SANFORD — If anything can be said about the first win of the season for the Sanford girls basketball team, it was a group effort.

Three of the starting five scored in double-digits for the Redskins, who beat Biddeford 52-43 at Memorial Gym on Friday.

The Tigers, who were down by 10 points at halftime, made a comeback to within four points of Sanford with three minutes to play in the fourth quarter. But turnovers, which Biddeford in the first half, ultimately did the team in again late in regulation.

Biddeford head coach Brian Heal said the Tigers also missed some opportunities offensively.

“Turnovers, and we missed some key opportunities,” Heal said. “I thought we got some good looks that, if they fall, it might be a different game. But they didn’t and we’ve got to pick it up, move on and make our own breaks.”

It was a good rebound game for Sanford, who lost to Deering 47-30 in the season opener on Dec. 14.

“That shows a lot,” Sanford head coach Kristy Parent said. “I think last year we would have folded, and we probably would have given up another couple of fouls. This year, we were able to get some defensive stops. [Biddeford] isn’t as strong collectively, but still, it’s good for us. [Keila] Grigware is a girl that can take over a game, and we didn’t allow that to happen.”

Biddeford, who ended the season with only five losses last year, have started the season with an 0-3 record.

The first half of the game was the Shae Riley show for Sanford. Riley, a senior forward, put up 13 points in the half, including 3 three-pointers. The Redskins went into the locker room at halftime with a comfortable 28-18 score.

Riley’s teammates picked up the slack in the second half. Redskins forward Taylor Flood, who scored four points in the first half, added eight more points to finish with 12 points on the night, while forward Samantha Adams finished with 13 points and guard Lindsey Nolette added nine points.

“That’s what we need to win,” Parent said. “We’re not going to go with Lindsey Nolette scoring one game and then Floody the next.  We need Shae producing points, good post play with Shae and Sam, and then Heather [LeBlanc] can come off the bench at any time and do well for us.”

The Tigers outscored the Redskins 14-12 in the fourth quarter, mostly from the play of forward Keila Grigware, who finished with a game-high 19 points, and guard Bryanna Michaud, who finished with seven points, six of which were scored in the final quarter.

“We switched defenses,” Heal said. “We got out on the perimeter, pressured the ball a little bit more. It’s just tough to do right now with our depth, we can’t do that for 32 minutes right now, so we have to pick and choose where we do that. We got down early, dug ourselves a hole, and our margin for error is razor thin. We got down a little too much to a good team. They’re very tough and very physical, a very good defensive team. They do a really good job, and they’re well coached.”

Sanford will look for their second win of the season on Dec. 21, when they host South Portland. Biddeford will hit the road to play against Windham, which is also set for Dec. 21.

— Contact Dave Dyer at 282-1535 ext. 318.