SCARBOROUGH – Anyone wondering how the Scarborough girls’ basketball team would respond to a challenge at this early point of the season got an answer Friday night.

Ashley Briggs scored 20 points and Bailey Adams had 16 to lead the Red Storm to a 74-52 win over Windham in an SMAA game Friday night at Alumni Gymnasium.

Brooke Malone and Sophie Glidden each added 11 points for Scarborough, which opened with a 53-19 win over Biddeford on Dec. 5 but hadn’t played since because of bad weather.

“This was a test for us, and we answered the bell,” Scarborough Coach Mike Giordano said. “I was impressed with our depth tonight. Kids came off the bench and didn’t hurt us. When we can do that, we can go 10 deep and wear some teams down.”

After trailing by as many as 16 points late in the second quarter, Windham (0-3) opened the third quarter on a 7-2 run that cut Scarborough’s lead to 37-31.

“We definitely go through streaks where we do a good job getting to the basket and converting, and there are streaks where we just don’t,” said Windham Coach Brody Artes. “We’ve got to find a way to break those up and be more consistent. Tonight, we just ran into a good team. They’re athletic and they really get to the basket.”

The Red Storm (2-0) responded with a 15-3 run that opened a 20-point lead, 54-34. Briggs and Adams combined for 11 of the 15 points.

Windham went on to score 24 points in the third quarter, including six 3-pointers, but Scarborough scored 26.

“In the third quarter, they started out on fire,” Briggs said. “Coach preaches that we need to work our hardest in the first three minutes of a quarter. We didn’t do well those first 30 seconds, but it started to register. We were getting up the court, sticking our shots, and that’s what helped us pull away.”

That, and a smothering defense led by senior forward Sam Sparda (two points, 12 rebounds and six assists).

“Sam’s our anchor,” Briggs said. “We’re not going to let one person beat our team. Sam was a beast, and collectively we did a good job helping out.”

Sparda’s top priority was to focus on Windham junior forward Sadie Nelson, who scored 24 points Wednesday in a 54-51 loss at Marshwood. Against Scarborough, she had seven points and 11 rebounds.

“Sam did a great job on Sadie, who I think is one of the top 10 players in our league,” said Giordano.

Sophomore shooting guard Mya Mannette led the Eagles with 18 points, and senior point guard Luisa Sbardella finished with 10.

When the Red Storm get into an offensive rhythm, as they did in the third quarter, good things happen.

“We just passed the ball well, and there were open shots,” Adams said. “Coach tells us, if we have an open shot, take it.”

Giordano was pleased to see the Red Storm score 74 points against a team that reached the Western Class A final last year.

“This gives the kids confidence,” he said. “It shows them if you really work hard in practice, (a game like) that is the fruit of you labor.”

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