JULIA QUINN scored a game-high 18 points. (Rivet Photos)
RAIDERS 58
Makayla Cooper 1-0-2, Katherine Parker 1-0-2, Sage Boivin 3-4-10, Mackenzie Buzzell 1-1-4, Lexi L’Heureux-Carland 6-1-13, Julia Quinn 8-2-18, Bridget Bailey 2-0-4, McKenna Gerchman 1-2-5, Alexandria Fraize, Nicole Bennett.
3-Pointers: Buzzell, Gerchman
Turnovers: 17
Shots: 23-of-47, 49%
Free Throws: 8-of-15
Rebounds: 32
L’Heureux-Carland 6, Gerchman 5, Boivin 5, Parker 3, Cooper 3, Fraize 3, Quinn 2, Buzzell 2, Bailey 2, Bennett 1
CAPERS 25
Alison Ingalls 0-2-2, Jillian Petersen 1-0-2, Carter Harvey 1-0-2, Mo Lavalle 1-0-2, Maddie Bowe 7-1-17
Turnovers: 22
Shots: 11-of-43, 26%
Free Throws: 2-of-4
Rebounds: 16
Bowe 7, O’Rourke 2, Ingalls 2, O’Sullivan 1, Harvey 1, Lavalle 1, Harvey 1, Guerette 1

By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

FRYEBURG — With Cape’s top player out of the lineup due to a concussion, Fryeburg Academy Coach Sean Watson didn’t want his players to change their approach.

“We didn’t mention it at all (that senior Montana Braxton was out). We were playing whoever showed up,” Coach Watson said. “It’s about us, not other people. If we do what we want to do, we will be successful.”

Tight defensive coverage forced 12 turnovers and limited the Cape Elizabeth to just 6-of-20 shooting in the first half as the Raiders exploded for a 58-25 victory Tuesday night at Wadsworth Arena.

The victory pushed the Raiders’ record to 3-0.

“I liked the pace of play,” Coach Watson said. “In the second half, we improved our half-court defense. We’re getting better with our rotations, which are a little more complicated than last year, but the kids are starting to get it. I was really happy with our unselfish play — distributing the ball, which we have been harping on. The kids are buying in on it.”

Fryeburg converted Cape turnovers into quick inside scores as senior Lexi L’Heureux-Carland (13 points) scored three hoops in the first three minutes as the Raiders bolted to an 8-2 lead.

After the Capers scored twice, Fryeburg closed out the quarter on a Bridget Bailey drive to the rim, a steal and fastbreak layup by Julia Quinn (who scored a game high 18 points) and McKenna Gerchman drilled a 3-pointer as guard Mackenzie Buzzell found her teammate alone behind the arc.

Limiting Cape to just three rebounds in the second quarter and tightly contesting every shot resulting in 3-of-11 from the floor, the Raiders broke the game open behind Quinn’s nine points.

Buzzell triggered the big run with a 3-pointer from straightaway. With 3:14 left until the half, Bailey ripped the ball away from a Cape player along the sideline, looked up the court, and sent a deep pass to Quinn, who scored a layup and converted a foul shot for a 28-12 FA lead. Crisp passing resulted in another quick FA score as Gerchman found Quinn for another layup inn the closing seconds.

Despite a 30-14 advantage, the Raiders stayed aggressive defensively throughout the third quarter as Coach Watson frequently changed up his lineup as FA players continued to play tight coverage. Cape managed just one field goal and finished the period 1-of-11 and 0-for-2 from the foul line.

Meanwhile, the Raiders had six different players score in the third quarter, including 5-for-8 from the foul line to take a 45-16 lead.

Senior Sage Boivin closed out the game by scoring 8 of her 10 points — several hoops coming off determined drives to the glass — while also collecting three rebounds.

Coach Watson felt each player made solid contributions in the win — be it with their defensive work, passing and/or scoring.

“We try to impress upon the kids that it’s not all about offensive contributions. If you go in and rebound or play good defense, we can get you in there,” the coach said. “Last year, we had kids come in and try to get points right away as maybe a way to stay in the game. This year, the focus is on being in the flow of the game and doing things that make you successful. Kids are playing their roles, and they are all very unselfish.”

SAGE BOIVIN (left) plays some tough defense along the end line.

So far, that formula has resulted in a 3-0 start to the season.

FA fends off Leavitt comeback

Senior guard Julia Quinn knocked down three 3-pointers en route to a game-high 18 points last Friday night against Leavitt.

But, it was two free throws that proved to be the biggest shots of the night.

Quinn coolly sank a pair of free throws in the final seconds as the Raiders escaped a furious Leavitt comeback, erasing a nearly double-digit deficit, to hand the Hornets their first loss, 42-38 in Turner.

“We survived it. I was just happy to get out of there with a win,” Coach Sean Watson said.

The Raiders certainly had their hands full with a very physical Hornet squad.

“Every game we play, we would like to think that we are the most physical team. Leavitt is really physical. It was the most physical game I’ve ever seen,” Coach Watson said. “I thought we reacted very well. It was a chippy game, but we didn’t get caught up in it. I was really happy how we responded mentally.”

The Raiders held a slim 8-6 lead after a quarter, and pushed it out to 22-17 at the half. The Hornets then out scored FA 8-5 to set up a barnburner final quarter.

“They made a run, but we just managed to keep holding on, holding on. We made some plays at the defensive end that kept us in it. Their trapping defense wasn’t something we’ve really seen before and had some trouble with it. We were a little bit too impatient at times,” Coach Watson said.

Leavitt (2-1) cut the FA lead to two points with four seconds to go after a Hornet player sank a free throw. She missed the second on purpose, and FA secured the rebound. Leavitt fouled, but the Raiders had yet to reach the bonus.

“We set up a different type of press breaker because we thought they might pull someone,” Coach Watson said. “They pulled Julia, and the ref called it. Julia made both free throws with three seconds left.”

For the Raiders, Sage Boivin 6, McKenna Gerchman 6, Bridget Bailey 4, Mackenzie Buzzell 4, Lexi L’Heureux-Carland 3, Katherine Parker 1.

3-Pointers: Quinn 3, Gerchman

Up next: The Raiders (3-0) travel to York (4-0) Saturday to meet the Wildcats at 5 p.m.

“We just need to play our game. We can’t back down. I know that they are athletic, but we’re going to try to run and press. We are going to do the things that have made us successful,” Coach Watson said. “If it is good enough, we’ll have a great game. If it isn’t, we’ll know where we have to improve. I am not putting a lot of emphasis on this one game. We play three teams twice in the regular season — Cape, Leavitt and York. We just want to get better. I’ve said all along it is going to be a process. Let’s just focus on trying to get better, and if we do, we’ll see what happens. The kids are looking forward to this game to see how they stack up.”

FA then goes to Marshwood on Tuesday, Dec. 22 for a 6 p.m. contest.