RUMFORD — In a battle of runs, Mountain Valley has continued to make things count at the right moments. That was key again Tuesday night in a girls’ basketball game at Puiia Gymnasium.
Seniors Ashley Russell and Liza White each recorded double-doubles and the Falcons ramped up the pressure defensively in the second half in a 47-27 triumph against Lisbon. The Falcons have won eight of nine games since a season-opening loss to unbeaten Boothbay.
It was an important game between Mountain Valley (9-2) and Lisbon (6-6), which had entered the action ranked second and eighth, respectively, in Class B South Heal points.
Mountain Valley responded at the right time by going on a 10-1 run to take a 33-20 lead after three quarters.
“We really wanted to put pressure on them,” said White, who scored 12 points and had 10 rebounds. “That turned it around for us.”
Lisbon had begun the second half with a 7-0 run on a basket by Carly Drischler and a basket and 3-pointer by Kaylin Le (11 points), to trail 21-17. White quickly answered with two baskets and Grace Briggs came off the bench to make a 3-point play. Russell (12 points, six assists, seven steals) stepped out and drained a trey.
The combination of mistakes and poor shooting proved to be Lisbon’s shortcoming, as they were unable to wade through the Falcons’ trapping defense. The Greyhounds shot 13 of 35 (27 percent) and turned the ball over numerous times in the game.
“We wanted to attack and run,” said Lisbon coach Julie Petrie, whose team faces Madison on Thursday. “The girls were not necessarily nervous. But, I think we were impatient at times.”
Mountain Valley spark plug Emily Laubauskas (eight points, eight rebounds) raised havoc on both ends of the floor. She was relegated to the bench after picking up her fourth foul early in the third quarter. Laubauskas returned midway through the fourth quarter and immediately scored off an Emily Billings assist.
“When I came back in, all I was thinking was not picking up a fifth foul,” said Laubauskas, who also made an under-handed layup and two free throws.
Julia Perry also added eight points, including back-to- back treys, during the Falcons’ 12-0 run to lead 18-5 in the second quarter.
“We had scouted Lisbon and knew they had some trick defenses,” Mountain Valley coach Ryan Casey said. “So they didn’t run anything new that we hadn’t expected. But, they mixed things up well.”
Lisbon refused to buckle, and Kaylin Le buried a trey just before halftime. The Falcons shot 46 percent, and 4-of-6 on free throws, but committed 11 turnovers in the second half.
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