Stearns earns trip to semifinals with hard fought win over Narraguagus

February 21, 2017

BANGOR- Peighton Ingersoll scored a game high 23 points Tuesday afternoon, to lead the top ranked Stearns Minutemen to a 51-41 win over the eighth ranked Narraguagus Knights in a Class C schoolgirl quarterfinal at the Cross Insurance Center.

Narraguagus held an early 13-7 lead after one quarter, but Stearns used a 10-0 run in the first four minutes of the second to take a 17-13 lead, and led 20-17 at the half. Ingersoll sparked the rally with nine points in the quarter of her teams 13, including a pair of three pointers.

The Knights would kept the game close. Stearns had built their biggest lead of the game at 30-23, but a pair of Kayla Toppin three pointers, and also six points from Kylee Joyce brought Narraguagus within 33-32, and 37-35 at the end of the third quarter. Ingersoll continued her hot shooting in the quarter though with 10 points, including a pair of three pointers to keep the Minutemen in the lead.

Stearns would outscore Narraguagus 14-6 in the fourth quarter, including 7 for 11 from the foul line to pull away and earn the quarterfinal win over the defending state champions.

Ingersoll added six rebounds to go along with the 23 points. Emma Alley, who was held to four points in the first half, had eight second half points to finish with 12. Katherine Alley added six points, and Julia Stanley and MacKenzie Carter had five points a piece. Stanley also added seven rebounds.

Narraguagus, who finishes at 14-6, was led by Kylee Joyce who had 12 points. Lanie Perry added eight points. Kirstin Kennedy and Toppin both had six. Kaci Alley added five, and Madison Leighton had four.

Stearns (18-1), now advances to play Dexter in the semifinals on Friday evening at 7:05 p.m. Dexter advanced in the other Tuesday afternoon quarterfinal over Madawaska. The two teams met twice in regular season, both winning on their home court.

Thank you to the following businesses for sponsoring Eastern Maine Sports coverage of Tourney 2017.