LEWISTON – In an instant, the Lewiston girls’ basketball team wasn’t playing catch-up any longer.
With one swish of an Emily Parent shot Saturday afternoon, the Blue Devils went from battling back to sitting pretty. The sophomore’s 3-pointer from the top of the key put Lewiston ahead, and the Blue Devils held on for a 50-48 victory over Leavitt.
“We needed this,” said Parent. “It was a good win for us.”
The Blue Devils were down by as many as six points in the final quarter, twice by five points. Lewiston scrapped back, getting as close as 46-45 with 2:47 left. Moments later, Parent’s shot altered everything.
“She’s the girl that takes the shot in that position,” said Lewiston coach Jim Hood, who had Parent in the game when Danielle Willey had to come out with blood on her jersey. “She came out ready to throw it. She didn’t give me a Me Coach?’. She’s only a sophomore. I’m really pleased that she stepped up and made the shot.”
Allison Morin’s inbounds pass on the endline found Parent at the top of the key. Parent had an open look and nailed it. Lewiston was suddenly ahead, and Leavitt was playing from behind.
“I just got lucky, I think,” said Parent. “Usually I can’t shoot it from that far. I had good form, and I shot it and it went in.”
Lewiston got a basket from Morin with 35 seconds left, but Leavitt got within two on free throws from Stephanie Healy. The Hornets had ample opportunity to tie the game but missed its last eight shots. A Lewiston turnover with nine seconds gave Leavitt one last crack. Parent and Katie Nadeau applied nice pressure in the backcourt. The Hornets were able to get the ball to Amie Chaisson, whose shot hit the rim.
“I thought they kept their composure,” said Leavitt coach Tammy Anderson. “With nine seconds left, they did just what I wanted them to do. It was whoever was open. We didn’t specify and told them that nine seconds goes quick when you’re in a hurry. I wouldn’t ask for anything different – a top of the elbow shot with nine seconds left.”
Long finished with a game-high 16 points and five assists. Willey added 11 and Nadeau had eight points, four steals and six assists. Healy had 11 points for Leavitt while Chaisson and Alex Naylor each had eight. Paige Dyer had seven points and seven rebounds.
“We’re going to learn as we go and try to be as good as we can,” said Hood. “We started to show some of the maturity we’ve had in the past at the end. We came from behind. I told the kids that it’s a tribute to them to be able to stick in there and come back.”
Lewiston had been up by as many as six in the third quarter, but with Long out with three fouls, the Hornets made a 5-0 run to end the quarter up 38-34.
“They did just what I wanted in the third quarter,” said Anderson. ” I told them, No more turnovers.’ That’s been our downfall.”
Leavitt was up by 46-41 with 3:50 left, but Long hit a pair of free throws and Morin set up Jessica Hunt for a basket with 2:47 left to make it 46-45.
“We all wanted the win,” said Anderson. “That’s what we wanted to turn our season around. I told them that we have to have 50 points to be in the KVAC every game.”
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