AUGUSTA–The trophy case at Narraguagus high school didn’t have a gold ball in it. That will change this week, after Kelli Kennedy scored 17 second half points to lead the Knights to a 33-25 victory over Boothbay in the class C state championship girls basketball game Saturday night at the Augusta Civic Center.
“It is incredible, I can’t even put it into words. It is not real yet,”Narraguagus forward Cassidy Osgood said. “It is first for boys or girls. I wish I could put it into words.”
Kennedy added, “I am absolutely in awe, I am speechless. It feels better than I ever thought.”
The Knights jumped out to a 9-7 lead after the first quarter. They had four different scorers in the first eight minutes. The second half was a defensive battle with only one field goal scored between the two teams.
The second half belonged to Kennedy. The senior scored 17 of the teams 23 points in the half. Kennedy finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks.
“When you get the ball to Kelli (Kennedy) in the post, it is her game,”Narraguagus coach Heather Thompson said. “We did the overload and tried to work the ball around the three-point range and work it down to her.”
Kennedy added, “I think we all stepped up in one way or another. I knew if I could take my player off the dribble, I would have to do that for my team.We just had to leave it all in the court. For some of us it was our last game. We just had to keep pushing. ”
Boothbay held a 22-21 lead after the third quarter. Kennedy scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter. Kennedy and Emily Reynolds each made two free throws down the stretch to secure the state championship for the Knights.
Narraguagus outrebounded Boothbay (25-16), just as they did their three opponents during the regional tournament. Osgood pulled down 10 rebounds for the Knights.
“Nobody is going to be the top scorer every night, nobody is going to be the top rebounder every night,”Osgood said. “That is what is great about our team, we all fill the roles. That is what makes us a good team.”
Osgood scored five points, while Reynolds recorded four points, four rebounds, and three steals. Madison Leighton and Kylee Joyce scored two points each for the Knights. The state champions finish the season with a record of 19-2.
Faith Blethen led the Seahawks with nine points and six rebounds. Hannah Morley made two 3-pointers and pulled down four rebounds. Katie Friant and Page Brown added four points each, while Nicole Crane chipped in with two points. Boothbay finishes the season with a 20-2 record.
