BANGOR, Me- John Bapst started slow, but was able to rally and overcome Waterville 52-48 in a girls basketball Class B quarterfinal Friday evening at the Cross Insurance Center.
Waterville (14-6), started the game on a 11-2 run and led 11-9 at the end of the first quarter. The Crusaders finally took the lead at 13-11 on a Abbey Lagasse basket early in the second, and wrapped up a 15-0 run when Lagasse hit one of two from the line to make it 17-11 John Bapst. Bapst held a 24-21 lead at the half.
The Crusaders began the second half on a 16-5 surge to take their biggest lead at 40-26, highlighted on a three pointer from Crystal Bell. Waterville, who had won 11 straight games coming in, wasn’t done. The Purple Panthers made a 10-0 run of their own to make it 40-36 at the end of three quarters.
Tia Zephirs basket midway through the fourth quarter built the Crusader lead back to eight at 48-40. One more run, this time an 8-1 push by Waterville would bring them back within 49-48 late. Lagasse made a pair of free throws and Zephir added one late as well to provide the final four point margin. The turnovers were costly by both teams, as Waterville turned it over 30 times, and Bapst 25.
Lagasse led all scorers with 16 points, including 10 in the first half. Bell finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and three blocks. Zephir added 10 points. The Crusaders shot 13-22 from the foul line. John Bapst is now 15-4 and will face Winslow in a semifinal Wednesday at 2 p.m.
Sadie Garling led Waterville with 13 points and four rebounds. Paige St. Pierre had 10 second half points and finished with 12. The Purple Panthers went 5-6 from the line.
