AUGUSTA, Maine — Hopes of a three-peat were dashed for the Houlton girls’ basketball team Friday evening as the Shires fell to Gray-New Gloucester, 35-31, in the state Class B championship at the Augusta Civic Center.
The Shires (20-2 overall) started the game on a tear, scoring the first six points of the contest and led 8-2 with 2:49 to play in the quarter and all signs were pointing to a potential Houlton rout. But, as luck would have it, the team went cold from the floor, allowing Gray-New Gloucester to go on an incredible 11-0 run over the next nine minutes, 33 seconds to take a 13-8 lead.
Houlton never led again.
“I thought we got some good looks, but we just couldn’t make a shot during that stretch,” Houlton coach Shawn Graham said. “Basketball is a game of runs, so I told the girls to hang tight defensively. But we struggled at times to rebound.”
The Shires had 22 total rebounds, compared to 36 for Gray-New Gloucester.
Houlton junior Kolleen Bouchard led all players with 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Bouchard was 6-of-17 from the floor including 1-for-3 from behind the 3-point arc. Aspen Flewelling chipped in five points, five rebounds and two steals.
Skye Conley led the Patriots with 12 points, five blocks and two assists. Brianna Jordan added seven points.
“I think they [Gray-New Gloucester] had a little chip on their shoulder because they lost to us last year,” Bouchard said. “We let a couple of easy shots go, but we almost still came back. I am so proud of this team. We’ll be back next year.”
Junior Aspen Flewelling said the key to the game was Houlton’s inability to get back on defense and controlling the inside game. “We didn’t play well defensively and were not being able to shut down their bigs inside,” she said.
The Shires drew within 24-20 by the end of the third period and got as close as 27-26 on a 3-pointer by Bouchard with 6:36 left in the game. The Shiretowners then had three possessions to take the lead, but could not get the ball to bounce in their favor.
“I have always said you have got to be good and you have to have a little bit of luck,” Graham said. “Tonight our luck ran out.”
Houlton cut the lead to 29-27 on two free throws by Flewelling with 2:55 to play, but GNG’s Grace Kariotis scored on a give-and-go pass from Conley and then Conley hit Jordan Grant for a layup that gave the Patriots a 33-27 cushion with 1:24 to play.
The Shires were able to cut the lead to 33-31 with 42 seconds remaining as Bouchard converted a layup off a steal. Houlton then forced a jump ball situation, but possession remained with the Patriots. The Shires had three fouls to give in the final 17 seconds before sending the Patriots to the free throw line.
“Things got a little hectic at the end,” Graham said. “We were trying to foul, and I think I lost my voice. We certainly let too much time tick off the clock, but we still had a chance.”
For Houlton, advancing to the state championship was an uphill battle as the team lost junior starter Kristen Graham to a knee injury near the end of the regular season.
The game provided the senior-laden Patriots (21-1) with their first state championship, while avenging a 48-35 loss to Houlton in last year’s state championship game. GNG was also well represented at the Augusta Civic Center as more the school sold about 765 tickets to the game, according to Aaron Watson, the school’s athletic director.
Houlton (31)
Bouchard 6 3-4 16, Warman, Brewer 1 0-0 2, Flewelling 1 2-2 5, Watson 1 0-0 2, Solomon 2 0-0 4, Peterson 1 0-0 2, Worthley, Fitzpatrick. Totals: 12 5-8 31.
GNG (35)
Detroy 3 0-0 6, Jordan, 3 3-4 7, Dumont 1 0-2 3, Kariotis 1 0-0 2, Grant 2 1-3 5, Conley 5 2-2 12. Totals: 14 6-11 35.
3-pointers — Bouchard, Flewelling, Dumont.
Houlton 8 3 9 11 — 31
GNG 8 8 8 11 — 35
BDN reporter Ernie Clark contributed to this article.
