RICHMOND GUARD Brianna Snedeker (left, top photo) closely guards Washburn’s Joan Overman (10) during the State Class D girls high school basketball title game at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday. In the bottom photo, Richmond’s Jamie Plummer, left, is fouled by Washburn’s Mackenzie Worcester (14). Plummer had 14 points, but her Bobcats fell 60-35.
Unfortunately, Richmond’s spurts were far too short, while the Beavers used four big runs en route to a 60-35 victory and second consecutive Class D state title.
“It never kept going in our direction for any length of time,” said Bishop, whose team finished 19-2 after coming up short for the state title on consecutive seasons.
First run
Richmond came out with solid defensive pressure, forcing four Washburn turnovers and taking a 5-0 lead on a putback by Alyssa Pearson and a 3-pointer from senior Danica Hurley.
However, Richmond struggled from the field, making just four of 16 shots in the first quarter, keeping Washburn close.
“We were going so strong at the beginning, but missing all those shots really put us down,” said Pearson. “We got down on ourselves. I missed a lot of shots in the early going.”
Once Washburn scored for the first time, with 4:20 remaining in the first quarter, the Beavers took off, getting seven quick points from Mackenzie Worcester for a 7-5 lead.
Richmond took a timeout, but Washburn’s first big run continued into the second quarter. The Beavers finished off a 15-1 spree for a 15-6 lead with 6:57 remaining in the first half.
“Richmond really scared me, but when we struggled initially I thought we would work our way back,” said Washburn (21-1) coach Michael Carlos. “We were rushing things a little in the early going, but once we settled down, we did well.”
The Bobcats battled back, running off five straight points to close to 15-11. Again, Washburn answered, going on a 12-7 spurt as Worcester kept hitting her shots, finishing with 18 first-half points as the Beavers took a 28-21 lead to the break.
“She shot the ball when she got it in an open area,” said Bishop of Worcester, who led Washburn to a 34-percent shooting performance (nine of 26 in the first half) while Richmond was eight of 28 (28 percent).
Washburn was able to handle Richmond’s inside game, led by tall Bobcat forwards Jamie Plummer and Pearson. Carlos started center Olivia Doody for the first time all season, and the junior responded with three blocked shots and five rebounds in the first half, leading the Beavers to an 18-17 rebounding edge against the bigger Bobcats.
“I thought having Olivia guard Pearson might work for us, and it turned out that it worked very well as she was able to box out well and we were able to get on the boards,” said Carlos.
“We had to box out because a lot of their players are taller than us,” said Doody, who finished with 12 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots. “We had to get our position and work hard. We did that.”
“They always seemed to be in the right spot to get the rebounds, but I just thought it wasn’t easy for either team to get any flow going with the number of fouls called in the first half,” said Bishop, who watched as Hurley picked up her third infraction late in the half, with Pearson, Plummer, Brianna Snedeker and Payton Johnson each whistled for two.
Hurley’s fourth foul in the opening minute of the second half started things off poorly for the Bobcats, forcing Bishop to remove her senior leader from the game. The Bobcats struggled with turnovers as Washburn scored four points for a 32-21 lead.
“The kids look to Danica and it’s a comfort when she is on the floor, and when she came out we had a couple turnovers right away in the backcourt,” said Bishop. “When we were finally in the front court, we were chucking the ball, and you just can’t do that.”
“It was big because Danica dribbles the ball and is a shooter, but we tried to keep our heads high and push through it until she came back in,” said guard Noell Acord, who helped fuel a 4-0 run by assisting on a bucket each from Johnson and Plummer to get the Bobcats to 32-25.
But, Washburn reeled off an 11-3 run for a 43-28 lead, with Worcester and Joan Overman each scoring four points for the Beavers. Washburn made all nine of its free throws in the third quarter, taking a 43-31 lead to the final frame.
Hurley returned to begin the fourth quarter, and Richmond pushed back one last time. Snedeker drained a pair of free throws and Plummer scored her final basket for a team- high 14 points as the Bobcats got to within 12, 47-35 with 5:19 remaining.
Washburn didn’t blink, making one last, game-closing 13-0 run to complete the 60-35 victory.
The Beavers shot 33 percent (18 of 54) from the field and made 19 of 36 free throws. Worcester led all scorers with 24 points, with Carmen Bragg adding eight points. Worcester pulled down seven rebounds, picked up three steals and dished out three assists. Carsyn Koch had seven caroms and four steals, while Carmen Bragg handed out three assists.
Snedeker chipped in eight points for Richmond, which shot just 22 percent (13 of 57) from the floor. Hurley added six points, all in the first half, in her final game, with Pearson finishing with four points. Plummer matched her point total with 14 rebounds, blocked six shots and picked up six steals.
Pearson and Snedeker each pulled down five caroms, with Washburn finishing with a 38- 37 edge on the glass.
Washburn 60, Richmond 35
State Class D Championship
At the Augusta Civic Center
Washburn — 10 18 15 17 — 60
Richmond — 6 15 10 4 — 35
Washburn — Carsyn Koch 1-1-3, Carmen Bragg 2-3-8, Olivia Doody 4-4-12, Rayah Saucier 1-1-3, Mackenzie Worcester 8-5-24, Joan Overman 1-3-5, Nicole Olson 1-2-5, Taylor Thompson 0-0-0, Tyla Shaw 0-0-0, Hannah Heald 0-0-0, Catelyn Coulombe 0-0-0, Stacy Landry 0-0-0, Lucia Bragg 0-0-0.
Totals — 18-19-60.
Richmond — Jamie Plummer 6-2-14, Noell Acord 0-0-0, Alyssa Pearson 2-0-4, Brianna Snedeker 2-3-8, Danica Hurley 2-1-6, Lindsy Hoopingarner 0-0-0, Haley Murphy 0-0-0, Payton Johnson 1-0-2, Ciarra Lancaster 0-1-1, Michaela Lewia0-0-0, Morgan Harrington 0-0-0.
Totals — 13-7-35.
3-pointers — (W) C. Bragg, Worcester 3, Olson; (R) Snedeker, Hurley.
Records — Washburn 21-1, Richmond 19-2.
Notes — Washburn has now won backto back Class D title games, having defeated Richmond in the 2011 title game 43-30.
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