PORTLAND — Lake Region hasn’t been able to showcase its quickness much this season because the rest of the Western Maine Conference doesn’t play up-tempo.
But Leavitt — a member of the Kennebec Valley Athletic Confence — does like to run and the Lakers couldn’t wait to match the defending Class B champion step for step.
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Top-seeded Lake Region showed its speed and 3-point shooting to outlast the fourth-ranked Hornets in a wild overtime Thursday and advance with a 59-54 victory in a Western Class B girls’ basketball semifinal at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
The Lakers (18-2) will play third-seeded Greely (17-3) in the regional final at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Civic Center.
Abby Craffey of Lake Region made five 3-pointers, two in overtime, to finish with a team-high 19 points.
Tied 45-45 after regulation, the teams combined for 23 points in overtime. There were five straight 3-pointers, three by the Lakers and two by Leavitt (17-3).
“No one believed we could run with Leavitt,” said Lake Region Coach Paul True. “I just believed differently. We have some quick kids. During the season we tried to get teams into a running game but they would slow it down and play halfcourt.”
Of Craffey’s performance, True said: “She’s a great shooter. She made some great shots.”
Craffey and her teammates had to be on top of their games to overcome Leavitt standouts Kristen Anderson, who scored 27 points, and Adrianna Newton, who had 22.
Anderson, who hit a few 3-pointers from well beyond NBA range, matched Craffey’s five 3-pointers.
The difference for the Lakers was 6-foot-1 sophomore center Tiana-Jo Carter, who grabbed 25 rebounds and had six blocks. She made life difficult inside for the Hornets, especially Newton. Carter chipped in with eight points.
“It was really fun going back and forth in the overtime,” said Craffey. “It was amazing.”
Kelsey Winslow added 18 points for Lake Region, including nine in the opening quarter.
Lake Region had three leads between nine and seven points, but the Hornets responded each time.
“I think we became a little passive on offense at times and let them back in,” said True.
With Anderson’s 3-point ability and Newton’s moves in the lane, opponents often can do little to prevent routs.
There was no passivity in the overtime.
Winslow hit 1 of 2 from the line to break the tie. Craffey followed with a 3 from the corner. Newton responded with her own 3-pointer for the Hornets to make it 49-48.
They weren’t done yet.
Sarah Hancock and Craffey hit 3s around one by Anderson.
Moments later the Lakers led 56-51. Anderson hit her final 3-pointer with 35 seconds remaining in overtime to cut it to two, but Winslow hit two big foul shots with 27 seconds left. The Lakers then stole the ball to end Leavitt’s hopes, and Sydney Hancock hit one shot from the line.
“It was an outstanding game,” said Leavitt Coach Tammy Anderson. “I thought my kids battled. We knew that their size could be a problem. Their big girl blocked several of our shots. Last year things worked out for us. This year we came up a little short.”
Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:
tchard@pressherald.com
Twitter: TomChardPPH
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