BIDDEFORD — Old Orchard Beach beat host Biddeford in the Tiger Tip-off Classic as they won 26-25 with the help of a last minute stand. Christina Colman led the scoring for OOB with eight points on the night.
“Old Orchard Beach is a really good team. Coach Dean Plante does a good job over there. They force you into a lot of mistakes,” said Biddeford coach Brian Heal. “We turned the ball over 38 times in 68 possessions and they had a lot to do with that.”
The Tiger Tip-off Classic was created this year and features schools from all over Maine and New Hampshire. The Girls Basketball tournament featured the following teams: Kennebunk, Old Orchard Beach, Biddeford, Cathrine McAuley, Richmond, Lewiston, Portland and two teams from New Hampshire, Oyster River and Kingswood. The tournament is being played over two days, Friday Nov. 30 and Saturday Dec. 1.
The Tigers, a taller jump-shooting team, looked to get the ball into the paint to junior Bailey Cote in the first half. She had nine of the 10 points in the first half for Biddeford, and made it difficult for the Seagulls to drive into the lane. Most of her points came on offensive rebounds put back for a score.
“Bailey has really come along. She is going to be someone we depend on to score and rebound for us. She is one of our leaders on the floor,” said Heal.
OOB had a slew of players contributing on the scoreboard in the first half, as Olivia Dubois lead the way with three points and Colman and Mackenzie Rague had two points each, for the first half score of 10-8.
In the second half, OOB forced more fouls and picked up several points on free throws. They used there fast-pace defense to pressure the ball, wreaking havoc on the Biddeford offense.
Biddeford’s second half scoring was led by Erica Latellier and Carissa Gelinas, with four points each. Bailey Cote contributed with three points.
OOB saw a surge from Colman, as she hoisted up six points, and Anna Foss, Rague, and Abby Dubois each had three.
Late in the fourth quarter Biddeford’s Letellier put the Tigers up 21-18 with a deep jump shot. She then banked it off the glass to once again put Biddeford up 23-21. OOB turned on the pressure with Olivia Dubois and Rague as they forced turnovers and stole the ball. Rague stole the ball at mid-court and raced to the hoop for the easy layup to make the score 26-23.
Biddeford’s Gelinas then hit a long two with her foot on the three-point line. Down one, Biddeford couldn’t get a clean shot off to win the game and it ended with a final score of 26-25.
“Defensively I really like the effort we got out of Olivia Dubois off our bench. She came through with some big plays. She is a spark plug for us and played really well today,” said OOB coach Dean Plante.
OOB will play again today at 1 p.m. in the Steve White Gym against Portland. Biddeford will follow immediately after playing at 3 p.m. against Kingswood.
“We have everyone back (from last year) so we have a good idea of what we can do. We are going to be triggered by our defense. We’re a small team so we have to be sound in our rotations and play tight defense,” said Plante.
—Contact Nate Fowler at 282-1535, Ext. 323.
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