BANGOR, Maine- Alisyn Alley had a game high 21 points including 10 down the stretch in the fourth quarter Friday afternoon, to lead the top seeded Stearns Minutemen to a 53-42 win over the Calais Blue Devils in a Maine Principals’ Association Class C girls semifinal game at the Cross Insurance Center.
Annalys Robinson had the opening basket of the game for Stearns followed by two from Alley for an early 6-0 lead. Calais fought back to tie it 8-8, before Katie Kenyon gave the Minutemen the edge 10-8. The Blue Devils then scored the last nine points of the quarter, led by a three-pointer from Olivia Huckins and three straight baskets from Lauran Cook to make it 17-13 after the opening eight minutes. Calais stretched to a 13-0 run on a Kenda Stevens hoop, and then 1-2 from the line efforts from both Cook and Sophie McVicar for their biggest lead 21-13 early in the second quarter. The Blue Devils held the lead 25-20 at the intermission.
The Stearns defense stepped big in the third quarter and allowed them to take the lead. Robinson scored underneath to tie it with 5:10 to go, and Alley hit a three-pointer 1:17 later to put the Minutemen up for good 30-27. They extended the lead to 34-27, before Cook got the first field goal of the period for Calais with 1.2 seconds left on a three point play to cut it to 34-30 headed to the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils got close twice in the final eight minutes, once on a Sage Phillips offensive put back layup to make it 37-35, and later a basket by Huckins to slice it to 40-37. Stearns was too tough though as Alley and Robinson scored back to back baskets to increase the lead back to seven and Calais never got closer than six after that. The Minutemen also hit 7-12 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to earn the win.
Cook had a team high 17 points to lead Calais in the loss. Huckins finished with 13. Also chipping in was McVicar with four points and five rebounds, Nedra Bassett with three points and six rebounds, Sage Phillips with three points and 14 rebounds, and Stevens added a basket for two points and grabbed four rebounds. The Blue Devils outrebounded the Minutemen 29-27 and shot 6-17 from the foul line, finishing their season with a record of 20-1.
Robinson also had a big day for Stearns in the win with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Also contributing was Katie Kenyon and Katherine Alley with five points each, while Kasey Kenyon and Maisey Girsa also had three points a piece. Katherine Alley also grabbed five rebounds. The Minutemen shot 11-20 from the line.
Stearns (18-2) will meet Central Aroostook (17-4) in the Class C North girls regional championship game Saturday night at 7 p.m.
