BIDDEFORD — The Biddeford girls basketball team was trying to receive one more present for the holiday season on Monday afternoon at the Steve White Gymnasium.
The Tigers took on Scarborough, who entered the game as the top team in Western Maine Class A with a 6-0 record.
Biddeford almost received its gift, but couldn’t finish the wrapping job in time, as the Red Storm escaped with a 44-39 win.
Biddeford came within three points of tying the ball game with a minute to play in regulation. The Tigers were never down by more than six points at any time, but big-game experience came through for the Red Storm, who boast six senior players with playoff experience.
Biddeford junior forward and captain Keila Grigware said the Tigers tried to slow their offense down against the Red Storm, but had troubles at times.
“We knew it would it would be a tough game, so we wanted to kind of be patient with our offense,” Grigware said. “We did that somewhat, but we also rushed some passes that we should have held onto, and just pressure situations where a little more experience would be good in that case. We tried to minimize turnovers.”
Grigware and Scarborough forward Christy Manning engaged in a battle most of the game, matching each other basket for basket down in the low post. Both had 13 points at halftime.
Grigware won the battle, finishing with 21 points, compared to Manning’s 20 points.
Biddeford guard and fellow captain Lauren Rousseau added 11 points.
Both Scarborough and Biddeford went back and forth throughout the entire first half, as both teams showed their similar styles of press defense and fast break offense. Scarborough went into halftime with a 24-22 lead, which it would never relinquish.
The Tigers put themselves in a situation to tie the game, as they had the ball with five seconds to play and were down 42-39. However, a violation on an inbounds pass sealed the Tigers fate. Scarborough forward Jenn Colpitts was immediately fouled and made both of her free throws to ice the game.
“I’m a little dissapointed we lost, but I’m proud of the girls,” Biddeford head coach Ron Cote said. “The way they worked and hustled and scrapped. We stayed with them right to the very end. There was a crucial two or three minutes where we didn’t make the big plays. If we made the big plays, then we’re probably going to end up winning that game. But we didn’t get it done towards the end, they did. They’re the best team in the league right now and we stayed with them and I’m pleased about that.”
The contest was the first for the Tigers since Dec. 18, when they lost to Deering in a 47-13 contest in Portland. Biddeford entered the game with a 4-1 record and was in fourth place in the Maine Principal Association heal point standings.
The schedule does not get easier for the Tigers this week, as they play against Cheverus, who is 6-1, Wednesday in Biddeford.
“We’ve got to come back and give the same intensity and the same effort against Cheverus. They’re a good team. They’re tough. They come after you with 10 players. They work hard. So we’re going to have to match their intensity. That’s going to be a good one, too.”
— Contact Dave Dyer at 282-1535 ext. 317.
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