KRISTEN HUNTRESS of Lake Region drives to take a shot. (Photo courtesy of Shannon Avery)
GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER, 53
Scoring: Isabelle Detroy 9, Brianna Jordan 4, Grace Kariotis 4, Ashley Jordan 1, Skye Conley 3, Alicia Dumont 18, Alanna Camerl 14
3-Pointers: B. Jordan 1, Dumont 3
Rebounding (22): Camerl 7, Detroy 5, A. Jordan 4, B. Jordan 2, Conley 2, Kariotis 1, Dumont 1
Assists (7): Conley 3, Detroy 2, B. Jordan 1, Dumont 1
Steals (9): Conley 3, Detroy 2, B. Jordan 2, Kariotis 1, Dumont 1
Free Throws (15-25, 60%): Detroy 3-5, B. Jordan 1-2, Kariotis 4-6, A. Jordan 1-2, Conley 1-4, Dumont 5-6
Field Goals: 17-37, 45.9%
3-Pointers: 4-10, 40%
Points in the Paint: 22
Points off Turnovers: 18
Second chance Points: 7
Bench points: 32
Seniors on Squad: Emily Thibeault, Jackie Gillen, Ashley Jordan, Alanna Camerl
LAKE REGION, 47
Scoring: Kristen Huntress 14, Melody Millett 2, Chandler True 14, Lauren Jakobs 8, Spencer True 6, Brooke Harriman 3
3-Pointers: Huntress 1, C. True 3, S. True 2
Rebounding (23): Harriman 7, Jakobs 6, Millett 5, S. True 3, C. True 2
Assists (6): C. True 2, S. True 2, Jakobs 1, Harriman 1
Steals (9): Huntress 3, S. True 3, Jakobs 2, Millett 1
Free Throws (15-22, 68.2%): Huntress 5-7, Millett 2-6, C. True 3-3, Jakobs 2-2, Harriman 3-4
Field Goals: 13-40, 32.5%
3-Pointers: 6-17, 35.3%
Points in the Paint: 12
Points off Turnovers: 11
Second chance Points: 6
Bench points: 3
Score tied: 5 times
Lead changes: 6 times
Seniors on Squad: Spencer True, Kaytlyn Terry

By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

PORTLAND — They had a chance.

With the game tied and just 33.8 seconds left in regulation, Lake Region had a shot of upsetting second-ranked Gray-New Gloucester in the Class B South semifinals last Thursday.

“Going into the game, our mindset was to keep it close, it will come down to a couple of possessions in the fourth quarter, and if we get to that point, then I really liked our chances,” Laker girls’ basketball head coach Paul True said. “That’s exactly how the game unfolded. It’s a credit to our kids because it got to four or five points a couple of times, and we immediately responded and kept the game to a one possession game.”
Just as they had done in the quarterfinals against Yarmouth, the Lakers erased a five-point deficit over the final 2:21, locking down the Patriots on the offensive end holding them scoreless.

Chandler True (14 points) started the comeback with a straight-away 3-pointer and Lauren Jakobs boldly went to the glass against G-NG’s bigger frontline for a hoop with 49.6 seconds left to tie the game, 42-42.

A travel call gave the Lakers the ball back and a shot for a game winner.

The Lakers went to their leading scorer, junior guard Kristen Huntress, who scored 14 points.

“We wanted the ball in Kristen’s hands in the middle of the floor. She read the defense properly, went away from the ball screen we had set, and made two great dribble moves and got to the rim. We got everything we wanted other than a free throw or two,” Coach True said. “The kids did everything they were asked to and executed very well.”

The tipped shot fell short of the rim, and the Lakers would fall just short in their upset bid.

Gray-NG went on an 11-5 run in the overtime session to down the Lakers 53-47 at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.

The Patriots, the second seed, downed Lincoln Academy to win the South and move on to the state championship game this Friday in Bangor against North champ, Houlton.

The Patriots took control of the game with five quick points — an inside hoop by center Alanna Camerl (14 points, 7 rebounds) and a dagger 3-pointer by Alicia Dumont (game-high 18 points).

“Unfortunately, they started so fast. They get the tip and score. We miss a shot, and they hit a 3. So, all of a sudden, with less than three minutes to play, it’s a five-point game and now we’re not perhaps executing the way we normally would because kids are rushing,” Coach True said.

The Lakers were unable to dig themselves out of the hole, missing a couple of foul shots and giving the ball up on a double-dribble call.

The Patriots, however, kept it interesting by missing four foul shots over the final 1:47, but their defense didn’t allow a field goal in overtime as the Lakers managed 5-of-7 from the foul line.

Despite missing a chance to reach the finals (and possibly an all Laker state title run), Coach True was very proud of just how far his club had come since Day 1.

“Coach Andreasen of Gray felt the winner of our game would win B South. I think that is a great compliment to our kids. 15 wins at the beginning of the season, I honestly did not think was possible. But, again, it is a testament to our kids. I don’t think for a second they doubted that they could attain that goal, although after our first Wells game, they didn’t think it would happen either,” Coach True said. “We all knew we had a chance to win that game, and that is all you can ask. If you can have a chance to win a semi-final game, then you’re going to take those odds. We said before the game, win or lose, we were going to do it together. That’s just the way the kids handled themselves. They’re a resilient group. I had an absolute blast coaching this group. They’re a great group of kids.”

The Lakers got off to a hot start as Huntress converted a 3-point play, senior Spencer True netted a pair of 3-pointers and Jakobs scored on an offensive putback for an 11-5 lead.

The Patriots rallied by seeking out 6-foot Camerl, who scored consecutive hoops late in the quarter. Coach True yelled out to his frontcourt, “You can’t let her go to that spot.”

Heading into the game, True felt the key was for the Lakers to hold their own against a bigger Patriot frontline. They did, actually winning the rebounding battle 23-22. Camerl had 7 boards, 3 were on the offensive end.

Dumont shot the Patriots back into the game, including sinking a 3-pointer from the left wing following a late LR turnover to give G-NG a 16-14 lead after one.

“I couldn’t have been more pleased the way our kids battled and defended inside. (Skye) Conley had 19 points against us in the first meeting, and she had 3 in the semis. I thought we did a really good job inside,” Coach True said. “Obviously, we shot the ball pretty well (7-of-16 from the field in the first half, 4-of-9 from behind the arc), and in that environment, it is not always an easy task. I was really impressed with how they handled that situation.”

Foul trouble would bite the Lakers, forcing Coach True to shuffle his rotation early and often. Freshman Brooke Harriman proved up to the task, playing solid minutes in the second quarter, collecting 3 rebounds and scoring 3 points.

“From start to finish, by far, Brooke is our most improved player. She’s been fantastic to coach all year, and has just kept working at it,” Coach True said. “In the biggest moments in the entire season, she played a major role. I’m so excited about the possibilities for the future.”

Chandler True came up big, as well, netting a pair of treys as the Lakers left the court up 26-24 at the half.

Neither club shot particularly well in the third as the Lakers managed just two hoops — both by Huntress on a pull-up jumper and a 3-pointer.

Brianna Jordan sank a 3-pointer from the left corner and Isabelle Detroy scored off an offensive rebound to put the Patriots up 33-31 entering the fourth.

With the game on the line late in the fourth, the Lakers made clutch shot after clutch shot, including a pair of tough inside hoops by sophomore Lauren Jakobs.

“When Lauren stayed out of foul trouble, she was one of the best players on the floor,” Coach True said. “As a sophomore, she is aggressive and wants to make plays, and it led to some foul trouble. In the Yarmouth game, I was so proud of how she shot free throws when she sat out a good portion due to foul trouble. Mentally, she has grown a lot. She stayed in the game knowing that down the stretch, she was going to need to help us through that.”

With the loss of just one senior starter, the Lakers will look to build upon the growth they achieved this year and make another serious push to unseat the new champs, G-NG.