Caribou’s Abby Haney (#14) goes up for a shot as Foxcroft Academy’s Destiny Weymouth (#31) defends during first half action of the girls Class B North quarterfinal game Friday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Credit: Linda Coan O'Kresik / BDN

The fifth-seeded Houlton High School-Greater Houlton Christian Academy girls basketball team forced a ton of turnovers with tenacious pressure defense and cruised to a 54-32 victory over fourth seed Washington Academy of East Machias in a Class B North quarterfinal.

Houlton improved to 11-9 and will meet top seed Old Town in Wednesday’s 11:30 a.m. semifinal.

Amelia Callnan’s 13 points, three steals and four rebounds paced the Shires. Kaitlyn Kenney added 10 points and six rebounds and Drew Warman had eight steals to go with five points and five rebounds.

Emma Swallow had five steals, five rebounds and four points.

Dani Espenscheid chipped in with six points.

Houlton’s Kaitlyn Kenney (#25) and Washington Academy’s Reese Crosman (#20) tip off at the beginning of the Class B girls quarterfinal game Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Credit: Linda Coan O'Kresik / BDN

Marissa Cates’ six points and 14 rebounds led Washington Academy, which wound up 11-8.

Sarah Moulton had six points and five rebounds.

The Shires broke open the game midway through the third period with an 11-2 run to close out the quarter and transform a 32-25 lead into a comfortable 43-27 advantage.

Warman began the spurt with a nifty ballhandling move to fake out a defender and enable her to scamper down the lane and lay the ball in.

Kenney followed with a layup and then hit two free throws to make it 38-25.

Cates scored inside for Washington Academy but Callnan hit a 3-pointer and Warman converted a baseline jumper.

Washington Academy’s Sarah Moulton (#4) reaches as she falls to get the ball from Houlton’s Drew Warman (#22) in first half action of the Class B girls quarterfinal game Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Credit: Linda Coan O'Kresik / BDN
Washington Academy’s Rachel Vose (#11) drives the ball down the court past Houlton’s Gabby Gentle in first half action of the Class B girls quarterfinal game Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Credit: Linda Coan O'Kresik / BDN

The Shires’ Gabby Gentle and Kenney had baskets to open the fourth period and swell the lead to 47-27.

The Shires had 20 steals in the contest.

Houlton coach Clyde Warman was pleased with the performance, noting that his team’s pressure defense has been an important part of their identity.

He said his team got into a little foul trouble in the first half so had to substitute frequently and he felt his players off the bench did a nice job maintaining the pressure on defense.

Houlton coach Clyde Warman shouts to players during first half action of the Class B girls quarterfinal game Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Credit: Linda Coan O'Kresik / BDN

“[Washington Academy] also got into foul trouble so our foul shooting got us through the half and we played better offensively in the second half,” said Warman, whose team sank 17 of its 24 free throw attempts in the first half.

His daughter Drew’s eight steals keyed the defensive effort.

“She’s one of our best defenders and rebounders. She had an excellent game today,” Warman said.