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Deering 48, Cheverus 42: Finishing touch

Girls' basketball: Emily Cole's long-range shooting makes the difference in a testing game to end the regular season.

By GREG REID Special to the Press Herald

PORTLAND - With Ella Ramonas and Marissa MacMillan on the floor, it's natural to consider senior guard Emily Cole a third option when Deering is attacking the basket.

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Alexandra Palazzi-Leahy of Cheverus looks for room to drive Thursday night between Marissa MacMillan, left, and Maura Densmore of Deering, which rallied in the second half for a 48-42 victory.

Photos by John Ewing/Staff Photographer

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Marissa MacMillan of Deering, left, is fouled by Mikayla Mayberry of Cheverus while going up for a shot Thursday night. Deering won 48-42 and finished the regular season with a 14-4 record, including a six-game winning streak.

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Dismiss her at your own peril.

Cole hit three 3-pointers in the decisive third quarter Thursday night as the Rams recovered from a lackluster start to close their regular season with a 48-42 victory over Cheverus in an SMAA game at Keegan Gymnasium.

"You know (Ramonas) and (MacMillan) are going to get their points but you've got to stop that third option," said Cheverus Coach Richie Ashley. "Cole had that big third. She hit those 3s and they were bombs."

Ramonas led the Rams with 21 points, including three 3s in the third, and MacMillan had 13 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.

"We outscored them in every quarter but the third," Ashley said. "I don't know what it was in the third quarter. A lot of credit has to go to Deering. They made shots and we didn't."

Deering (14-4) entered the game ranked fourth in the Western Class A Heal point standings and won its final six games of the regular season. Cheverus (10-7), which came in ranked seventh, lost its third straight and closes tonight at home against Portland.

Brooke Flaherty led the Stags with nine points and 10 rebounds. Mikayla Mayberry scored eight points and Alexandra Palazzi-Leahy had seven, all in the fourth quarter.

Cheverus was in charge early, jumping to a 12-4 lead after one quarter, holding the Rams without a field goal for the final 6:02.

"I told the girls, 'Look, it's only 12-4 and we were horrible,' " said Deering Coach Mike Murphy. "All it takes is one kid out of position and everyone is playing up to a different spot. Everyone was discombobulated and it showed. We were a mess."

The Rams started to settle down in the second quarter, outscoring the Stags 11-8 on Ramonas' five points and four from MacMillan to go into the half down 20-15.

They came out strong in the third quarter, in part because of Murphy's halftime chat with Chelsea Saucier, whose role is to distribute the ball.

"I needed to come out and play my hardest and handle the pressure," Saucier said. "I get the ball to (Ramonas) because I know she's a competent shooter. With Emily, when she's on, I'll just keep getting it to her."

Ramonas hit a 3 from the wing 15 seconds in, followed by Cole's first 30 seconds later. That made it 21-20 for the Rams' first lead since Saucier's jumper put them ahead 4-2 at 6:03 of the first.

Cheverus regained the lead briefly on Abby Maker's 3-pointer, but MacMillan hit two free throws to tie it again. Cole's second 3 gave Deering the lead for good at 26-23. From there, Ramonas hit a 3 and MacMillan scored from down low for a 31-23 lead. Victoria Nappi got one back for make it 31-25.

Deering was in a rhythm by now, moving the ball around the perimeter for as many as 12 passes before Cole struck again from beyond the stripe to push the lead to 34-25.

"The kids just played relaxed in the second half and chipped away in the third," Murphy said.

"Saucier was terrific. She played aggressively in the second half, took care of the ball and that opened up the floor for the scorers."

Georgia Ford hit a free throw with four seconds left, but Ramonas' desperation 3-point shot fell as the buzzer sounded and suddenly Deering led, 37-26.

Ramonas kept the run going, pushing it to 41-28 before Cheverus called a timeout.

The Stags made a run, outscoring the Rams 16-11 in the fourth to close it to four, as Flaherty scored five of her nine points and Palazzi-Leahy scored her nine.

The team, trying to recover from two straight losses, showed grit despite Deering's surge.

"They do come back, they're tough, they're not going to quit," Ashley said of his players. "I was very proud of them for that."

And Murphy was glad the Stags hung around.

"We love a tough last game," Murphy said, "That benefits both of us. That's what you're going to get in the tournament."