BANGOR, Maine- Sadie Garling scored eight of her game high 16 points in a decisive third quarter Wednesday night, as the Waterville Purple Panthers defeated the Hermon Hawks 49-38 in a Maine Principals’ Association Class B semfinal girls basketball game at the Cross Insurance Center.
Waterville (20-0) scored the first four points of the game both on fast break layups just 30 seconds in. The first quarter was very back and forth, and behind eight points from Caitlynn Tracy, Hermon led 13-12 after one. The Purple Panthers took a brief lead in the second quarter, but the Hawks remained on top 22-18 at the halftime break.
Garling scored all eight of her third quarter points during an 11-0 run by Waterville to start the quarter, including a pair of three pointers. The game really turned around at that point as Waterville outscored Hermon 17-4 in the stanza to take a 35-26 lead after three. Hermon (17-3) got within five on a three pointer by Maddy Curtis with just over three minutes to play in the fourth quarter. A key play happened when Garling missed the front end of a 1 and 1 at the line still in a five point game, but Kali Thompson gathered the rebound and scored a layup to push it back to seven. The Purple Panthers went on to score six of the final eight points, advancing to Saturdays regional final for first time since 2009.
Also chipping in for Waterville was Thompson with eight points and 12 rebounds (eight rebounds in second half). Jayda Murray had seven points and five rebounds, and Abigail Saucier also contributed seven points. Tracy led Hermon with 14 points. Paige Plissey added eight points, and Curtis also had seven points and five assists.
Waterville will face MDI Saturday at 2:05 for the girls Class B North regional title.
Waterville forward Kali Thompson (purple) tries to get past Hermon defender Brooke Cowan during Class B girls semifinal action on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. Photo by Anthony Delmonaco (click to enlarge)
WAT 12 6 17 14- 49
HER 13 9 4 12- 38
Rebounds- Waterville 31 Hermon 15
Free throws- Waterville 12-18 Hermon 4-8
Turnovers- Waterville 15 Hermon 12
