Nokomis looks to build on win over Messalonskee

Several of the more competitive Eastern Maine girls basketball teams had a chance to make things right as they avenged early season losses with victories Friday night.

Mount Desert Island edged Presque Isle 41-40 after the Wildcats’ six-point win Dec. 15. Lee Academy beat Penobscot Valley of Howland 59-52 to avenge another Dec. 15 loss. Skowhegan rolled over Bangor 54-34 after the Rams rallied for a victory on Dec. 8.

But the biggest of those wins Friday may have been Nokomis of Newport’s 40-39 victory over Messalonskee of Oakland. The Warriors, now 5-5, had lost four straight before beating the previously undefeated Eagles, who move to 8-1.

The win will likely help Nokomis in the Eastern Maine Class A Heal Point standings – Messalonskee was No. 1 last week and Nokomis was sitting in 10th place – but ending the losing streak was most important for the Warriors.

“We weren’t really thinking about what their record was and what our record was,” Nokomis coach Earl Anderson said. “It was more of, we had lost so many games in a row.”

Messalonskee and Nokomis opened the season Dec. 9 against each other at Newport. Messalonskee won that game 44-42 after rebounding a Nokomis free throw and going the length of the court for a game-winning basket with two seconds left.

Anderson was pleased with his team’s resiliency in Friday’s matchup, especially late in the game.

Senior guard Noelle Lincoln hit a 3-pointer with about a minute left in the fourth quarter to put Nokomis up one point. Messalonskee standout Chelsea Barker responded with a driving shot to regain the lead.

After a Nokomis turnover the Warriors pressed the Eagles and fouled Barker’s twin sister, Amanda Barker, who missed a free throw. Messalonskee pulled down the offensive rebound and the Eagles got the ball to the corner, but a traveling call out of a trap gave the ball back to Nokomis with about 13 seconds remaining.

Warrior junior guard Kelley Paradis hit a basket with 4.3 seconds left for the 40-39 final. The Eagles got off a final shot but missed the basket.

“We didn’t play our ‘A’ game. We didn’t play as well as we can,” Anderson said. “But we still won. We played pretty well defensively, played good team defense, rebounded well, didn’t turn the ball over as much.”

Messalonskee was coming off a 76-52 win over Lawrence of Fairfield on Jan. 9.

The Eagles had a one-point lead Friday, but improved second-half rebounding and a well-rounded offensive effort by Nokomis were keys in the second half, Anderson said.

So was limiting second-half turnovers, despite the late turnover that gave Amanda Barker an opportunity at the free-throw line.

“I think we had a couple of turnovers in the first half but in the second half we really took care of the ball, we were patient and we got good shots,” Anderson said. “I know it’s more of a football stat, but we won the time of possession. It’s very important for us to not turn the ball over. That’s a big stat for us.”

Paradis scored a team-high 12 points, followed by Lincoln who had 11 and senior center Tatum Welch who had 10.

The Warriors also had offensive help from senior guard Teresa Cooper and freshman forward Kayla Batchelder.

“Some other players had to step up,” Anderson said. “Cooper scored some and was pretty effective running the offense. She played well defensively and rebounded well. Noelle scored 11 big points and rebounded in the second half. We got quality minutes out of Kara Batchelder.”

Chelsea Barker led the Eagles with 18 points but Anderson will take the defensive effort against the 5-8 senior forward who was the KVAC Player of the Year in the North division and was a third-team All-Mainer last year.

“Most of what she got was sort of 1-on-1, create-your-own-shot,” he said. She’s just very talented.”

Ames to join sister at UMFK

Dexter senior Mallory Ames had a big day Friday.

Not only did she score her 1,000th career point, but she learned earlier in the day she’s been accepted to the University of Maine-Fort Kent, where she would play with her sister, Ashley, if she decides to head north.

“I’m pretty sure I’m going to go there,” Mallory Ames said.

“I love playing with her before and I’d love to play with her again,” she added. “They have a really good elementary education program up there and that’s what I’d like to do. I’m really looking forward to that.”

The two will make up a potent inside force for the Bengals. Ashley Ames, a 2005 Dexter graduate, is a 6-4 forward and Mallory Ames is a 6-6 center.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.