Greely senior Anna DeWolfe (20) jumps up for a shot amid a group of Gray-New Gloucester defenders Thursday in Gray. (Portland Press Herald photo by Brianna Soukup)
GRAY — Todd Flaherty knew this wouldn’t be easy. It never is when the Greely girls’ basketball team plays Gray-New Gloucester.
And it wasn’t Thursday night with the Patriots’ defense often frustrating the potent Rangers. But in the end, Greely guard Anna DeWolfe took over the fourth quarter and the Rangers remained unbeaten.
DeWolfe scored 11 of her 23 points in the fourth and added three steals as Greely pulled away from Gray-New Gloucester, 53-45, on Thursday.
“I think this is going to be a good team builder for us,” Flaherty said. “Everybody played well. It was a team win.”
Greely, top-ranked in Class A South, improved to 7-0. Gray-New Gloucester, top-ranked in Class B South, dropped to 6-1.
The Patriots led by five at the half — holding the Rangers to five points in the second quarter — and by six early in the third before Greely went on a 7-0 run sparked by the defense of guard Julia Martel.
She made three consecutive steals, scoring twice on breakaway layups and setting Camille Clement up for a 3-pointer to turn a 29-25 deficit into a 32-29 lead.
“That changed the game,” Flaherty said. “That two or three minutes that Julia had changed the game for us.”
Martel was injured with 18 seconds left in the third quarter, taking a hard fall on her elbow. She didn’t return — Flaherty said he thought she would be fine — but her absence sparked the Rangers, who were already without star guard Brooke Obar, out with an ankle injury
DeWolfe beat the third-quarter buzzer with a floater in the lane to make it 36-36. Then Greely scored the first eight points of the fourth, holding the Patriots scoreless for the first 4:26.
“When the game gets a little rough we always play for each other,” DeWolfe said. “We played mostly for Julia in the fourth quarter.”
Clement, who had 13 points, opened the scoring in the fourth with a cutting layup. DeWolfe scored the next six — two steals setting up two baskets — to increase the lead to eight.
Gray-New Gloucester twice got within six points, but with 1:33 left, DeWolfe hit a 3-pointer from the right wing to make it 51-42.
“I think this was a good test for us,” DeWolfe said. “When we’re down we all come together as one to dig out of the hole and we did that really well today.”
The Patriots were led by Eliza Hotham with 14 points and Jordan Grant with 13.
Gray-New Gloucester coach Mike Andreasen also thought this game would be good for his team, even with the loss.
“They’re one of the best teams in the state, A, B, C, AA, whatever,” he said. “They’ve beaten everybody. To play with them means we’re a pretty good team.”
Greely sophomore Camille Clement (2) makes a basket after being fouled by Gray-New Gloucester senior Brianna Jordan (12) during the first half Thursday. Greely won 53-45. (Portland Press Herald photo by Brianna Soukup)
Greely senior Anna DeWolfe (20) drives to the hoops while being defended by Gray-New Gloucester senior Brianna Jordan (12) and junior Eliza Hotham (14) on Thursday in Gray. (Portland Press Herald photo by Brianna Soukup)
Gray-New Gloucester senior Brianna Jordan, center, and Greely senior Madison Scott, left, fight over possession of the ball Thursday in Gray. (Portland Press Herald photo by Brianna Soukup)
Gray-New Gloucester junior Jordan Grant (22), right, tries to break through for a layup while being defended closely by Greely junior Katie Fitzpatrick (22) during the second half Thursday in Gray. (Portland Press Herald photo by Brianna Soukup)
Gray-New Gloucester senior Brianna Jordan (12) pushes through and attempts a layup during the Patriots’ game against fellow undefeated team Greely on Thursday in Gray. Greely won 53-45, handing Gray-NG its first loss of the season. (Portland Press Herald photo by Brianna Soukup)
Gray-New Gloucester senior Brianna Jordan (12) and Greely sophomore Camille Clement (2) fight over possession of the ball on the sideline Thursday in Gray. (Portland Press Herald photo by Brianna Soukup)
Greely sophomore Camille Clement (2) and Gray-New Gloucester junior Eliza Hotham (14) both reach for a redound with five minutes left the go in the fourth quarter Thursday in Gray. (Portland Press Herald photo by Brianna Soukup)
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