BANGOR – Whether you’re facing all-star seniors or inexperienced underclassmen, a win over Nokomis is still worth celebrating.

That’s how the Bangor girls basketball felt in the moments after Friday night’s 41-28 victory over the Warriors of Newport at Red Barry Gymnasium.

“I remember coming in my freshman year and just losing and losing to them,” said senior guard Laura Clarke. “This being my senior year, it means a lot to come out on our home court and beat them.”

It was Bangor’s first win over Nokomis since the Rams’ 49-43 victory Jan. 25, 2002, also at Red Barry Gym.

“Anytime you play Nokomis it’s a real challenge,” Bangor coach Tom Tennett said. “[Coach Earl Anderson] does a great job. It’s a good rivalry.”

The Rams are now 5-1 and have won three straight.

Nokomis, which appeared in the past three Eastern Maine Class A finals, with two regional and one state title to show for the run, graduated all five starters.

That has led to a lot of struggles this year for a team which has just two girls back who had any playing time on varsity.

But the Warriors, now 3-3, can take away several positives from Friday’s game: Alyssa Bragdon’s 11 rebounds against the Bangor duo of Kelsey Curtis and Serena Dubois; the seven points they held the Rams to in the third quarter; and a 6-for-11 effort from 3-point range.

And Nokomis also put a bit of a scare into Bangor late in the third quarter and early in the fourth.

The Rams enjoyed a 30-19 lead – not a huge advantage, but just enough as neither team really had its offense clicking – when Alyssa Bragdon knocked down a 3-pointer. Bangor’s Caroline Weymouth responded with a jumper in the lane and Erin Porter made a free throw for an 11-point lead, but Rozlyn Peterson hit her third 3-pointer of the game with less than 20 seconds left in the third period.

Bragdon converted a conventional three-point play to open the fourth quarter, getting the Warriors to within five points.

But Nokomis didn’t score again as Bangor picked up the intensity of its 2-1-2 zone defense. The Rams tried to make sure everyone knew where the opposition was, especially with the Warriors shooting well from behind the arc.

“We were calling the flashes well and the short corners so that the other people could get there in time,” Curtis said.

The Warriors also had some turnovers that hurt – moments after Bragdon’s 3-point play Dubois made a steal, which resulted in two Weymouth free throws. Later in the fourth Ilyse Angst had a steal and Clarke made two free throws on the ensuing possession. And Dubois scored off a rebound after another Nokomis turnover to make it 39-28 with 3:30 left.

“We didn’t play well,” Anderson said. “We got what we deserved. They outplayed us. The only reason we made it close was because we made a few 3-pointers.”

Clarke led a well-rounded Bangor offense with 10 points. Weymouth finished with nine and Dubois had eight.

Curtis got her second varsity start in place of the injured Alyssa Ogden. The sophomore scored seven points and led the Rams with 12 rebounds. Bangor enjoyed a 36-28 advantage on the boards.

Peterson and Bragdon each scored nine points.

RAMS 41, WARRIORS 28

Nokomis (3-3) Bangor (5-1)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Carter 1 2 1 2 4 Angst 1 9 2

Fournier 0 0 1 2 1 Porter 1 2 3

Barden 1 4 0 0 2 Clarke 2 9 10

Peterson 3 4 0 0 9 McAllian 1 2

Al. Bragdon 3 11 2 3 9 Weymouth 3 11 2 2 9

Paradis 1 8 0 0 3 Bradford 0 0

As. Bragdon 0 1 0 0 0 Curtis 2 7 7

Welch 0 3 0 2 0 Dubois 2 6 8

Sullivan 0 1 0

Totals 9 33 4 9 28 12 47 16 22 41

Nokomis 12 15 25 28

Bangor 18 26 33 41

3-pt. goals ? Nokomis (6-11): Peterson 3-3, Al. Bragdon 1-3, Paradis 1-3, Carter 1-1, Barden 0-1; Bangor (1-4): Weymouth 1-2, Curtis 0-1, Porter 0-1

Attendance: 300 (est.)

JV: Bangor 51-22