PORTLAND—For the second year in a row, Yarmouth’s girls’ basketball team had the higher-ranked, reigning regional champions on the ropes.

And once again, the sixth-ranked Clippers fell just short.

But not before they played their hearts out right up to the final horn.

Yarmouth, which took Oceanside to the brink a year ago, gave third-ranked Spruce Mountain, last season’s surprise regional champion, everything it could handle Saturday morning in a Class B South quarterfinal at the Portland Exposition Building, but with the game hanging in the balance, it was the Phoenix who made the key plays time and again.

After a back-and-forth first quarter ended, 6-6, Spruce Mountain heated up from the outside and despite the best efforts of Yarmouth senior Lauren Keaney to keep the Clippers in it, the Phoenix held a 21-17 advantage at the break.

A pair of 3-pointers from senior Aine Powers sparked a Yarmouth rally in the third quarter, but back-to-back 3-pointers from senior Aubrey Kachnovich and junior Avery Bessey put Spruce Mountain ahead to stay and it clung to a 34-31 lead heading to the fourth period.

There, every time the Clippers crept within a basket, the Phoenix answered with a clutch shot and when senior Jazmine Pingree made a layup with 45 seconds to go, the lead was 47-41 and the contest appeared over.

But Yarmouth embarked on a furious rally, getting a putback from senior Cate King with 31 seconds remaining and a 3-pointer from Keaney with 7.8 seconds left.

The Clippers couldn’t get the ball back, however, and Spruce Mountain was able to survive and advance, 47-46.

Bessey led the way with 15 points as Spruce Mountain improved to 17-2, advanced to battle No. 2 Medomak Valley (15-4 in the semifinals Tuesday at 1 p.m., at the Expo and in the process, ended Yarmouth’s season at 10-9.

“The girls never give up or get down on each other, it’s really a class act group,” said Clippers coach Tom Panozzo. “We just needed a few more seconds.”

One point short

Yarmouth got stronger as the season progressed and rallied for a 41-40 win at Lake Region in the finale to end up with a winning record and the No. 6 seed in the region (see sidebar for links to previous stories).

Spruce Mountain, meanwhile, which enjoyed a magical run to the state game in 2023, lost only to top-ranked Oceanside and Lake Region this winter and earned the third seed.

The teams didn’t meet this year and had never before met in the tournament, but they did play last winter, a 50-42 triumph for the Phoenix.

“We played (Yarmouth) last year at our place and they’re pretty similar to what they were then,” said Spruce Mountain coach Zach Keene. “We felt comfortable with the matchup, which I’m sure they were too.”

Saturday’s contest was expected to come down to the wire and didn’t disappoint, but the Clippers ultimately were left crestfallen.

The Clippers opened the scoring on a free throw from Keaney before the Phoenix hinted at a sharpshooting game to come, as they got a 3-point shot from Bessey.

After Keaney set up Powers for a layup to tie it, freshman Maddie Grimaldi hit a 3 for Spruce Mountain, but senior Maya Hagerty made a free throw, then King set up Keaney for a backdoor layup to tie the score, 6-6, after eight minutes.

The Phoenix then went on top, just 22 seconds in, on a 3-pointer from Kachnovich. Pingree added a layup and after Keaney countered with an old-fashioned three-point play (putback, foul, free throw), senior Jaydn Pingree hit a long jumper and senior Elizabeth Grondin followed with a 3 to make it 16-9 Spruce Mountain.

King scored her first points on a jumper with 3:32 to go before halftime, but Jaydn Pingree countered with two foul shots.

Keaney got Yarmouth back within three with a putback and a layup on the fastbreak, after a steal from Powers, but again, the Phoenix countered with a timely 3, as Bessey got a long-range shot to rattle in.

With 19 seconds left, senior Neena Panozzo set up King for a layup to pull the Clippers within four, 21-17, at the break.

Keaney had 10 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots in the first half, but she was shaken up just before the horn and stayed down on the court for several minutes before going to the locker room.

Yarmouth would make its move in the third period, but the Phoenix countered and were still in front by the end of the frame.

Powers opened the second half with a 3-ball, then Panozzo scored on a putback to give the Clippers their first lead since the score was 1-0.

A Bessey corner 3 put Spruce Mountain back in front, 24-22, but Powers took a pass from Panozzo and sank another 3, then, after Keaney returned to action at the 4:32 mark, Panozzo found King for a layup with 3:50 left for what proved to be Yarmouth’s biggest lead, 27-24.

After Keene called timeout, the Phoenix responded, as Jaydn Pingree made a free throw and Kachnovich drained a 3 with 2:50 showing to give Spruce Mountain the lead for good.

Bessey then sank another 3 from the corner 11 seconds later for a 31-27 advantage.

Keaney set up Panozzo for an easy look at the other end, but Jaydn Pingree countered with two more free throws and after King sank a pair for Yarmouth, a Jazmine Pingree foul shot with 53.6 seconds on the clock sent the Phoenix to the fourth period with a tenuous 34-31 lead.

Spruce Mountain would hang on to its lead throughout a frenetic finish, but the Clippers made the Phoenix earn the victory.

Jadyn Pingree opened the final stanza with a free throw, then Panozzo made a layup after a steal to cut the deficit to two.

Spruce Mountain missed a shot at the other end, but Grondin kept possession with an offensive rebound and set up Kachnovich for a jump shot to restore the two possession lead.

With 5:07 to play, King scored on a putback and the Phoenix called timeout to set up a play which worked like a charm, as Bessey got the ball well beyond the 3-point arc and buried her shot for a 40-35 advantage.

“Avery is a high-level shooter,” Keene said. “She’s maybe the best shooter I’ve ever had. She got in the rhythm today in pregame. That 3 in front of our bench was huge. We see her do that a lot. To do it on this stage was pretty cool to see.”

Hagerty found Panozzo for a layup with 4:31 on the clock, but Jadyn Pingree made two free throws 16 seconds later and with 3:24 remaining, Jazmine Pingree’s two foul shots stretched the lead to a seemingly safe 44-37.

Keaney pulled Yarmouth back within five with a putback and after Kachnovich made one of two free throws, Hagerty drove for a layup with a 1 minute to go, cutting the deficit to just 45-41.

But 15 seconds later, Jadyn Pingree set up Jazmine Pingree for a layup, seemingly locking up the victory.

The Clippers weren’t done, however, as King scored on a putback with 31 seconds on the clock and they would really make things interesting with 7.8 seconds to go, as Panozzo set up Keaney for a 3, making it a one-point game.

Yarmouth had timeouts left, but didn’t use one and Spruce Mountain was able to inbound the ball, avoid a foul or turnover and ran the clock down to zero and was able to exhale with a 47-46 victory.

“There probably should have been a timeout, but I was hoping the girls would get a quick steal,” Tom Panozzo said.

“I won’t complain about a one-point win over a good Yarmouth team,” Keene said. “Any tournament win, no matter pretty, ugly, something in-between, you can’t take it for granted.

“I think having last year’s experience is a big deal. We don’t talk much about last year’s run, but when we talk about the experience here and situational basketball in big games and it shows. We start four seniors who have started since freshmen, so they’ve been in big games. Even though it got sloppy at the end there, I’m comfortable on the sidelines knowing they’ve had those experiences.

“Yarmouth’s really good. They’re athletic and long. There’s no question they’d be a tough out. They had a brutal schedule. We totally expected a game like this to happen.”

Bessey led the Phoenix with 15 points, coming on five 3-pointers. She also grabbed five rebounds.

Jaydn Pingree added 10 points, five assists, five rebounds and three steals.

“Jadyn is an unbelievable contender with a will to win,” Keene said. “She wasn’t great offensively today, but when it was time to win she made the plays for us. We’re used to her doing that.”

Kachnovich finished with nine points, three steals and three rebounds, Jazmine Pingree had seven points and Grimaldi and Grondin (four rebounds) tallied three points apiece.

Spruce Mountain hit nine 3-pointers to Yarmouth’s three, made 12-of-18 free throws and overcame 18 turnovers.

The Phoenix didn’t meet Medomak Valley this season. The Panthers handled York in their quarterfinal Saturday.

Spruce Mountain knows it has the capacity to make another title run, but it has some work to do between now and Tuesday afternoon.

“We have a couple days of preparation and we have things to clean up,” Keene said. “Our rebounding and ball movement were poor at times today. We have to rebound, defend and we can’t turn over the ball.”

Clipper pride

Yarmouth’s effort was paced by Keaney, who bowed out with 15 points, eight rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals.

“Lauren had those drives early,” Tom Panozzo said. “She’s a spark for us, so it’s unfortunate that injury happened. She’s so tough and she always comes back.”

King added 12 points and eight rebounds.

“Cate was solid for us all year,” Tom Panozzo said. “She’s been our foundation. Double-doubles every night. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Neena Panozzo (eight rebounds, six steals, four assists, three blocks) and Powers (five steals, three rebounds) each had eight points.

“Neena played intense and she can bring it,” Tom Panozzo said. “She’s one heck of a player.

“Aine always confidence to do what’s needed. She never shies away from the moment. She’s more of a drive player, but if we need a 3, she’ll do it.”

Hagerty finished with three points (to go with three rebounds).

The Clippers enjoyed a 41-30 rebounding advantage, but made just 5-of-9 free throws and committed 23 costly turnovers.

“(The Phoenix) were state runners-up last year and they have skilled players who always play hard,” Tom Panozzo said. “We thought we could bring a different style and run a little more and it was a one-point game and could have gone either way.”

Graduation will take a heavy toll on the program, as Yarmouth says farewell to Hagerty, Keaney, King, Panozzo, Powers and Regan Sullivan.

“The seniors worked hard every day and showed the younger kids how to win and to keep fighting,” Tom Panozzo said. “They really inspired me to be a coach. After the previous coach left, I couldn’t leave them alone. They give great effort all the time. It’s tough to see them go.”

The 2024-25 Clippers will turn to an untested group, but rest assured that they’ll be heard from.

“Now, I want to continue to have tough defense as Yarmouth’s mantra,” Tom Panozzo said. “We’ll be athletes and do our best.”

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. For game updates and links to game stories, follow him on Threads: @foresports2023

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