BANGOR, Maine — The Class D North semifinals will be a family affair for the husband-and-wife coaching duo of Kristen and Aaron Hutchins.
After watching coach Aaron Hutchins and the Schenck boys pull off a thrilling one point game earlier in the day, the Schenck girls and coach Kristen Hutchins were eager to advance to the semifinals as well.
The No. 5 Schenck Wolverines used a strong second half to rally to a 54-38 victory over No. 4 Deer Isle-Stonington Monday in a Class D North quarterfinal at the Cross Insurance Center.
The Wolverines (14-6) advance to the semifinals, 3:30 p.m. Thursday against the winner of No. 1 Southern Aroostook-No. 8 Shead.
“The girls were really excited watching the boys win, and that added to them coming out with more energy,” Wolverine girls coach Kristen Hutchins said. “Our girls play great defense, are naturally good defenders and are very athletic. Most of them play three sports and they really have a nose for the ball.”
Kristin Russell poured in 21 points, including 15 in the second half, to carry the Wolverines to the victory. Abbi Perreault chipped in with 13 points, while Hannah Sewall and Lidia Matarazzo both added nine and Brooklyn McAvoy had two.
The Wolverines made 7 of 17 free throws, while Deer Isle-Stonington converted 8 of 15 foul shots.
For the Mariners, Macey Brown had 11 points, while Taytum Chase and Luna Perry-St.Peter both had 10; Rylee Door added three; Maddie Eaton had two and Katie Gell and Megan Wendell both had one.
After spotting Deer Isle-Stonington a 10-2 lead in the first quarter, the Wolverines settled down and started hitting from the field to get back into the game, trailing 12-11 to end the first quarter.
The Wolverines took the lead on the first basket of the second quarter — a layup by Perreault — and never looked back.
“We went back to our original defense that we have played a lot this season and the girls are comfortable with,” coach Hutchins said.
Deer Isle-Stonington ends with a 17-2 overall record.
