BANGOR – Although the Bangor girls basketball team is deep and well-rounded this year, it’s clear where the true strength of the Ram offense lies – their inside players.

Powered by 12 points from backup forward Tawnya Godinez, Bangor took advantage of the height mismatches for a 53-33 victory over Hampden Academy Tuesday night at Red Barry Gymnasium.

Hampden started 6-foot Kimble Rawcliffe and her sister, 5-11 Rylee Rawcliffe, but Bangor countered with Godinez (5-10), Serena Dubois (5-9) and Kelsey Curtis (6-0). The three forward-centers combined for 27 points and limited the Broncos from going inside.

“We were trying to stop the two Rawcliffes,” Godinez said. “They’re really good players.”

Bangor rolled out to a 9-0 lead midway through the first quarter and a 19-5 advantage going into the second quarter lead as Curtis and Godinez combined to go 5-for-7 from the field. Curtis had six points in the first half with two baskets off passes from Amy Hackett and another from Emily Heath.

Noelle Lincoln drained a 3-pointer for good measure and Godinez put in two layups in the final minute of the period.

Turnovers and a lack of rebounding held the Rams to six points in the second quarter, but Bangor’s defenses, including a zone press and man-to-man limited Hampden to 1-for-10 shooting and just four points.

“We needed to stop their dribble penetration,” Hackett said. “We had to make sure they couldn’t dribble in and dish it off because then our post players would get into foul trouble. So we were just looking for any way to shut down the dribble penetration from their quick guards.”

The Rams’ overall depth was also tough for Hampden to overcome. Nine Bangor players finished with at least two points apiece and the Rams had five players contribute long stretches off the bench, including sophomore Allie Clukey, who converted two steals in a 15-second span in the final minute of the third quarter.

“Their depth is difficult,” Broncos coach Ben Greenlaw said. “They’ve got a lot of pieces. They’re big, quick, athletic, and they have a lot of shooters.”

Hampden, who will be without injured standout Tanna Ross all season, used three substitutes.

The Broncos kept pace on the boards, however, as the Rams held a 27-25 advantage. Rylee Rawcliffe and Godinez each had seven rebounds.

The Broncos did hit four 3-pointers, including three from freshman point guard Kayla Webb, who led the Broncos with 12 points. Sophomore guard Lindsey Martin came off the bench to score seven points.

The Rams made just three of their 12 free-throw attempts.

RAMS 53, BRONCOS 33

Hampden girls (0-2) Bangor (1-1)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Webb 4 10 1 2 12 Angst 3 6 0 7

Churchill 0 0 0 0 0 Dana 0 0 0

Foster 0 1 0 0 0 Heath 1 2 2

Libbey 1 8 0 0 3 A. Hackett 3 6

Wilson 0 0 2 2 2 Smith 1 3 2

K. Rawcliffe 2 8 1 1 5 Lincoln 1 4 3

Martin 2 4 3 4 7 Wadleigh 0 1

Lafayette 0 1 0 0 0 Dubois 3 6 7

Hill 0 0 0 0 0 Curtis 4 5 0 8

R. Rawcliffe 0 6 0 0 0 Clukey 2 3 4

Francis-Mzgr 1 3 0 0 2 Hartley 0 0 0

Elddridge 0 1 0 0 0 Godinez 6 10 12

Pond 1 2 0 0 2 B. Hackett 0 0 0

Totals 11 44 7 9 33 24 48 12 53

Hampden 5 9 20 33

Bangor 19 25 42 53

3-pt. goals – Hampden (4-13): Webb 3-8, Libbey 1-5; Bangor (2-7): Angst 1-2, Lincoln 1-4, A. Hackett 0-1

JV: Bangor 38-21

Attendance: 200 (est.)