BANGOR– Cassidy Wilder scored her only points of the game in the fourth quarter and Holly Prescott scored the go ahead basket as the Shead Tigers defeated Washburn 38-35 in a Maine Principals’ Association class D north girls basketball semifinal played Thursday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Center.
Washburn took their only lead of the first half when they scored the first basket of the game. Shead took advantage of seven first quarter turnovers from Washburn to go on an 11-1 run to end the first quarter, and take a 15-5 lead.
Washburn went on an 8-0 during the second quarter to cut the deficit to 17-15. Shead held a 19-16 lead at halftime. Washburn evened the score at 21 midway through the third quarter. The Tigers held a 26-23 lead at halftime.
The Beavers took their first lead since early in the first quarter when they went ahead 27-26 with 6:50 remaining in the fourth quarter. Wilder scored her first basket with four minutes remaining to give the Tigers a 30-28 lead. Taylor Howe converted a basket and free throw to give the Beavers a 31-30 lead with 3:28 remaining.
Wilder gave the Tigers a lead of 33-32 with 3:00 minutes remaining and a lead of 34-33 with 2:20 remaining. Washburn had a lead of 35-34 when Preston made a shot and Wilder converted two free throws in the final 20 seconds.
With the win, Shead ended Washburn’s string of state championships at five. Prescott led the Tigers with 11 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Cierra Seeley added 10 points (eight in the first quarter), three rebounds, and two assists. Wilder put in eight fourth quarter points and pulled down six rebounds. Taylah Kirby scored four points and pulled down four rebounds. Katelyn Mitchell scored three points and pulled down six rebounds, while Brooke Robbinson chipped in with with two points and five rebounds. Shead (14-6) will play in the class D regional final onSaturday morning at 9 a.m.
Kassandra Farley led the Beavers with nine points, three rebounds, and two assists. Emilia Churchill and Grace Braley each scored eight points, Taylor Howe recorded six points, five rebounds, and three steals. Kristen Sarmiento and Laine Mette scored two points each. Washburn finishes the season with a 15-5 record. The Beavers won the class D state title in each year from 2011-2015
