Maine news, sports, weather from Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland, Maine

Western A girls: Scarborough rallies again

The Red Storm, who came from behind in the quarterfinals, do it again in the second half to top Marshwood in the semifinals.

By MARK JEANNERET, Special to the Press Herald

PORTLAND — Ashley Briggs couldn't have picked a better time to get her game back on track.

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Ali Bartlett, 10, of Marshwood reaches for the ball between Courtney Alofs, 21, and Ashley Briggs of Scarborough during their Western Class A semifinal. At left is Carly Rogers.

John Ewing/Staff Photographer

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Tatum Schladenhauffen of Marshwood watches the ball move away after it was knocked loose by Ashley Briggs of Scarborough during Scarborough’s 46-43 victory in a Western Class A semifinal.

John Ewing/Staff Photographer

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Briggs scored all 10 of her points in the second half Wednesday night, including a three-point play that proved the difference as second-seeded Scar-borough rallied for a 46-43 victory over third-ranked Marshwood in a Western Class A girls' basketball semifinal at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

The Red Storm (19-1) will face top-ranked McAuley (20-0) in the final at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center.

After finishing second in team scoring in the regular season, Briggs, a freshman guard, was scoreless in a quarterfinal win over Cheverus, then was scoreless in the first half against Marshwood (16-4).

"I had a rough game against Cheverus," said Briggs. "Nothing was falling and I wasn't playing good defense, and I didn't play very well in the first half tonight, either. Then Coach (Tom Maines) got on my case and I guess I had a good second half.

"I like to be challenged and I like when people get on me. I like to prove them wrong and that I don't give up because I'm a competitor. I think I showed Coach that tonight."

For the second straight game, the Red Storm had to come from behind. They trailed for most of the game but capitalized on second-half turnovers.

Aubrey Folger scored 13 of her 21 points to help Marshwood to a 21-15 halftime lead. The Hawks extended their advantage to 30-20 with a 9-3 run early in the third quarter.

But Scarborough used an 8-0 run in the final minute of the quarter, which ended with Marsh- wood holding a 32-30 lead.

The Hawks scored the first six points of the fourth, but Scar-borough came back again, tying it at 41-41 when Taylor LeBorgne drilled the game's only 3-pointer with 2:26 remaining.

"We knew we couldn't give up, and in the second half we caught up," said LeBorgne. "Our shots were finally going in and our defense was stronger."

Moments later, a midcourt steal by Briggs led to a Carly Rogers basket to give Scarborough a 43-41 lead, its first since early in the second quarter. After a Jillian Gori basket made it 43-43, Briggs scored the decisive points when she scored on a drive and drew a foul.

"The first thing I said in there (to Briggs) was that she should be congratulated because she just played probably the best half of basketball, offensively and defensively," said Maines. "It was just a super, super effort on her part to turn around not a good first half into a great second half in all aspects."

Mary Redmond added 11 points for Scarborough, which denied Marshwood its first regional final berth since it won the 1995 Class B state title.

"I think we started clock-watching a little too much," said Marshwood Coach Lee Petrie. "We kept looking at the clock and it couldn't run fast enough."