ASHLAND, Maine – The Ashland girls’ varsity basketball team held Easton to just four points in the first half, and though the Lady Bears got their offense going in the second half, Ashland never trailed in a 57-29 win Thursday night.
Both teams started slow but Ashland got the upper hand after switching from a 3-2 zone to a full-court press. Whitney Flint made three consecutive steals as Easton players tried to take baseline and connected on court-length passes to Mindy Chasse for four points.
Easton benefited from a backdoor cut by Briana White to get open under the basket. Point-guard Kassie Lovely found her with a bounce pass but the lid was on the basket for the Lady Bears. The team took 12 shots in the opening quarter but couldn’t connect.
Ashland went back to a zone after halftime and relaxed the press and Easton’s Kendra Conroy got the hot hand, connecting on six shots in the second half, but the Lady Hornets’ attack proved too much as Chasse put up her sixth double-double of the year with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Flint added 15 points including three shots from behind the arc. Suzanne Poulin added 14.
Conroy led the Lady Bears with 12 points and Lovely added 10.
Poulin scored a career-high 20 points Friday to lead Ashland past Washburn, 48-40.
The Lady Hornets again never trailed on their home court as they picked up the win. Chasse put up 11 for Ashland and Flint added eight points and 10 rebounds.
Alex Bird led Washburn with 15 followed by Samantha Cochran with eight.
Easton went on to host Central Aroostook Monday, taking a 45-35 loss. Sarah Long led the Lady Panthers with 23 points while Lovely led Easton with 18.
Washburn went on to hand Greater Houlton Christian Academy their first loss of the season Monday night at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
Kelsee McLaughlin put in the game-winner with three seconds remaining to boost the Lady Beavers. She finished with 10 points while Rachel Palmer added 14 and Erica McDougall added 13.
Sarah Riopel led GHCA with 14 points and Megan Korhonen added 13.
Ashland moves to 7-3 on the season and remains in seventh place in the Eastern Maine Class D girls’ basketball standings while Washburn improves to 5-5 and falls into sixth place. Easton falls to 2-9 and into 19th place in Eastern Maine Class D.
