BANGOR- The Houlton and Hermon girls basketball teams met for the third time this season in the Class B Northern Maine semifinals Wednesday night. And for the third straight game this year, an overtime session was needed. In the end the Shiretowners were victorious for the third straight time over the Hawks, earning a 37-33 overtime win at the Cross Insurance Center.
A close first quarter in which Houlton star player Kolleen Bouchard had seven points, Houlton led 9-6 after the opening eight minutes of action.
Houlton built their biggest lead at the end of the second quarter, when Bouchard was fouled at the buzzer and connected on two foul shots to give the Shires a 19-12 halftime advantage.
Hermon fought back, starting the third quarter on a 8-0 run to take their first lead at 20-19. With Hermon holding a 23-21 lead towards the end of the third quarter, Aspen Flewelling scored on a breakaway layup as the buzzer sounded to tie the game 23-23 heading to the fourth quarter.
Hermon built their biggest lead at 31-23 with another 8-0 run to start the fourth. Baskets by Lauren Plissey and three-pointers by Madisyn Curtis and Alex Allain built the eight point lead with 3:30 left to go. Bouchard nailed a pair from the foul line with 3:16 left to cut it to 31-25, and then made one of two from the line with 1:41 remaining to make it a five point game 31-26.
After a Hawks turnover, freshman Abbie Worthley nailed a three-pointer with just over a minute left from the left wing to make it 31-29. Anther Hawks turnover gave the ball back to the Shires with 45 seconds remaining. Bouchard calmly nailed a turn around jumper in the lane with three seconds to go, sending the game to overtime tied at 31-31.
Worthley nailed another three-pointer to open the overtime to give the lead back to Houlton 34-31. Emi Higgins sank two of two from the line to cut it to 34-33. Kylee Warman made one for two from the line to make it 35-33 Houlton, and then after a missed opportunity by Hermon, Bouchard sank two more free throws with six seconds left in the overtime to ice the game.
Bouchard finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocked shots. Worthley had the two key three-point shots to finish with six points.
Hermon, who finishes up a great season at 15-5, they were led by Higgins who had 12 points, three rebounds, and a blocked shot. Plissey, Allain, and Curtis all chipped in five points a piece. Plissey also had 13 rebounds, two assists, and two blocked shots.
Houlton (19-1) advances to the regional title game on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. when they face Foxcroft Academy, who advanced earlier in the evening over Presque Isle.
Thank you to the following businesses for sponsoring Eastern Maine Sports coverage of Tourney 2017.
