Shauna Hancock, left, and Brooke Harriman, second from left, of Lake Region High School celebrate with their teammates after defeating top-seeded Gray-New Gloucester 34-31 in Portland on Thursday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
PORTLAND — There will be a new champion of Class B South girls’ basketball.
Two-time defending champion and top-seeded Gray-New Gloucester had its title defense ended in part because of a lack of offense, but revenge-minded Lake Region had a say, too, in a 34-31 regional semifinal victory at Cross Insurance Arena on Thursday.
“They really wanted the redemption today, and they got it,” Gray-NG coach Mike Andreasen said.
The Patriots (15-5) had the lead at the end of the first period, 7-6, with Lauren Jakobs scoring all the points for the fourth-seeded Lakers (15-5). It could have been more of a lead for the Patriots, however.
“I think it was 5-2, and the next three times down we threw the ball away, and we didn’t play very confident basketball,” Andreasen said.
Jordan Grant, who dueled Jakobs (10 points, six rebounds) down low throughout, made an early basket in the second to extend the Patriots’ lead, but they didn’t score again. Chandler True had four points in the period to pace the Lakers, who lost to Gray-NG in the regional semifinals each of the past two years.
“We haven’t been a lone scoring team all year long, so the key for us was getting out some in transition and being able to attack them off the dribble because when they’re in a half-court set they’re very disciplined and they play very good defense,” Lakers coach Paul True said.
Lake Region led 14-9 at halftime, thanks to four quick points in the final seconds. Shauna Hancock finished a layup in transition with six seconds left after the Patriots missed a free throw, then True stole the inbounds pass and was fouled on a shot attempt with 1.4 seconds left. She made both free throws.
“That right there kind of set the tone,” Andreasen said.
Grant had three of the Patriots’ four first-half baskets. Eliza Hotham had the other.
“I just thought we played great help-side defense,” True said. “We were moving with the flight of the ball, we weren’t slow to help out, especially inside on Jordan Grant. She’s a great player.”
“The other kids really needed to step up and take shots, and I thought it took us over a half for kids to have the confidence to step up and take shots, and when we did unfortunately they just weren’t falling,” Andreasen said.
The Patriots started off the third quarter with a 4-0 run, but the Lakers were able to push back and get their lead to 22-15. The score was 22-18 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Lakers never let go of that lead, and they had a multiple-possession advantage for much of the final period. A buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Chelsea Davis for the Patriots was too little, too late.
True scored six of her team-high 12 points in the fourth.
“I thought we gave True too many looks,” Andreasen said.
Grant scored a game-high 13 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds. Bri Jordan added six points, four rebounds and two assists.
“When you get into Portland, the Expo is one thing, the Cross Arena is clearly a different thing, it’s a different bird, and you got to be comfortable being there. We didn’t look comfortable. I thought the kids looked a little bit nervous, a little bit anxious, and it showed in our play,” Andreasen said. “I think that Jakobs and True, I think the senior leadership of those two, was really very evident in this game.”
“It’s a grind on offense and thankfully we just made a few more plays,” True said. “I’m just elated for this group of kids. … I’m really, really proud and happy for them.”
wkramlich@sunjournal.com
Jordan Grant of Gray-New Gloucester moves the ball between Lauren Jakobs, back, and Brooke Harriman, right, of Lake Region in Portland on Thursday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
Samantha Fortin of Gray-New Gloucester keeps the ball in bounds as the referee watches to make sure she does not touch the line during Thursday’s game against Lake Region. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
Lauren Jakobs of Lake Region passes between Jordan Grant, left, and Alexa Thayer of Gray-New Gloucester during the fourth quarter in Portland on Thursday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
Gray-New Gloucester head coach Mike Andreasen calls a timeout late in the game on Thursday. (Daryn Slover/Sun Journal)
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