YARMOUTH — With its undefeated girls’ basketball season hanging in the balance, Wells turned to a sure thing Thursday evening against upset-minded Yarmouth.
Grace Ramsdell scored 10 straight points to break a 25-25 tie and lead Wells to its 11th consecutive win this season, 44-35.
“We all had to turn it on and I feed off my teammates,” said Ramsdell, who finished with 24 points and six rebounds. “It was good to get that momentum going. I’m thankful to have my whole team behind me and I know I can rely on them.”
Wells took the lead in the first quarter behind its 3-point shooting, as Ramsdell knocked down one 3-pointer and Ava Kreie came off the bench and hit a pair, including one that banked home. A late layup from Maren Maxon put the Warriors up 13-9.
Ramsdell made a layup for a six-point advantage, but Yarmouth cut into the lead late in the second quarter. Neena Panozzo drove for a layup and Katelyn D’Appolonia converted a three-point play before a Ramsdell free throw sent Wells into the break with a 20-18 advantage.
Yarmouth (5-2), which is still getting up to speed after a COVID pause and was playing without Ava Feeley, twice drew even in the third quarter, for the final time at 25-25 when D’Appolonia set up Cate King for a layup.
Ramsdell countered with a 3-pointer, then sank a free throw and drove and banked home a shot in traffic to make it 31-25 heading into the fourth.
“Playing with Grace is the best thing ever,” said Wells senior guard Grace Boucher. “It’s so fun. We’ve fed off each other since we were kids.”
The Clippers pulled within four points when Aine Powers made two free throws, but Ramsdell scored on a leaner, then made two free throws.
Yarmouth was still within six at 39-33 after a layup from Panozzo with 1:37 left, but Boucher finished it off at the foul line, making 5 of 6 attempts.
“The way to get better is to play against teams that are also strong,” said Wells Coach Don Abbott. “Yarmouth battled and I’m happy we get to play them again at our place. Our defensive intensity ratcheted up in the second half.”
The Clippers got eight points apiece from D’Appolonia and Panozzo and six each from King and Maya Panozzo, but 11 second-half turnovers were too much to overcome. Still, there were bright spots for Yarmouth.
“I don’t know if I can be more pleased than I am tonight, given everything this team’s been through to come out and play a great team tough,” said Clippers Coach Dave Cousins.
“We just need to get back into a flow. We were playing good basketball, then we had (COVID) and we came back and there’s rust, but I have faith in these kids.”
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