FREEPORT HIGH SCHOOL’S Nina Davenport (top photo) goes up for two of her game-high 31 points in a 60-43 victory over Yarmouth on Saturday. In the bottom photo, Freeport’s Venessa Lee (10) defends against Yarmouth’s Grace O’Donnell.
Freeport coach Jim Seavey has been searching for consistency from his girls basketball team.
The Falcons have shown signs of brilliance (wins over Lake Region, Falmouth), toughness (close losses to talented York, Greely) and have struggled (losses to Wells, Gray-New Gloucester).
“It has been a roller-coaster, the most Jekyll and Hyde team in the conference, but our plans are to finish up strong and be playing the best basketball of the year at the right time, with the potential of being a very tough out,” said Seavey after his Falcons rolled to a 60-43 Western Maine Conference over rival Yarmouth on Saturday, the team’s second win in as many nights after downing Poland 62-35 on Friday.
Against the 1-13 Clippers, it was over early as Freeport (8- 6) jumped out to a 23-9 first quarter lead behind 12 points from Nina Davenport, who pulled down seven offensive rebounds in the opening eight minutes.
“Nina has allowed the game to come to her the past two nights, where she had some games when she was forcing some things,” said Seavey, who watched Davenport score 31 points after leading the Falcons with 26 in the win over Poland. “She is the best player in the conference in my mind. She can do so much and is very versatile.”
Davenport’s standout play was supported nicely by Ashley Richardson, Jocelyn Davee, Leigh Wyman, Hanna Chase and Aubrey Pennell, who combined for 29 points in Saturday’s win.
“Kids like Ashley Richardson, Leigh (Wyman), Hanna Chase and Aubrey (Pennell) are playing better and we’re starting to get it,” said Seavey, whose squad returns to action on Tuesday at home against Fryeburg Academy.
Strong second
Freeport continued to put the pressure on Yarmouth throughout the first half. Davenport’s hoop-and-harm gave the Falcons a 28-9 lead, and she finished off her 23-point, 10-rebound, four-steal half with a putback as Freeport went to the locker room up 40-16.
“Coach tells us ‘rebound, rebound, rebound,’ and we came out knowing we had to get all the rebounds,” said Davenport, who also led the Falcons with 15 caroms and five steals. “We usually come out pretty strong, but we get out of it a little bit and relax, then have to catch up. It is always a fight for us. We want to go as far as we can and try hard every game.”
Freeport’s inconsistency showed up at the start of the third quarter as Yarmouth forced five turnovers and scratched to 46-29. Seavey called a timeout, and his team responded, taking control again with a 14-4 run for a 60- 33 lead.
“We did everything we talked about in pre-game, and the kids are starting to executive the gameplan,” said Seavey, who admitted it was “tough to maintain the intensity level in a game. Though a game is never over, when you’re up that big at halftime, it’s tough to keep focus. Yarmouth took momentum in the beginning of the third quarter, but our kids have grown up, and by the end of the third quarter we are up by 23 (54-31).”
Pennell dished out seven assists and had three steals, and Richardson added three assists and a like number of steals. Freeport shot 35 percent (24 of 67) from the floor and made 11 of 16 free throws. The Falcon defense forced 26 turnovers.
Grace O’Donnell paced Yarmouth with 20 points, six rebounds and three steals, with Sean Cahill adding seven points and nine rebounds despite picking up four fouls in the first half. The Clippers were 16 of 51 from the field (31 percent) and 11 of 18 at the charity stripe.
Win over Poland
The Falcons jumped out to an 18-8 first-quarter lead and outscored the Knights 20-7 in the fourth quarter for a WMC victory on Friday at Freeport.
Richardson and Pennell both scored 10 points, while Wyman chipped in eight. The Falcons were 12 of 24 at the free-throw line.
Freeport 60,
Yarmouth 43
At Freeport
Yarmouth — 9 7 15 12 — 43
Freeport — 23 17 14 6 — 60
Yarmouth — Lane Simsarian 2-0-4,
Shannon Fallon 2-1-5, Grace O’Donnell
6-8-20, Sean Cahill 3-1-7, Mckenzie Gray
2-0-4, Tess Merrill 0-1-1, Monica Austin
1-0-2, Elisabeth Clark 0-0-0. Totals —
16-11-43.
Freeport — Ashley Richardson 2-2-6,
Nina Davenport 13-5-31, Jocelyn Davee
3-0-6, Aubrey Pennell 1-3-5, Leigh
Wyman 2-1-6, Hanna Chase 3-0-6,
Venessa Lee 0-0-0, Livvy Dimick 0-0-0,
Lauren Cormier 0-0-0, MacKenzie Ackley
0-0-0, Jessica Wall 0-0-0, Kayla Belanger
0-0-0. Totals — 24-11-60.
3-pointer — (F) Wyman.
Records — Freeport 8-6, Yarmouth 1-
13.
Next for the Falcons — Tuesday at
home against Fryeburg Academy, 6:30
p.m.
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