BUCKSPORT – The Fort Kent Warriors benefited from their frequent trips to the foul line, hitting 20 of 30 shots, to pull out a 49-46 schoolgirl basketball victory over Bucksport at Ralph J. Jewett Gymnasium Saturday.

Kristin Violette scored 17 points and had 11 rebounds to help lift the Warriors to a 3-0 record.

The Warriors shot 66.6 percent from the line while the Golden Bucks hit only 50 percent on just 5 of 10 attempts.

“They key for them was the amount of free throws they got to shoot,” Bucksport coach Brendan Harvey said. “In the first half we weren’t moving our feet, we were reaching, and they got to the line a lot. We cut down on that in the second half, but we just couldn’t put them away.”

Violette shot 9 for 12 from the line.

After three close quarters of play – Bucksport was up 25-24 at halftime and the teams were tied 35-35 at the end of the third period – Fort Kent was finally able to shake the Bucks in the fourth.

Violette scored on the Warriors’ first possession of the quarter. Her basket would put Fort Kent up for good, but Bucksport kept pace for a while as Brianna Kone (13 points) made a free throw, and later in the quarter hit two more, to get the Bucks within a point with 5:36 left.

The Warriors took control from there, firing off an 8-0 run fueled by two baskets by freshman Marissa Albert, who finished with 12 points off the bench. Albert drew fouls on both shots but was unable to complete the conventional 3-point plays.

“We kind of gave her the open court,” Fort Kent coach Travis Delisle said. “You’re looking to attack, draw defenders, make them adjust. If they don’t adjust, you attack the rim, which she did.”

Mindy Morneault (10 points, 10 rebounds) started the run with a basket and Violette made two free throws during the stretch.

Bucksport had a four-point lead at the end of the first quarter, but Violette scored seven points during a nine-point run to open the second quarter, giving Fort Kent a 17-12 lead.

Lindsey Gordon (17 points) helped rally the Golden Bucks as she scored off a rebound to end the scoring drought and went on to add seven more points in the final 4:18 before halftime.

At least five of Bucksport’s 11 first-half field goals came off offensive rebounds, and the Golden Bucks had a 30-19 rebounding advantage in the first half. But the Warriors had a 28-23 edge in the second half.

“We just hustled as a team and worked together for rebounds,” Violette said. “I think that was a big part of it.”

The Golden Bucks played fine defense, especially on Morneault, who had scored 41 points in Fort Kent’s first two games. Jen Murauckas and Gordon guarded her.

“I felt the defensive pressure,” Morneault said. “Even though I wasn’t getting shots off, there were other people open so I could dish off to them or try to go in for a layup or get a foul shot.”

Albert added 12 points for Fort Kent and Leah Babin grabbed 10 rebounds.

Bucksport’s Liz Gomm and Katie Hurd combined for 22 rebounds.

WARRIORS 49, GOLDEN BUCKS 46

Fort Kent (3-0) Bucksport (0-2)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Labbe 0 1 0 0 0 Murauckas 0 0

Albert 4 8 4 8 12 Richards 0 0

Hafford 0 1 0 0 0 Sullivan 2 10 0 0 5

Caron 0 2 0 0 0 Gordon 8 17 17

Desjardins 2 6 0 0 4 Kone 4 11 13

Morneault 2 11 5 6 10 Wilbur 0 1 0

Violette 4 14 9 12 17 Hurd 2 10 5

Hartt 0 0 0 0 0 Gomm 3 14 6

Babin 2 10 2 4 6

Totals 14 53 20 30 49 Totals 19 73 10 46

Fort Kent 8 24 35 49

Bucksport 12 25 35 46

3-pt. goals – Fort Kent (1-6): Morneault 1-2, Labbe 0-1, Desjardins 0-1, Caron 0-2; Bucksport (3-12): Kone 1-4, Hurd 1-4, Sullivan 1-3, Gomm 0-1

JV: Fort Kent 46-42

Attendance: 200 (est.)