WISCASSET’S SYDNIE THAYER (25) battles with several players for a rebound during an MVC girls basketball game against Lisbon on Friday at Wiscasset. Nearby is Wolverine Jade Reno (13), along with Greyhounds Carly Drischler (14), Anna Willey (22) and Charlee Cox (4). Visiting Lisbon captured a 46-26 victory to improve to 3-5 on the season.
WISCASSET’S Lindsey Gordon (10) receives a pass in front of Lisbon defender Carly Drischler (14).
Sophomore Giana Russo scored 12 of her game-high 20 points in the decisive third quarter.
“She’s a fantastic player. She’s grown so much from her freshman year to now,” said Lisbon coach Julie Petrie. “She’s not only a good player, but she makes everyone around her better.”
Both teams came out cold in the first quarter, totaling only six points and shooting a combined 2-for-19 from the field, with the Greyhounds holding a 5-1 advantage.
“We don’t score a lot of points, so it’s crucial we play good defense to keep games close,” said Wiscasset coach Ben Clark. “We look to play hard every game and tonight was no exception.”
As both teams completed scoring opportunities in the second quarter, it was Lisbon’s tight defense that began to separate the two teams. A relentless press by the Greyhounds forced five second-quarter turnovers, and the visiting team capitalized on the offensive end of the court.
Following a Charlee Cox basket underneath, off a bounce pass in the middle from Russo, Carly Drischler stole a Wolverine pass and tossed ahead to Russo, where the guard was fouled. Russo hit both free throws for a Lisbon 11-6 lead with 3:50 remaining in the half.
After another Wiscasset turnover on the next possession, Drischler sank a trey to give Lisbon its biggest lead of the half, 14-6.
Solid shooting from the free-throw line kept the Wolverines within striking distance heading into the half. The home team shot 6- of-9 from the charity stripe, trailing Lisbon, 18-11 at the break.
Russo shines
Russo opened the second half with a 3-point basket and followed it up the next time down the court with another shot from behind the arc.
“Some nights I have it, sometimes I don’t,” said Russo. “It definitely wasn’t planned that way, but I had the shots so I took them.”
“We switched to a zone and she found the open spot,” said Clark. “She’s a good player and someone you have to make a game-plan for”
Russo continued her third quarter assault when she grabbed an offensive rebound in the midst of much taller players underneath and put it back for a two-point score. Minutes later, she stole the ball at midcourt and took it home for the layup and a commanding 36-22 Lisbon lead after three quarters.
Meanwhile, a rebounding battle was occurring on both ends of the court. On the Wiscasset side, Jade Rego hauled in three offensive rebounds and Sydnie Thayer grabbed two, fighting off Cox and Anna Willey underneath. Thayer finished with 10 rebounds and added seven points, while Rego had seven (five offensive) caroms and 10 points. The Wolverines finished with 28 boards for the game.
“Before the game, coach told me now was my time to shine,” said Rego. “I felt good tonight so I was like, ‘why not?’”
On the Lisbon (3-5) side, the “undersized” post players held their own, hauling in 30 rebounds as a team.
“We’re not big underneath, so we have to be physical and aggressive to get those rebounds,” said Petrie.
Russo found herself grabbing four fourth quarter boards to finish with eight to go along with her four steals. Cox hauled in nine boards, and also contributed with 10 points, including a pair of baskets off Russo passes.
“We’ve played together for quite awhile now,” said Cox. “I typically know where she’s going and can anticipate the pass.”
As for her rebounding and boxing out, Cox likes the physical play.
“We’re not the biggest team, but we like to play tough underneath and grab that ball,” added the sophomore.
The Greyhounds pulled away in the final quarter behind 7-for-9 shooting from the foul line by Drischler, who ended with 12 points.
Wiscasset (0-8) only managed four points in the final quarter, but played right down to the final buzzer.
“Coach always tells us be the ‘hardest working team out there,’ and that’s what we try to do,” added Rego.
“We’re getting there,” said Petrie. “We’re coming together and have some winnable games coming up so hopefully we get in a rhythm.”
Lisbon 46,
Wiscasset 26
At Wiscasset
Lisbon — 5 13 18 10 — 46
Wiscasset — 1 10 11 4 — 26
Lisbon — Valerie Doucette 0-0-0,
Mallory Fairbanks 0-0-0, Charlee Cox
5-0-10, Giana Russo 7-4-20, Carly
Drischler 2-7-12, Kiley Merritt 0-2-2,
Anna Willey 0-0-0, Sydney Plourde 1-
0-2. Totals — 15-13-46.
Wiscasset — Lindsey Gordon 0-1-1,
Maeve Blodgett 0-1-1, Jade Rego 4-
2-10, Grace Webber 2-3-7, Sydnie
Thayer 2-3-7, Leah Potter 0-0-0,
Kateleen Trask 0-0-0, Mercedes
Larrabee 0-0-0, Alice Yokabaskas 0-
0-0. Totals — 8-10-26,
3-point field goals — (L) Carly
Drischler, Giana Russo 2.
Records — Lisbon 3-5, Wiscasset 0-
8.
Up next for Greyhounds — Tuesday
at home against Carrabec, 7 p.m.
Up next for Wolverines — Tuesday
at Mt. Abram, 7 p.m.
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