BANGOR – When the Caribou girls basketball team came out in a zone defense Saturday against Bangor, it was almost like a test – the Vikings knew Ram forward Terra Curtis would shoot the ball, but would the rest of the team take shots from the perimeter? And how would Curtis feel about a guard in her face?

Caribou got answers soon. First, early on the Rams looked comfortable both near the basket and from 3-point range.

Second, throw all kinds of obstacles Curtis’ way. She won the opening tip, connected on a 3-pointer 10 seconds into the mutual Class A season-opener despite tight defense and scored 10 of her 14 points in the first quarter in Bangor’s 75-51 win at Red Barry Gymnasium.

In facing a taller Caribou team, Bangor (1-0) showed off its shooting ability, and converted steals and rebounds to bury the Vikings early.

“We wanted to get out on Curtis and let the other people try to shoot the ball from the outside because we didn’t feel like they felt comfortable doing that,” Caribou coach Chris Casavant said.

“She makes two or three with a hand in her face and all of the sudden you’re down nine, 10 points.”

Curtis was one of four Rams in double figures Saturday. Two-time All-Maine forward Alison Smith kicked off her senior season with an 18-point, five-rebound performance. Katherine Miller had a breakthrough effort with 17 points, eight rebounds and three steals – possibly her best all-around game, Bangor coach Tom Tennett said.

Playing a zone press that wore down the Vikings, Bangor forced Caribou turnovers while limiting its own mistakes.

Bangor had a 7-0 lead after just one minute and 17 seconds of the first quarter thanks in part to consecutive steals by Jlynn Frazier and Miller that Miller and Curtis, respectively, turned into baskets.

“Our press is our strong point because we’re really quick,” Miller said. “That’s one of our [strengths].”

During another span in the first quarter, Miller made two layups, Smith hit a pair of free throws and Curtis connected on a turnaround jumper in the lane – an 8-0 run that gave Bangor a 22-4 advantage.

The Vikings made a push at the end of the first quarter with two Leah Drew baskets, a jumper by Ashley Monahan and a Sarah Willey layup at the buzzer.

But Bangor increased its lead by outscoring Caribou 24-9 in the second quarter.

“I thought we got off to a real good start,” Tennett said. “The first part of the game we played extremely well. We cut down on our turnovers until the last part of the game.”

The Rams had an all-around offensive effort with 10 of the 15 players sharing in the scoring with Frazier adding 10 points.

Bangor also shot effectively when it counted, going 19-for-27 (70.3 percent) from the floor in the first half, and 5-for-10 overall from 3-point range.

Eventually the Vikings switched to a man defense, and when they were able to get the ball down the floor and run their offense, they went inside to the 6-foot-3 Willey or let Ashley Soucie drive along the baseline.

Rams 75, Vikings 51

Caribou (0-1) Bangor (1-0)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG F AF TP

Bougie 0 0 0 0 0 Prudente 0 1 1 2 1

Harrigan 1 2 0 0 3 Tower 2 2 0 0 5

Schloeman 1 4 0 0 2 Achorn 0 2 0 0 0

Cyr 3 12 3 3 11 McLeod 0 2 0 0 0

Drew 3 4 0 0 6 Miller 8 11 1 2 17

Monahan 3 4 4 5 10 Frazier 4 9 0 0 10

Willey 3 6 1 2 7 Curtis 5 13 2 2 14

Soucie 4 10 4 8 12 Capehart 1 1 1 1 3

Smith 7 13 4 5 18

Michaud 2 6 0 0 4

Woodcock 0 2 1 2 1

Magee 0 3 0 0 0

Warner 1 3 0 0 2

Clarke 0 0 0 0 0

Hayden 0 1 0 0 0

Totals 18 42 12 18 51 Totals 30 69 10 14 75

Caribou 12 21 34 52

Bangor 23 47 65 75

3-pt. goals: Caribou (3-7): Cyr 2-3, Harrigan 1-2, Schloeman 0-2; Bangor (5-10): Frazier 2-3, Curtis 2-5, Tower 1-1, Woodcock 0-1

Attendance: 175 (est.)

Preliminary: Bangor JVs 87-26