The Maine Firecrackers girls’ basketball team lost 63-43 Thursday to the Texas Tigers in the AAU Division II under-13 national championship game in Orlando, Fla.

The Tigers led 47-37 after three quarters, but the Firecrackers pulled within six points late in the fourth before Kara Saccarella made four breakaway baskets and Texas led by 12 with three minutes left.

The Tigers shot 5 of 7 down the stretch to pull away to a 20-point victory.

“It was a much closer game than the score showed,” said Firecrackers Coach Brian Clement. “Our defense had a real tough time stopping (Texas.) They just didn’t miss shots.”

Clement said he gives credit to the Tigers, but at the same time he said he coached a very special team.

“(Texas) was a better team,” Clement said. “I give a lot of credit to the Texas Tigers.”

The Firecrackers struggled from the free-throw line, making 8 of 16. The Tigers were 17 of 22 from the line.

Camille Giardina of Cumberland and Vic Lux of Arundel each finished with 13 points. Katie McCrum of Saco and Sam Sparda of Scarborough shared the team lead with six rebounds.

During their seven-game run at the nationals, the Firecrackers defeated the state champions from Maryland and Tennessee and the state runner-up from Connecticut.

Prior to the tournament, Maine defeated the Connecticut state champion.

Giardina and Sarah Clement of Falmouth led the team during in the tournament with 13 points per game. Lux averaged seven points and seven rebounds.

“(The Firecrackers) were a really special team,” Clement said. “It was a lot of fun.”

Staff Writer Austin Pollack can be contacted at 791-6356 or at:

apollack@pressherald.com