The joint didn’t get any quieter in the early going as the Greyhounds jumped out to a 12-0 lead against Monmouth in this key Mountain Valley Conference game.
Nearly one hour later, the noise from the home crowd was far different.
Instead of joy, frustration was shown from the fans and the players as the Mustangs went to a full-court press and made a steady a trip to the foul line in a come- frombehind 51-30 victory.
LISBON HIGH SCHOOL’S Briana Moore (22) and Alexa Harmon (23) box out Monmouth’s Kristine Kahl during a Mountain Valley Conference girls basketball game at Lisbon Falls on Tuesday. In the photo at the top of the page, Greyhound guard Sarah Giraldo (13) fouls Monmouth’s Melissa Brassard (14). The Mustangs made 33 of 52 foul shots in recording a 51-30 victory.
“They wanted to play hard, having slumped the last few games, so we came out and set the tone,” said Wescott, whose team concludes the regular season on Thursday at Carrabec. “We had a little bit of a letdown in the first quarter, were tied at half, and we just had a lot of tough calls against us.”
Despite making just nine field goals (nine of 39, 23 percent), Monmouth improved to 8- 9 behind 21 points from Kylie Kemp, who made 13 of 17 at the foul line.
“It seemed like every time we touched the ball we were getting called for a foul and just never were able to get up the court and into a flow,” said Lisbon senior Sarah Giraldo. “We came out really strong, and we had a good team talk before the game.”
Monmouth press
Jessica Campbell scored four points during Lisbon’s opening run, forcing Monmouth to call a pair of timeouts.
The Mustangs turned to a full- court press, a strategy that paid immediate dividends. The Greyhounds, who made their first five shots, went cold and began turning the ball over. Monmouth closed the opening frame on a 7-0 run.
Giraldo’s short jumper gave the hosts a 14-7 lead, but the Mustangs battled back with a 6-0 run to close to 14-13. Briana Moore gave Lisbon a 16-13 edge, with Monmouth making three at the line to end the half for a 16-16 deadlock.
The Mustangs were just three of 24 (12 percent) from the floor in the opening half, but made 10 of 16 foul shots.
“We adjusted to the press, but they surprised us with the 2- 2- 1 with us expecting man, and it slowed us down,” said Wescott.
A 6-0 spurt to begin the second half staked Monmouth to a 22-16 edge. Campbell got the Greyhounds going, scoring four points during a 7-0 run for a 23- 22 lead with 3: 14 remaining.
Daisi Poole answered for Monmouth, which led 28-25 through three quarters.
Leading 30-27 in the fourth, the Mustangs put this one away with an 11- 0 run by making seven of 12 at the line. Two technicals on the Greyhounds helped Monmouth pull away late.
“It just didn’t go in our favor. We got frazzled and began chucking the ball, and nothing good comes out of that,” said Wescott.
Campbell and Moore paced Lisbon with eight points each, with Alexa Harmon adding five and Giraldo four. Campbell had five rebounds, four steals and three assists before fouling out with 6:14 remaining, with Denise Thomas pulling down seven caroms. Lisbon finished four of 12 at the line and shot 24 percent ( 13 of 53) from the field.
Kemp scored 11 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter, with Poole chipping in eight points, Melissa Brassard seven and Kristine Kahl six. Kahl had seven rebounds, blocked three shots and picked up three steals.
Monmouth 51, Lisbon 30
At Lisbon High School
Monmouth — 7 9 12 23 — 51
Lisbon — 12 4 9 5 — 30
Monmouth — Colby Wilson 0-3-3, Molly Menice 1-0-2, Daisi Poole 2-4-8, Melissa Brassard 1-5-7, Kristine Kahl 1-4-6, Kylie Kemp 4- 13- 21, Amanda Anair 0- 0- 0, Natalie Young 0-3-3, Krystin Kemp 0-0-0, Randy-Lyn Conley 0-1-1, Paxton Lessard 0-0-0.
Totals — 9-33-51.
Lisbon — Alexa Harmon 2-1-5, Haley Eck 1-0-2, Sarah Giraldo 2-0-4, Briana Moore 4-0-8, Jessica Campbell 3-2-8, Bailey Madore 0-0-0, Jen Smith 0-0-0, Denise Thomas 1-0-2, Courtney Martel 0-1-1, Jordan Kates 0-0-0, Mia Durgin 0-0-0.
Totals — 13-4-30.
3-pointers — None.
Records — Monmouth 8-9, Lisbon 6-11.
Next for the Greyhounds — At Carrabec on Thursday, 7 p.m.
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