AUGUSTA — Madison made things look easy at the start, but the finish was a bit of a struggle Tuesday.
The Bulldogs opened a double-digit lead in the second quarter and appeared to be cruising toward a Class C South quarterfinal win. But Traip Academy had some comeback left and rallied to get within six before Madison sealed the 43-30 win at the foul line.
Madison advances to Thursday’s semifinal against No. 8 Searsport.
Madeline Wood and Sydney LeBlanc led the Bulldgos(13-7) with 10 points each while Kayla Bess had nine. Nine of LeBlanc’s points came in the second quarter that broke open an 8-5 Madison lead.
Marina Casey led Traip (8-12) with 13 points. Cassidy Delano added six.
The Rangers were a deceptive 12th-seed. Traip plays a competitive Western Maine Conference schedule, featuring A, B and C teams. The Rangers beat fifth-ranked Hebron handily in the prelims to advance.
Though Traip was within 8-5 after the first quarter after a free throw by Casey and a basket by Delano, Madison opened the lead up in the second. A LeBlanc drive and two free throws by Marah Hall made it 12-5 to open the second. After a Delano basket, Erin Whalen and LeBlanc scored to make it 16-7. Madison then used a 9-1 run to build a 15-10 lead. LeBlanc hit a 3 and scored on another jumper. Lauren Hay scored on a rebound and Bess hit a free throw.
Madison maintained that advantage in the third. Wood hit a 3 and Hay scored while Traip was held to just eight points. In the fourth, with Madison using its bench, Traip used a 7-1 run to get within 35-27. Jessica Segura hit a 3 and Nicole Landry scored during that run. That had the Bulldogs returning the starters to action.
Madison struggled to hit free throws in the fourth, missing 11 of them. Traip missed its own chance to trim the lead further. A three-point play by Casey made it 36-30 with 1:59 left, but Madison answered with free throws by Whalen, Bess and Wood and pad the lead.
kmills@sunjournal.com
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