WINDHAM — Katie Butler dominated in the post and notched a double-double Friday afternoon while leading Bangor to a 36-34 win over Windham in a Class AA North girls’ basketball game.
Butler pulled down 21 rebounds to go with 13 points and three blocks.
She was quick to share the credit for her team’s first win of the season.
“It was a team performance. We’ve been practicing hard,” said Butler.
“Twenty-one rebounds. … I’m still screaming at her to rebound more,” said Bangor Coach Joe Johnson. “I think this was her best all-around game.”
Windham (2-3) had a chance at the end after Bangor junior Lauren Young made one of two free throws to give the Rams (1-2) a 36-34 lead with 7.4 seconds left.
“(Our message on defense for the last possession) was just to put on a lot of pressure and don’t foul,” said Johnson.
Sophomore guard Meghan Hoffses drove to her right for a floater that hit too hard off the glass. Mya Mannette snagged the offensive rebound and put up a turnaround jumper from 10 feet at the buzzer, but it came up short.
“The way our season was going, I thought (Mannette’s shot) was going to go in. It was a good look. Fortunately (Mannette) couldn’t gather her balance and she rushed herself a little bit more,” said Johnson.
Both Hoffses and Mannette played well in the second half for the Eagles. Hoffses scored nine of her 11 points in the second half, and Mannette scored all eight of her points in the final two quarters.
Hoffses also added five steals.
“(Windham’s) guard play was pretty good. Their guards got better as the game went along,” said Johnson.
Bangor owned the offensive glass, with an 18-9 advantage.
“We had a lot of offensive boards and that really sparked us in the first half,” said Butler.
Rowan Andrews, a freshman, scored eight points for Bangor, including six in the fourth quarter. She sank a pair of free throws with 33 seconds left to put Bangor ahead 35-32.
Windham trailed 9-3 at the end of the first quarter and 20-8 at halftime.
It was 25-13 midway through the third quarter before the Eagles went on a 7-1 run to end the quarter with just a six-point deficit.
“I’m really happy we had that cushion in the first half. We have to work on not hitting a dry spell after the half. But we had the composure to pull it out in the end,” said Butler.
Windham took its only lead with 1:26 remaining when freshman Hannah Talon made one of two free throws to put the Eagles ahead 32-31.
“(Windham) is a good team, they’ve been playing people tough,” said Johnson.
Bangor regained the lead on a basket by Butler with 45 seconds left.
“That was certainly one of Katie’s better games,” said Johnson.
Both teams made 12 free throws, while Bangor led in attempts, 22-18.
“It was a good win, nice to get one before break,” said Johnson.
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