PITTSFIELD, Maine- Senior center Maddie Martin had a game high 17 points, and the Waterville Purple Panthers led from start to finish to pick up a 55-27 Class B North girls basketball win over the MCI Huskies at Wright Gymnasium on the campus of Maine Central Institute on Friday night in the two teams mutual season opener.
Waterville (1-0) quickly scored the first basket on a layup right off the opening tip and built a 11-3 lead in the first three minutes. A three point play by the Huskies cut it to 11-6, but that is the closest they would be the remainder of the night. The Purple Panthers ran off 12 straight points with the last eight points of the first and then the first four of the second to make it 23-6. The guests led by as many as 20 at 30-10 in the first half and by 16 by a score of 30-14 at the half.
Waterville continued to increase the lead going up 22 in the third and would push it to the largest of 29 in the fourth quarter. The full court smothering defense forced MCI (0-1) into 35 turnovers on the night.
Martin added 11 rebounds, four steals and two blocks to lead the Purple Panthers, and 15 of her 17 points came in the first half. Sadie Garling had 16 points and five rebounds, while Jayda Murray added 12 and Keira Gilman had five points. The Huskies were led by Leah Bussell who had 10 points and 13 rebounds. Natalie Sites, Sara Linkletter, and Jillian Frost had four points a piece
Waterville enters this season as what most people think the favorite in Class B North. The Purple Panthers last season went 20-1 falling in the regional final to top seed MDI, and have returned all five starters this season.
WAT (1-0) 19 11 10 15- 55
MCI (0-1) 6 8 7 6- 27
Rebounds- Waterville 35 MCI 24
Free throws- Waterville 11-22 (50%) MCI 5-9 (55.6%)
Turnovers- Waterville 17 MCI 35
