Hampden Academy senior center Grace LaBree scored only two points in Wednesday’s Class A North girls basketball semifinal against Camden Hills. But her blocked shot against Windjammers forward Gabriella Martin with under 10 seconds left in the game helped the Broncos hang on for a 41-39 win.
LaBree’s block led to a Hampden possession that put sophomore guard Mallory Lausier on the line for two free throws with two seconds remaining in what had been a back-and-forth defensive battle at the Augusta Civic Center. Lausier hit the second foul shot to give the second-seeded Broncos the two-point edge.
Clockwise, from top left: Hamden Academy guard Naia Studley gets a step on Camden Hills Leah Jones as she drives to the hoop in the first half of the Class A North semifinal game at the Augusta Civic Center; Aubrey Shaw of Hampden drains a three pointer at the baseline in the second quarter of the Class A North semifinal game against Camden Hills; Eve Wiles of Hampden Academy looks for a teammate in the second quarter of the Class A North semifinal game against Camden Hills at the Augusta Civic Center; Hampden’s Naia Studley and Camden HIlls Rita Haslam battle for a loose ball in the first half of the Class A North semifinal game at the Augusta Civic Center. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik / BDN
Camden Hills guard Thea Laukka’s desperate shot near halfcourt at the buzzer missed, ending the season for the No. 3 Windjammers, who finished 16-4.
“I just wanted to get the ball and hopefully pitch it out to our frontcourt,” LaBree said, describing the blocked shot and defensive rebound that propelled the No. 2 Broncos (16-4) into Friday’s regional final against No. 1 Mt. Ararat of Topsham. LaBree, who is 6-foot-4, finished with a team-high 8 rebounds and was a dominating defensive presence under the basket.
Hampden’s offense was sparked by junior guard Eve Wiles, who scored 8 of her team-high 14 points in the second half, including a 3-pointer from the right wing that gave the Broncos a 40-32 lead with 6:27 to play in the game.
The Windjammers clawed their way back thanks to their frantic fullcourt press, which led to 5 Hampden turnovers in the final five minutes. Senior guard Leah Jones, who finished with a team-high 14 points, nailed a foul-line jumper with 58 seconds left to pull her team within 40-39.
The Broncos spread the floor and drew fouls but struggled at the free throw line, missing 3 of 4. Their defense bailed them out.
“Defensively, I thought we were really, really good,’’ said Hampden coach Nick Winchester. “This is what we hang our hat on. This is the core of our program. I thought these guys played great defense the entire game.”
The Hampden coach said that “nothing was easy” for Camden Hills on offense.
The Windjammers shot 29 percent from the floor and might have survived if not for their 6-for-14 shooting from the foul line.
Hampden junior guard Aubrey Shaw scored all 11 of her points in the first half, including 9 in the pivotal second quarter that saw the Broncos turn a 14-7 deficit into a 24-20 lead at halftime. Hampden’s tenacious defense sparked the comeback, helping force 7 Camden Hills turnovers.