TOPSHAM — The Mt. Ararat Middle School eighth-grade girls basketball team earned a pair of recent wins to improve to 9-0.

Against Lewiston, the Eagles pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 47-23 win. The game started with pressure defense by the Eagles, who led 12-6 after a quarter. An evenly-played second quarter saw Emily Bontatibus score 10 of her 12 points as Mt. Ararat held a 24-15 lead at the intermission.

Both teams had a hard time finding the bottom of the net in the third quarter, but the Eagles still led 28-20 after the three. Mt. Ararat poured it on in the final frame, scoring 19 points led by Elsa Daulerio, who scored nine of her game-high 17 in the first four minutes. The bench took over from there, securing the win.

Lewiston was led by Brook Giambra with 11 points.

Mt. Ararat hosted rival Brunswick on Thursday, with the Eagles pulling out a hard-fought 31-27 victory.

Both teams tried to use pressure defense, with Brunswick taking a 6-4 lead after a quarter. The Huskies extended their lead to six points early in the second, but Mt. Ararat battled back to get to 15-12 at the half.

The game continued to be a back-and-forth affair, with a packed gym of enthusiastic supporters for both teams. After three quarters Brunswick still had a slight 21-18 lead.

Once again the Eagles had a solid final quarter, rolling out a 9-1 run for a 27-22 lead. The Huskies pushed back to close to 28-27, but Bontatibus sealed the game for the hosts by making 3-of-4 at the freethrow line.

Bontatibus had 14 points, while Elsa Daulerio chipped in with six points.

Morgan Foster and Logan Brown finished with eight points apiece for Brunswick (7-2), with Blake Austin chipping in seven steals.

Mt. Ararat hosts Auburn today.