York High’s top-seeded girls’ basketball team displayed veteran poise and a well-balanced attack to keep its undefeated season on track with Monday night’s 56-35 Class A South quarterfinal win against No. 8 Westbrook at the Portland Expo.

York (19-0) had three players in double figures: Shannon Todd with 11 and Maddie Cogger and Chloe Smedley each with 10.

“Our team, we feel comfortable getting the ball to anyone,” Cogger said. “We trust each other.”

York advances to a regional semifinal at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday against No. 5 Morse (11-8) at the Cross Insurance Arena.

York jumped to a quick 18-4 lead but Westbrook closed the first half with a 14-7 advantage.

Alisha Aube (21 points) broke an 8-plus minute scoring drought with a 3-pointer. Two driving finishes by freshman center Nyagoa Bayak – a few hours removed from her state-record setting 5-foot-7 high jump at the Class A indoor track championships – and an NBA-range 3-pointer by Aube kept the Blue Blazes close.

Aube scored twice inside to start the third quarter, cutting York’s lead to 25-22.

At that moment there had to be a brief flashback to York’s upset loss to Lincoln Academy on this court last season in the Class B tournament. Was the pressure of trying to win it all in 500-win Coach Rick Clark’s last season creeping into York’s play?

“Last year we fell apart in our first-round game here,” said Todd, York’s all-around standout. “And this is what’s really special about this team. We come together when a moment gets tough”

York forced nine turnovers with a three-quarter zone press in the third quarter.

“Some poor decisions, turnovers that cost us,” Westbrook Coach Chris Aube said. “When you play a team that’s 18-0 with a bunch of seniors, they tend to make those turnovers pay off and they punished us.”

Lily Posternak (five assists, six steals) turned a steal into a layup. Cogger got a fast-break layup. York’s interior passing was sharp – a Mia Briggs touch pass to Smedley the highlight play. Todd and Smedley closed the quarter with 3-pointers for a 44-29 lead.

Westbrook (10-10) benefited from having Aube back. The junior had missed the preliminary-round win due to a two-week bout with pneumonia. She scored 12 points in the first half and seven early in the third to keep Westbrook close.

Steve Craig can be reached at 791-6413 or:

scraig@pressherald.com

Twitter: SteveCCraig

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