Wildcats build big first-half lead,
hold off John Bapst for third win
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — After forcing 18 John Bapst turnovers en route to a 22-point halftime lead, carelessness with the basketball was the Wildcats’ Achilles’ heel in the second half.
However, Presque Isle was able to stave off a ferocious comeback attempt by the Crusaders and hung on for a 56-47 girls basketball victory in its home debut Saturday.
It was the lone matchup of the season between the two Class B programs.
After John Bapst (3-3) scored the first two points on an Abbey Legasse 12-footer 20 seconds into the game, the combination of deadly shooting from the perimeter and an opportunistic, full-court defense led to a 29-3 scoring run over a nine-minute span for the ’Cats.
Presque Isle (3-1) nailed six 3-pointers in the first half, with sophomore point guard Emily Wheaton hitting three and Emily Lagerstrom, Taylor Williams and Meg Boone one apiece.
The defending Eastern Maine champion Wildcats attempted 14 more field goals than the Crusaders over the first 16 minutes and made nine more, and were plus-15 in the turnover department, leading to the lopsided 38-16 halftime lead.
“We ran the ball up the floor, found some open shots and created some layups,” said Wheaton. “We were doing all the things that we’re good at.”
“We didn’t come off the bus ready to play,” said John Bapst coach Mike Webb.
John Bapst came out of intermission with some pressure defense of its own and the momentum started to sway in the visitors’ favor. Presque Isle missed its first 10 field-goal attempts in the third quarter, including seven 3-pointers, and John Bapst scored the first 10 points to get back in it.
Legasse was a catalyst as her drives to the basket led to seven points in the period, and the Crusaders trailed by 11 after three. The turnovers began to mount for PI in the fourth quarter and Bapst took advantage.
“We panicked,” said Wildcat coach Jeff Hudson. “We had that ‘deer in the headlights’ look and we were making soft passes. Our youth showed out there.”
Grace Philippon and Legasse combined for 10 points, all on layups or short jumpers and many following Wildcat miscues. After John Bapst sophomore Crystal Bell’s field goal with 1:40 remaining, the lead was whittled down to three (48-45).
“We were getting trapped in the corner so we weren’t reversing the ball, so I probably should have tried to dribble through it,” Wheaton said. “It got really close, so we learned that we have to calm down and not try to rush things.”
“We completely beat them in the second half and we’re capable of playing that way,” Webb said.
After Bell’s hoop, Legasse immediately got a steal in the backcourt and drew a foul, but missed both free-throw attempts.
The Wildcats then built the lead back by hitting their foul shots over the final 73 seconds, going 8-for-9 at one point, and survived.
Wheaton led a group of four double-digit scorers for PI with 17 points. She added three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Williams tallied 12 points and had three steals and Lagerstrom added 12 points and four rebounds, while Nelson put in 10 points and grabbed seven of her team-high nine rebounds in the second half.
Bell scored 17 points and had three steals to lead John Bapst, while Legasse scored 15 points. Grace Philippon notched eight points to go along with 10 rebounds and sister Hannah Philippon also had 10 boards.
