It took more than a couple of minutes for Greely’s top-seeded girls’ basketball team to settle its nerves in Monday night’s Class A South quarterfinal with Leavitt.

Once the Rangers did, they put on a show.

With Anna DeWolfe scoring 26 points and handing out 10 assists, the Rangers ran away from the eighth-ranked Hornets 75-36 at the Portland Expo. Leavitt held the early advantage, but a 16-0 run by Greely that started late in the first quarter gave the Rangers all the momentum.

“They’re a very, very good basketball team,” said Hornets Coach David Gerrish. “If you look at the facets of the game, they defended well, they caused turnovers, they rebounded well, they passed well and they shot well. That’s all you need, right?”

Greely (18-1) will play fourth-seeded Marshwood in the regional semifinals at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Cross Insurance Arena. The Rangers defeated the Hawks 65-44 on Jan. 27.

Leavitt finished 8-12. The Hornets were paced by Elizabeth Goulette with nine points.

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The Hornets held leads deep into the first quarter, the last time at 11-9 on an Alexandra Belaire layup. But Greely went on an 11-0 run in the final 1:50, with DeWolfe scoring seven points. Then the Rangers scored the first five points of the second quarter as well – on a three-point play by Moira Train set up by a bullet pass from DeWolfe, and a short jumper by Molly Chapin – en route to a 44-16 halftime lead.

“I think it was the nerves,” said DeWolfe, who also had eight rebounds and four steals. “Everyone just wanted to play really well.

“Once we got the fast break going, once we get the rebounds we push the ball, that’s where it all starts. It starts with our defense.

“Once we pick up energy on the defensive end, it all seems to come naturally on offense.”

Greely forced 26 Leavitt turnovers and held Leavitt to 30 percent shooting. The Rangers also had 21 defensive rebounds, which allowed them to get their fast break going.

They had a balanced offense as freshman Brooke Obar added 17 points, Train nine and Isabel Porter eight.

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“We kind of go in spurts,” said Greely Coach Todd Flaherty. “And it all starts with our defense. We get a rebound and we transition really well and we get a lot of easy baskets. If we can get running, we’re in pretty good shape.”

Greely made 52 percent of its shots and also converted 15 of 16 foul shots.

“We have five shooters out there,” said Flaherty. “And they all have their nights.”

Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or:

mlowe@pressherald.com

Twitter: MikeLowePPH


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