Penobscot Valley’s Ellie Austin, left, and teammate Shay Ireland share in the moment after the Howlers beat Hall-Dale, 57-37, in the Class C girls basketball state championship game on Saturday in Bangor. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel

BANGOR — Brooklynn Raymond had a half to remember, and it led the Penobscot Valley girls basketball team to its first Gold Ball.

Raymond, a sophomore guard, scored 18 points in the first half and finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Penobscot Valley rolled to a 57-37 win over Hall-Dale in the Class C girls basketball championship game Saturday night at Cross Insurance Center.

Ellie Austin scored 17 points for the Howlers (22-0), while Rylee Moulton added 13.

“It feels amazing,” said Austin, a senior. “All the hard work we’ve put in and our coaches have put in, they’ve been our backbone pretty much the whole season. It’s good to bring (the title) home.”

Jade Graham led Hall-Dale (18-4) with 15 points, while Sierra Gibbons added 10. Torie Tibbetts had eight points and seven rebounds.

After scoring five points in the first quarter, Raymond found her shooting stroke in the second quarter. At one point, she scored eight points in 30 seconds.

“I was surprised,” Raymond said. “I haven’t been shooting good in the tournament. My teammates found me and (the shots) were going in. It was mostly from our defense (being successful), and it was great to see that.

“When I got that first pass (early in the game), I knew I had to set (for my shot). It just felt so good. I was like, ‘OK guys, give me the ball, I got this.'”

Raymond’s scoring outburst gave Penobscot Valley a 32-11 lead.

Penobscot Valley also frustrated the Bulldogs with its press defense. The Howlers forced 23 turnovers, 15 in the first half. And Penobscot Valley was dominant on the boards. Along with Raymond’s 10 rebounds, Austin had six and Lila Cummings grabbed nine.

“The fact we did rebound so well was the key to this game,” said Penobscot Valley coach Nate Case. “We could defend, and we knew we could score. We said at the beginning of the season, honest to God, rebounding is going to win us a state championship. Did it ever.”

Hall-Dale found some life in the second half, outscoring Penobscot Valley 14-10 in the third quarter. Graham, a senior forward, scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half, hitting a 3-pointer from the corner and scoring on moves in the post.

“We said at halftime, ‘You just have to keep fighting and give this everything you have, see if we can pick away at what they had going on,'” said Hall-Dale coach Laurie Rowe. “I’m just so proud of the efforts they put into the second half and how much work they put in.”

Any hope of a comeback for the Bulldogs was thwarted by the Howlers in the fourth. Austin scored eight of her 17 points in the quarter to seal the victory.

It was the third appearance in a state final for Penobscot Valley. The Howland-based school had never won a Gold Ball in boys or girls basketball.

“It’s just great to finally bring this home and set the standards (for the program),” Austin said.

Case added: “I’m just so proud of the girls, the community and the culture that we have. We have committed all year, we had 18 (practicing) in the summertime. To have a two-hour practice this morning and play this game just shows the commitment to being our best.

“For all the kids coming up, (they can see), ‘Wow, we can win a Gold Ball. We’re really setting up more than a foundation, we’re really setting everyone up for success in the future. If we work, and believe in the work, then the results will show.”