Orono ends PCHS girls’ season, 40-29
By Mike Lange
Staff Writer
BANGOR — The Orono Red Riots came out of the gate at top speed in Wednesday’s Eastern Maine Class C girls’ quarterfinal contest and finished with a 40-29 victory over Piscataquis Community High School.
Orono’s one-on-one defense kept pressure on the Pirates throughout the game, but Red Riots’ coach Jessica Witham said the contest was more intense than the score indicated. “They’re a very tough team and they have a couple of good weapons,” Witham said. “Their No. 52 center (Delani Bennett) and No. 2 point guard (Alex Speed) are excellent players and we needed to contain them. So we knew it was going to be a tough game.”
Observer photo/Mike Lange
ON THE WAY — Jordynne Littlefield (20) of PCHS takes a shot over the outstretched arms of Orono guard Katie Smith (30). Also getting in the picture are Orono’s Ana Souza Cunha (33) and PCHS forward Haylee Patterson (22). Orono won the quarterfinal contest 40-29.
Witham said that the lineup of both teams hadn’t changed drastically since last season, so they knew what they were up against. “Last year they took us into overtime, so we knew it was going to be a fight today,” Witham added.
Orono went into the quarterfinals with a 17-1 record, which Witham said she never expected. “It’s a great record, but once you get to the tournament, the win-loss numbers don’t mean very much. We’re just looking at one game at a time.”
PCHS coach Brian Gaw, whose Pirates finished at 10-9, said that Orono “did exactly what I heard they were going to do. They had insanely, intense pressure right from the start. If you don’t handle it, you’re going to be in trouble. We didn’t respond very well for the first quarter-and-a-half, but Orono is a very talented team.”
The Red Riots 5-foot-2 point guard Hannah Clement (14 points) started the game with a steal and layup, setting the pace for a 12-2 margin after the first quarter.
Observer photo/Mike Lange
ON THE WAY — Jordynne Littlefield (20) of PCHS takes a shot over the outstretched arms of Orono guard Katie Smith (30). Also getting in the picture are Orono’s Ana Souza Cunha (33) and PCHS forward Haylee Patterson (22). Orono won the quarterfinal contest 40-29.
Kassidy Dill opened the second stanza with a three-pointer from the left side of the arc before Speed notched a layup for the Pirates. Another Orono basket from inside the paint – this time from Katie Sypher (10 points, 8 rebounds) – prompted Gaw to call a timeout to calm the Pirates down.
Sophomore Jordynne Littlefield (eight points) responded with a pair of deuces while Bennett finally broke loose for two jumpers, including one on a nice feed from Littlefield.
But Clement wasted little time putting up more numbers with a tip-in on a teammate’s rebound and another layup to keep the Orono halftime margin at double digits, 22-12.
Bennett started the third quarter with a baseline jumper, but Orono immediately responded with a trey from senior guard Elea Kass and another bucket from Clement.
Observer photo/Mike Lange
SPEED BUMP — Alex Speed of PCHS, right, fights for possession with Hannah Clement of Orono in Wednesday’s Eastern Maine Class C quarterfinal.
PCHS came back with two quick baskets by Mikayla Dow (five points, three assists) and Kaylee Patterson (four points, seven rebounds) and eventually closed to gap to nine points.
But Orono proved to be as tough at the free-throw line as they were on defense, going seven-for-eight to seal the victory.
PCHS, with only two seniors on the squad, started the regular season with five consecutive victories before losing to Dexter, 54-20. They defeated the Tigers later in the season, 33-25.
Orono’s only loss came against Mattanawcook Academy, 54-50 on Jan. 7.
Observer photo/Mike Lange
SQUEEZE PLAY – Mikayla Dow (23) of PCHS looks for daylight through the Orono defense in Wednesday’s Eastern Maine Class C quarterfinal contest against Orono.