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Freshman helps Bangor top Skowhegan

By MATT DiFILIPPO, Morning Sentinel Friday, February 15, 2013

AUGUSTA -- Not only did Bangor´s Mary Butler and Cordelia Stewart do what people expect from 6-footers, freshman Sarah Bragg did what Skowhegan didn´t expect her to do.

Butler and Stewart are impressive sophomores and combined for 33 points and 22 rebounds against the Indians. Bragg scored 16 points herself and almost single-handedly kept Skowhegan from focusing its defensive attention inside.

The result was that Bangor pulled away in the second half for a 61-48 victory in an Eastern A quarterfinal Friday afternoon at the Augusta Civic Center.

No. 2 Bangor (15-4) will now play No. 3 Mt. Ararat at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday in the semifinals. No. 7 Skowhegan finishes its season at 9-10.

"Skowhegan played great defense inside. They double- and triple-teamed our post players," Bangor coach Katie Herbine said. "In the second half we did a much better job inside-outside game. As soon as (the ball) goes inside we wanted to get it out as quick as we can."

Behind Stewart (17 points, 9 rebounds) and Butler (16 points, 13 rebounds), Bangor held a 35-16 edge on the boards.

"We didn´t do a bad job on the first shots, but they got a lot of second-chance opportunities," Skowhegan coach Heath Cowan said. "They rebound the ball like crazy."

The Rams led 8-1 in the early going and were overpowering Skowhegan inside. Skowhegan moved outside and connected on four 3-pointers in the first half. The Indians led 13-11 late in the first quarter and were behind only 29-25 at the half.

But while the Indians held Stewart and Butler to a combined four points in the second quarter, Bragg was making the most of her open shots. She scored 10 points in the first half on 4 of 6 shooting.

"That wasn´t anything we scouted for," Cowan said. "We tried to build a fort around the basket."

Skowhegan adjusted in the third quarter, but Stewart took over, scoring 15 of her 17 points after the break. Bangor was ahead 45-34 after three quarters and Skowhegan didn´t threaten in the fourth.

"We played some good defense and continued to move the ball," Herbine said. "It doesn´t hurt to be that big inside."

Bangor held Skowhegan to 6 of 23 shooting in the second half. Desiree Brochu led the Indians with 10 points, while Morgan Buker and AJ Martineau had eight apiece.

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@mainetoday.com