JULIA QUINN got off to a hot start for Fryeburg Academy, knocking down three pointers. Here, she just gets a shot off before Greely center Ashley Storey could block it. (Rivet Photo)
RAIDER GIRLS
Heal Rank: #9, 7-9
Tuesday’s result: Playing against another conference heavyweight in back-to-back games, the Raiders played York tough on the Cats’ home floor but fell 54-48.
FA trailed 15-8 after one and 23-18 at the break. After being outscored 19-13 in the third, the Raiders won the fourth quarter, 17-12.
Julia Quinn paced the Raiders with 14 points, while Mackenzie Buzzell chipped in 12, Lexi L’Heureux-Carland had 10, Nicole Bennett 7, Sage Boivin 4 and Emily Grzyb 1.
Games left: Home tonight, 6:30 p.m., against Sacopee Valley (#12 in Class C West at 9-7); home game Friday, Feb. 6 against Cape Elizabeth (#8, 9-7), at 6 p.m. This game will likely settle who hosts the prelim tourney game with just two tourney points separating the clubs.

By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

FRYEBURG — Winners of four straight, including knocking off top-ranked, undefeated Gray-New Gloucester, the Raiders wondered just how far had they come as a team?

Not quite as far as they had hoped.

Greely’s star center Ashley Storey dominated last week’s game with 18 points, 13 rebounds and 5 blocked shots as the Rangers rolled to a 53-37 victory at Wadsworth Arena.

Fryeburg junior guard Julia Quinn (tied for game-high honors with 18 points, 3 rebounds) single-handedly kept the Raiders in the game in the first quarter, sinking three 3-pointers and sliding past Storey with a quick drive down the right side for a layup.

After one, Fryeburg was down just 16-13.

The Raiders did a nice job of keeping Storey away from the rim in the second quarter as Mackenzie Buzzell played tight defense and got some help inside when the Ranger’s center tried to make a move.

FA closed the gap to 22-19 as Kaylin Delaney netted a 3-pointer after the Raiders did a nice job of moving the basketball with crisp passes, ultimately creating an open shot attempt.

The Raiders went 3-of-4 from the foul line to inch closer.

But, the Rangers closed the quarter strong with Molly Chapin connecting on a jumpshot, while Maddie Cyr and Kristina Smith each scored on inside moves as Storey sat out for the final 2:17.

Despite Greely’s size advantage in the lane, the Raiders continually challenged the Rangers with quick drives that split two defenders. FA was 3-of-7 from the line, and were outrebounded by a slight margin, 13-11.

Down 28-21, the Raiders struggled offensively in the third quarter, connecting on just 4-of-13 shots — two inside shots by Lexi L’Heureux-Carland (7 points, 7 rebounds) and another trey by Quinn along with a layup.

“In a game against a very good team like Greely, you just can’t turn the ball over and you need to get a good shot every time down the floor,” Coach Watson said. “Being down by double digits, we were forced to pressure them, and we had some breakdowns which resulted in some easy baskets.”

Meanwhile, Greely made the Raiders pay for doubling down into the lane to stop Storey as guards Chapin and Haley Felkel netted 3-pointers. Greely scored the quarter’s final six points, and enjoyed a 46-30 lead.

“We knew that we would give up outside shots, but hoped we could get out there quick enough to defend. We didn’t,” FA Coach Sean Watson said. “(Storey) is the real deal. She is unselfish and passes well. She is smart. She has been double-teamed for three years, so she does a pretty good job of finding the open person.”

Storey scored her 18th point of the night on a drive to the rim with 4:07 left in the game. Fans standing in the back room of the bleachers behind the Greely bench held up placards 9-9-3.

With just seven points short of reaching 1,000, Storey left the game with 2:26 left and her team up 53-34. The talented center, who is headed to UNH this fall, broke the 1,000 point mark at home a few days later.

Fryeburg, meanwhile, broke a four-plus minute scoring drought when Katherine Parker swished a baseline shot. FA scored the game’s last five points, three by Nicole Bennett and a layup by Bridget Bailey.

“You have to be able to play four quarters. I thought we competed, but they were better than us tonight,” Coach Watson said. “I hope we get a chance to see them at another point (in the playoffs).”

Prior to the four-game win streak, Coach Watson felt his Raiders were ready to break through. He liked their intensity and their ability to find the “hot hand” on the offensive end.

“We were able to identify mismatches and were a lot more physical, especially on defense,” Coach Watson said. “Tonight, we weren’t as physical, but we didn’t back down. We were aggressive going to the basket and didn’t shy away, which I liked. We’re going to try to be as competitive as we can taking the ball to the basket. Yes, we will get our shots blocked on occasion, but I can live with that.”

Down the stretch, Coach Watson believes his club needs to ratchet-it-up defensively if the Raiders are to hold onto a home playoff prelim game.

“We need to play a good, solid half-court defense and not let any one person beat us — it has to be five to beat us. Storey got 18 on us tonight, but she is just a fantastic player,” Coach Watson said. “Our girls are a joy to coach because they are fighters and are tenacious.”

Stat Sheet

Other FA scorers: Nicole Bennett 3, Kaylin Delaney 3, Katherine Parker 2, Sage Boivin 2, Bridget Bailey 2.

Turnovers: FA 9, GRE 9

FT: FA 4-11, GRE 3-7

FG: FA 14-46, GRE 23-51

Rebounds: FA 22, GRE 29

FA top rebounders: L’Heureux-Carland 7, Bennett 7, Quinn 3, Bailey 2.