammates made two quick baskets. 

Madelynn Deprey, a Junior guard, drained a triple with two left in the half giving her team a boost. But, Ellsworth took a 40-22 lead at the half, hushing the Vikings.

Ellsworth shut down Caribou in the second half, as is their trademark tactic. With a lead of 49-29, Radel took a scoop layup under the basket. She was fouled and hit both shots. Deprey continued to work hard. In the last seconds of the third she drove past three defenders, scoring two as the buzzer sounded. The Eagles took this quarter 51-33.

Attempts by the Vikings were made to cut the deficit down, showing their stamina. However, the Eagles took the semifinal win 64-44.

PREVIEW: Ellsworth v OT

Ellsworth will face Old Town in the Class C North regional finals on Friday, February 23rd at 6:00 in Bangor.

The first time these teams met was on January 3rd where the Coyotes lost to the Eagles by five points at home. They played again two weeks later. Ellsworth took that win 69-50. 

The Coyote’s help-side defense is lethal. They stagger the middle of the court keeping their opponents out of the paint and forcing them to shoot on the outside. The Eagles have an unbeatable endurance when it comes to any part of the game, making their defense another tough thing to overcome.
Old Town’s key players are Emerson and Evans. Emerson possesses a clutch shot and drive in times of need, as she revealed in the semifinal game. Evan’s is a force to be reckoned with on defense. She rips the ball out of anyone's hands on the court providing her team with fast-breaks.
Ellsworth has so many players that contribute. Jaffray’s energy that she brings to the court fuels her teammates as she hypes them up. Radel is a sharp-shooter and always crashes the boards, while Sophomore guard, Elizabeth Boles, whips the ball around the perimeter.