AUGUSTA

Richmond High School’s keys to success in reaching a third straight State Class D girls basketball championship game? Get solid performances from Jamie Plummer, receive strong support both on the boards and from the perimeter, and stay out of foul trouble.

The Bobcats succeeded in two out of three in their 70-38 Western D quarterfinal victory over seventh-seeded Greenville (6-13) on Monday at the Augusta Civic Center.

Plummer scored a gamehigh 35 points, coming within four of the Western D tournament record of Valley’s Kristin Baker’s mark set in 2006. Secondly, Ciarra Lancaster had a double-double, Kelsea Anair came off the bench to score seven points, and guards Payton Johnson, Brianna Snedeker and Noell Acord helped force 35 Laker turnovers.

The third key to success definitely needs some work.

Greenville attempted an astonishing 57 free throws. Luckily for Richmond, the Lakers made just 21, including a paltry four-of-23 performance in the first half as the Bobcats claimed a 37-12 halftime lead.

“We have talked about it all along about the girls not committing so many fouls, especially the backcourt ones that are bugging me,” said Richmond coach Molly Bishop, whose second-seeded Bobcats improved to 15-3 and face 17-1 Hyde on Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Western D semifinals. “We can adjust or not adjust, and they don’t seem to be adjusting. There are things we got away with today, but will certainly make a difference down the road. Other teams will have a better freethrow percentage than Greenville did today.”

Quick start

Richmond exploded out of the gate, scoring the game’s first 11 points and taking a 16- 1 lead on a Plummer 3-pointer, one of four from behind the arc for the Bates Collegebound senior in the game. Richmond led 22-2 after eight minutes.

“We wanted to come out and get off to a good start, with our goal to have the game put away by the end of the first quarter,” said Plummer, who finished with 21 first-half points.

“The girls were certainly ready to play those first couple minutes, but the fouls slowed the game down and took away the intensity,” said Bishop.

With four minutes remaining in the first half, Greenville trailed 29-3. The Lakers’ first field goal came with 3:45 remaining in the half on a layup by Michaella Gilbert. Greenville attempted just 14 shots in the first half, a result of 23 free-throw attempts and 19 turnovers.

Richmond was 15 of 46 (32 percent) in the half and also struggled at the charity stripe (four of 13; six of 20 in the game).

The fouls kept adding up in the third quarter, with Greenville going seven of 16 at the line and trailing 53-23 through 24 minutes.

“I want the kids to play intense, and we’re playing fullcourt man the majority of the game, so you are going to have those fouls,” said Bishop.

Plummer scored six fourthquarter points to move within four of the record, but went to the bench after her lay-up made for a 65-30 contest.

“I am not here to set records, just to win,” said Plummer, who pulled down 11 rebounds for a double-double and added four steals and three blocked shots.

Lancaster also had a double double for the Bobcats with 10 points and 11 boards, while Alyssa Pearson had 11 boards. Johnson and Lancaster each picked up four steals.

Now comes third-seeded Hyde, a team Richmond didn’t play this season.

“I think it will be good that we haven’t played them this year, so that is a challenge, and if we are able to put some backcourt pressure on them, without fouling, I think we will be OK,” said Bishop.”

Greenville received 13 points from Olivia Bouchard, while Gilbert chipped in 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Richmond 70,
Greenville 38

Western Maine Class D quarterfinals
At the Augusta Civic Center
Greenville — 2 10 11 15 — 38
Richmond — 22 15 16 17 — 70
No. 7 Greenville — Michaella Gilbert 1-8-
10, Tricia Sherman 0-0-0, Andrea Gurney
1-3-5, Brooke Noyes 0-0-0, Olivia
Bouchard 3-7-13, Lindsay Fenn 0-1-1,
Courtney Mann 1-0-2, Ashley Mace 1-1-3,
Annie Kronholm 1-1-4, Danielle Mills 0-0-
0, Erin Welsh 0-0-0. Totals — 8-21-38.
No. 2 Richmond — Ciarra Lancaster 5-0-
10, Jamie Plummer 14-3-35, Payton
Johnson 3-0-6, Noell Acord 2-0-4, Brianna Snedeker 0-0-0, Kelsea Anair 3-1-7,
Alyssa Pearson 2-1-5, Emily Leavitt 0-0-0,
Haley Murphy 0-0-0, Kalah Patterson 0-0-
0, Julie Plummer 0-0-0, Autumn Acord 0-
1-1, Morgan Harrington 1-0-2. Totals —
30-6-70.
3-pointers — (G) Kronhom; (R) Plummer
4.
Records — Richmond 15-3, Greenville 6-
13.
Next for the Bobcats — The Western D
semifinals against No. 3 Hyde on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Augusta Civic Center.