BANGOR – All the Bangor High girls basketball team needed was a little patience.

Hanging on to a slim seven-point lead at the end of the third quarter of Wednesday night’s game against Brewer, the Rams slowed down the pace on offense, looked for good shots, and turned that seven-point edge into a 20-point advantage, culminating in a 53-38 victory over the Witches at Red Barry Gym.

It was Bangor’s first win over its cross-river rival since the 2001-02 season. Brewer beat Bangor three times last season.

The 2-0 Rams went on a 15-0 run in the fourth and held the Witches scoreless for about six minutes.

“We went into an offense that helps us slow down, look for cuts, and if it’s not there then we just rotate the ball,” said Bangor senior guard Laura Clarke. “Keeping the ball in our possession was all we really cared about.”

Brewer’s Anna Corey opened the fourth with a layup, but it was all Bangor from there.

Caroline Weymouth (10 points) started the run with a jumper, then Alyssa Ogden put in a layup off a Clarke pass. Weymouth then hit a free throw and Erin Porter, who has been a big offensive spark off the bench so far this season, hit a baseline drive, drawing a foul and completing the 3-point play.

Weymouth sandwiched two fast-break layups around a Porter 3-pointer for a 53-33 lead.

“We didn’t adjust,” Brewer coach Mark Savage said. “They did a nice job of moving the ball, moving the ball, and they made it very difficult for us defensively. We were tired, and that really ate us up.”

As she checked into the game at the start of the fourth, Clarke announced her intention to guard Brewer’s Amy Freeman, who hit two short jumpers in the third quarter to cut Bangor’s lead to nine points. Freeman didn’t take a shot in the final period.

The Rams also did a fine job on Brewer’s Katie Harris, a well-known and deadly 3-point shooter. Harris went 2-for-6 from behind the arc, guarded by Weymouth and Amanda Webb.

“Stop dribble penetration with Freeman, that’s what we had to do,” Clarke said. “We matched up pretty well with them. There’s a lot of quickness on the outside with them, but on the inside is where we had an advantage.”

Bangor really took advantage of its size in the third quarter, when forward Serena Dubois gave the Rams a boost inside. She had five rebounds in the quarter, including three offensive boards which she put back three times for baskets. She also drew two fouls on three of those put-backs.

“It was just getting more into the game,” said Dubois, who finished with a game-high 11 points and seven rebounds. “Our basic game strategy is inside because we know most other teams can’t take us inside.”

Ogden had eight rebounds for the Rams, who enjoyed a 37-28 rebounding edge overall.

Kim Alberding led Brewer with seven points. Freshman Jordan McLain had five rebounds.

“We did do some nice things,” Savage said. “Kim Alberding fought so hard. There were some real positives for us.”

RAMS 53, WITCHES 38

Brewer (0-2) Bangor (2-0)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Quimby 2 10 2 5 6 Ogden 4 9 8

DeFilipp 1 5 1 2 3 Angst 2 12 5

Cote 0 0 4 4 4 Porter 3 7 3 10

Ke. Harris 0 1 0 0 0 Clarke 1 3 3

Corey 1 1 1 2 3 White 1 1 2

Chapman 0 0 0 0 0 McAllian 0 2

Ka. Harris 2 11 0 0 6 Lincoln 0 0 0

Freeman 2 9 2 5 6 Weymouth 4 10

Alberding 3 6 1 1 7 Webb 0 2 0

McLain 1 2 1 2 3 Bradford 0 0

Curtis 0 2 0 0

Dubois 5 9 1 11

Sullivan 1 1 2

Spires 0 0 0 0

Totals 12 45 12 21 38 Totals 21 57 14 53

Brewer 7 20 31 38

Bangor 12 26 38 53

3-pt. goals ? Brewer (2-11): Ka. Harris 2-6, Quimby 0-2, Freeman 0-3; Bangor (3-9): Porter 1-1, Weymouth 1-2, Angst 1-5, Webb 0-1

Attendance: 200 (est.)

JV: Bangor 63-24