BANGOR, Maine — The third quarter was the game changer in last Saturday night’s Class C girls’ state championship game, as freshman Aspen Flewelling’s perimeter shooting paid dividends for Houlton.
With Kolleen Bouchard sitting with her third foul, it was Flewelling who gave Houlton back its lead, which they would never surrender, as they captured the gold ball over Maranacook, 59-51. It is the girls’ first state title since a Class B championship in 1991.
“It feels awesome,” said junior Natalie Hill.
“Honestly, I had a little doubt in our defense, but we always pull through,” said junior teammate Katie Condon.
“Right before the game, I got scared out of my mind,” junior Chelsea Gentle said. “I was so nervous. Once we got out here and warmed up, I knew we were going to win.”
Houlton coach Shawn Graham and assistant Ben Drew were proud of the girls’ performance throughout the year.
“Coming in, we knew we were young, but we have a quality team,” said Graham. “The girls were resilient tonight.”
Trailing by a point, with just over six minutes to play in the third, Flewelling drained a 3-pointer to give Houlton a 30-28 advantage. But, Maranacook’s Catherine Sanborn (10 points) hit a shot to knot the game. Flewelling set up again and hit a 3-pointer and on the ensuing play, Hill dished off to Flewelling, who finished with a layup, to push Houlton’s lead to 37-30 with just under four minutes to play in the quarter.
“It was awesome when I hit the threes,” said Flewelling. “I knew that once they went in the team would get all pumped and turn the game around.”
Gentle agreed.
“I was so excited when Aspen hit those threes,” Gentle said. “Obviously, I could believe it, but it just was great.”
“Kolleen handled [being taken out] very well,” said Graham. “Aspen was hitting shots and she was cheering her on. Our intentions were only to sit Kolleen as long as we maintained the lead through the third. If we had fallen behind, I was ready to get her right back in, but her teammates picked her up and that is what it takes to win big games.”
“It was stressful,” said Bouchard. “I wanted to be in there, but I had faith in my teammates.”
Flewelling scored eight of her nine points during the pivotal third and held Maranacook scoreless over the last minute and half of the game, as the western Maine Black Bears’ standout player Christine Miller fouled out.
“Miller is a fantastic player, inside and out,” said Graham. “She hit a bunch of crucial threes.”
The Black Bears’ press rattled Houlton, who made 11 first-quarter turnovers, and trailed by four points after the first eight minutes. As the Lady Shires settled down, there were six lead changes and three ties in the first half of action, with Houlton taking a one-point lead to the locker rooms.
“We knew they were going to come at us and that press might bother us,” said Graham. “It did hurt us early. But, we also knew if we could find a way to break it, then we would get some transition baskets and we did.”
“It’s been the third quarter for us throughout the season,” said Hill. “We got better defensively.”
Graham noted his squad has been a third-quarter team.
“I think we got our second wind and buckled down on defense,” he said.
Hill noted the girls who came in to guard Miller did their job, and one of those players was Flewelling.
“I did not feel much pressure,” said Flewelling of her defensive duty. “I used to always guard the post until this year.”
Hill noted the team was able to survive most of the third into the fourth without their freshman star, Bouchard, which speaks volumes about Houlton’s team play.
“I think we really stepped up when Kolleen was out,” Condon added. “That shows a lot about our team and how much we wanted it.”
With Bouchard on the bench, Houlton had extended its lead, which speaks volumes of their team play. To open the fourth, Rylee Warman’s back-to-back baskets had Houlton on top, 45-38.
“It’s crazy,” said Warman. “I have been dreaming of winning a state championship since I was in the third grade. So, it’s a dream come true for me.”
The Black Bears kept battling back. With 1:44 left, Miller hit from beyond the college 3-point line to close the gap to three points. Miller buried a state championship record five 3-pointers for a game-high 31 points.
But, Miller fouled out on Houlton’s next possession, as Maranacook did not score from the field the rest of the way, with Houlton sealing the game at the free-throw line.
“When one falls we pick each other up… I can only ask for these kids to play their hearts out which I felt they did,” Maranacook coach Jeanne Paradis said.
Houlton placed four players in double-figures, Bouchard had a team-high 18 points; Hill, Warman and Katie Condon each had 10 points. Flewelling ended the night with nine points.
Next year looks as promising for the Houlton girls, as they graduate no seniors.
“We will all have the experience needed to be successful,” Flewelling added.
