12/19/2008
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Staff photo by Joe Phelanfrom the Kennebec Journal
QUESTIONS REMAIN
No complaints from those who switched to Somerset County center
Vote on 1 may hurt some in election
Steeple at center of debate in Whitefield
VETERANS REQUIRE ASSISTANCE: Homelessness takes center stage
J.P. DEVINE: Overcome sadness with hope
BASKETBALL: NBA Hall of Famer Barry doles out advice at Thomas College
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: Maranacook sophomore Mace dominates Class B field
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
A year later, families await answers on fatalities
Owner of topless coffee shop on the comeback trail
Officials report cheaper, better service after switch
Two people in critical condition
Young Marines stick to program
Issue of homeless veterans at center stage
GIRLS SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Winslow falls to York in Class B
Bard hits her marathon stride
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
With four tenths of a second left to play, Britten made the first of two free throws to give Erskine a 44-43 win over Gardiner in Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B girls basketball action Thursday night.
Erskine is 1-4 while Gardiner falls to 1-3.
The visiting Eagles looked dead in the water midway through the second quarter, trailing 19-4, but they chipped away behind a scrappy defensive effort and caught the Tigers late in the third period.
"Coach always tells us never to give up," Erskine senior Ashley Clark said. "We're still trying to pull three different teams together. It will come together, it just takes awhile."
The teams traded baskets in the fourth quarter with Gardiner tying the game at 43 on Chelsea Striker's free throw. The Eagles elected to hold the ball the final 37 seconds and play for the final shot. Junior Kaci Hudson, who scored a game-high 16 points, drove to the basket with four seconds left but her shot rimmed out. Britten grabbed the rebound and was fouled trying to score. She made to first free throw despite the noise from the student section behind the basket.
"Those fans are a little rambunctious," Britten said. "It made me happy to make it."
The Tigers jumped out to a 10-0 lead as they forced the Eagles into several turnovers. Erskine didn't score until Hudson's free throws with 4 minutes, 13 seconds left in the period. Erskine cut the lead to 22-14 at intermission, and there was no doubt what led to the turnaround in the second half.
"Our defensive effort," Erskine coach Scott Corey said. "We hadn't practiced for a week and we spent 40 minutes just working on help-side and boxing out."
The teams battled back and forth in the fourth quarter. Clark (11 points) opened with a 3-pointer from the left corner to give Erskine a 34-32 lead. The Eagles would go up 42-36, but the Tigers came back on two hoops and a free throw from Lauren Gorham and a putback from sophomore Becca Paradee.
"The first quarter, the first half we came to play," Gardiner coach Mike Gray said. "Then we let them creep back in. The second half they just worked harder than us and we just made stupid decisions."
Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638
ghawkins@centralmaine.com
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