BANGOR – Bethany Sevey and Megan Smith could have been a little nervous playing their first-ever Eastern Maine Class A tournament game at the Bangor Auditorium.

Instead, the freshman duo set the tone Saturday morning as second-seeded Skowhegan earned a 62-51 victory over No. 7 Messalonskee of Oakland.

Both teams relied heavily on underclassmen, but it was a game-opening 15-2 scoring run that sent Skowhegan into Thursday’s 8:35 p.m. semifinal against No. 5 Mount Ararat of Topsham.

Coach Paul True’s 17-2 Indians helped force eight first-quarter turnovers with full-court pressure defense that generated transition points.

“We did a nice job executing what we wanted to do offensively,” said True, whose team was 8-for-13 in the first quarter.

“Our defense for us creates a lot of transition and easy baskets. That certainly was the case in the first half,” he added.

Sevey went 6-for-9 from the field in the first half on her way to a game-high 23 points. Smith scored 11 points, while sophomore point guard Nicole Paradis contributed eight points, four assists and two steals.

Lisa Gibson, Skowhegan’s only senior regular, added six points and five rebounds.

Leading 6-2, Sevey hit a 3-pointer, then Paradis scored from the lane off a Gibson steal. Sevey made a fast-break layup off a steal and pass by Paradis, then Paradis cashed in her own steal to give Skowhegan a 15-2 lead with 1:56 left in the first quarter.

“We got here early and we got on the floor and [the freshmen] ran around a little bit and got used to the place, but we always say that the team that gets the quick start will, ultimately, probably win the game,” Gibson said.

The Eagles (14-6) trailed by 17 at one point and battled valiantly, but couldn’t get closer than six late in the game. The Indians made their last seven foul shots to clinch the victory.

Betsy French led Messalonskee with 13 points and five rebounds. Frosh Amanda Barker provided 11 points, Jenna Lettenberger contributed 10 points and nine rebounds, and Chelsea Barker added nine points.

INDIANS 62, EAGLES 51

Messalonskee (14-6) Skowhegan (17-2)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Busque 1 4 2 2 4 Gibson 3 4 6

A. Barker 5 16 0 0 11 Paradis 3 6 8

French 4 8 2 4 13 Thompson 2 6

Oliver 1 2 0 0 2 Sevey 9 14 23

Lettenberger 3 5 4 5 10 Smith 3 6 11

C. Barker 3 10 2 2 9 Berry 1 3 5

Bridges 0 0 0 0 0 Abbott 1 2 2

Perry 0 0 2 2 2 Miller 0 2 1

Franklin 0 1 0

Goodell 0 0 0 0

Totals 17 45 12 15 51 Totals 22 43 15 23 62

Messalonskee 5 19 32 51

Skowhegan 19 33 46 62

3-pt. goals ? Messalonskee (5-12): C. Barker 1-3, Busque 0-1, A. Barker 1-2, French 3-6; Skowhegan (3-10): Paradis 0-2, Sevey 3-7, Abbott 0-1