OAKLAND – There was no overtime this time, but the Messalonskee girls basketball team still came out on top in an exciting Eastern Maine Class A preliminary-round game.

The No. 8 Eagles, who had beaten No. 9 Brewer twice in extra periods during the regular season, held off a late charge by the Witches for a 53-45 victory and a berth in the Eastern Maine Class A quarterfinals. They will face No. 1 Lawrence of Fairfield Friday night at 8:30 at the Augusta Civic Center.

The Bulldogs (17-1) and the Eagles (10-9) played in the final game of the regular season with Lawrence coming out on top 53-51.

Messalonskee needed triple overtime to edge Brewer 94-87 in their first matchup, then tipped the Witches 71-65 in double overtime later in the season.

“It was really helpful playing them before, because we knew what they ran and we were able to get in a groove,” said Messalonskee’s Hannah Dexter, a sophomore guard who scored a game-high 23 points.

She certainly did get into a rhythm – Dexter scored a combined 19 points in the second and third quarters after a close first period, hitting shots from all over the court.

Messalonskee and Brewer were tied 12-12 when the Eagles went on an 8-0 run, sparked by a Dexter jumper, as Messalonskee’s transition game heated up. The Eagles had a 24-17 lead at halftime and outscored the Witches 17-7 in the third quarter.

“We were able to look for each other, got some good cuts and great passes, and it all fell into place in the third quarter,” Dexter said.

Dexter hit nine of her 11 field-goal attempts in the second and third quarters combined. She banked in a 3-pointer with 5:48 left in the third to make it 31-19.

Messalonskee had a 17-point lead – thanks to a driving Dexter basket – but the Witches went on a run of their own, cutting the score to 43-36 as they drew fouls and converted at the free-throw line.

Brewer’s Meghan McLain (11 points) drained a deep 3-pointer with 1:39 left in the fourth, but once the Eagles got to the free-throw line, they were able to maintain the lead.

“We can’t give a team with a higher seed, playing at home, a 17- or 18-point lead and expect that everything’s going to come to you,” Brewer coach Andy Nickerson said. “I appreciate my kids’ effort. They were exceptional in the fourth quarter. We just dug too big a hole in the third quarter.”

Brewer went 17-for-30 from the free-throw line, while Messalonskee was 8-for-11. The Eagles didn’t have a free-throw attempt until 1:39 into the third quarter and two Messalonskee players eventually fouled out.

“We knew it was going to be a physical game,” Dexter said. “We needed to buckle down and box out.”

Leah Jackson led the 7-12 Witches with 12 points, 10 of which she scored in the fourth quarter, and nine rebounds.

jbloch@bangordailynews.net

990-8193

EAGLES 53, WITCHES 45

Brewer (7-12) Messalonskee (10-9)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Hutchins 0 2 0 0 0 Perry 1 8 4

Adams 1 5 2 2 4 Busque 0 0 1

Valley 2 4 3 6 7 Dexter 10 17 23

Aleksiewicz 1 1 0 1 2 Charles 0 0 0

Jackson 3 9 6 12 12 Tinsman 0 0 0

McLain 3 15 3 5 11 Bridges 2 5 4

Kenney 3 7 3 4 9 Oliver 3 6 9

Deering 3 3 0 6

Haiss 3 4 0 6

Totals 13 43 17 30 45 Totals 22 43 11 53

Brewer 9 17 24 45

Messalonskee 10 24 41 53

3-pt. goals – Brewer (2-12): McLain 2-9, Valley 0-1, Adams 0-2; Messalonskee (1-5): Dexter 1-3, Perry 0-2

Attendance: 400 (est.)