Smith's sensational effort leads Freeport girls past Yarmouth

Freeport junior Caroline Smith and Yarmouth junior Avery May fight for the ball during the teams’ contest Friday night. Smith scored 35 points and led the Falcons to a 49-41 victory.

Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald photos.

More photos below.

BOX SCORE

Freeport 49 Yarmouth 41

Y- 8 4 18 11- 41
F- 11 12 9 17- 49

Y- Olson 5-5-16, McNeil 3-2-10, May 3-2-8, McGonagle 3-0-7

F- Smith 12-11-35, Baker-Schlendering 3-0-6, Wall 2-1-5, Groves 0-2-2, Gould 0-1-1

3-pointers:
Y (4) McNeil 2, McGonagle, Olson 1
F (0)

Turnovers:
Y- 25
F- 29

Free throws
Y: 9-16
F: 15-24

FREEPORT—Caroline Smith wasn’t about to be denied and as a result, the Freeport girls’ basketball team’s good times keep on rolling.

Smith, a junior standout for the Falcons and one of the premier players in the Western Maine Conference, scored 11 points in the first quarter of Friday night’s home game against Yarmouth, helping Freeport open up an 11-8 lead.

Smith was held to just one point in the second period, but thanks to 10 combined points from sophomore Rachel Wall and freshman Mason Baker-Schlendering, the Falcons extended their advantage to 23-11 at halftime.

The third quarter was anything but a thing of beauty for the hosts, however, as they turned the ball over 13 times and on three occasions, the Clippers managed to tie the score, but they never took the lead and a late jumper from Smith put the Falcons ahead to stay.

Then, in the fourth period, Smith dazzled, almost single-handedly holding Yarmouth at bay by hitting three contested shots, then draining nine free throws to help Freeport pull away and prevail, 49-41.

Smith finished with a career-high 35 points and lifted the Falcons to 10-2 on the season, dropping the Clippers to 7-6 in the process.

“We’ve been in some close games recently, so that experience helped us,” Smith said. “We just stayed confident and stayed together.”

Stop her if you can

Freeport and Yarmouth have emerged as top contenders in Class B South.

After winning at York, 41-33, in the opener, the Clippers lost at home to Freeport, 39-30, then turned around and downed visiting North Yarmouth Academy (41-35) and Fryeburg Academy (42-33) and host Waynflete (46-38) before losing at Gray-New Gloucester (39-26). After beating visiting Wells (44-32) and Traip Academy (39-25), Yarmouth lost at Cape Elizabeth (42-27) and at home to Gray-New Gloucester (42-32), then, after a 44-31 home win over Lake Region, the Clippers fell Monday at defending Class A champion Greely, 86-41.

Freeport started with wins at home over Sacopee Valley (45-24) and at Yarmouth (39-30). After a 51-22 setback at Gray-New Gloucester, the Falcons beat host Traip Academy (52-32), visiting Morse (66-32), host Lincoln Academy (56-42), host Old Orchard Beach (52-43) and visiting Poland (53-23) before losing at home to Greely (79-41). Freeport got back on track with wins at Mt. Ararat (45-43) and Cape Elizabeth (33-30).

The Clippers entered play Friday holding a 19-11 edge in the series dating to 2002 (see sidebar, below, for previous results), but the Falcons had won the past four meetings, including a 39-30 road win Dec. 11 behind 18 points from Smith.

Friday, Yarmouth hoped to beat the Falcons for the first time since Jan. 9, 2016 (51-47), but Smith wouldn’t allow it.

The Clippers got off to a fast start as sophomore Calin McGonagle hit a leaner and junior Hope Olson drove for a layup.

Smith scored her first points, on a layup with 3:49 to go in the first period, but Olson countered with two free throws.

Smith then tied the score with a layup and a bank shot and with 2:22 on the clock, she sank a free throw to give Freeport its first lead.

McGonagle countered with a leaner for Yarmouth’s last lead, but in the final minute, Smith drove and banked home a shot, then sank a long jumper for an 11-8 Falcons’ advantage.

Smith scored just one point in the second period, but Freeport still managed to add to its lead.

A bank shot from Wall opened the frame and after junior Catriona Gould set up Baker-Schlendering for a layup, Wall made a layup to make it 17-8.

An Olson putback ended the Falcons’ 10-0 run and a 4-minute, 52-second drought, but Smith made a free throw and Baker-Schlendering hit a jumper for a 20-10 advantage.

After junior reserve Avery May first made her presence felt off the bench for Yarmouth by scoring on a putback, Freeport closed the half strong, as junior Hannah Spaulding set up Baker-Schlendering for a layup and Gould made a free throw for a 23-12 lead at the break.

In the first 16 minutes, Smith led all scorers with 12 points. The Clippers were hindered by 16 turnovers, but they would turn the tide in the third quarter.

The Falcons committed 13 turnovers in the frame and Yarmouth gradually erased its deficit.

A free throw from Olson began the second half and after McGonagle hit a 3-pointer, sophomore Margaret McNeil added a 3 to pull the Clippers within four, 23-19.

McNeil added a free throw and Olson hit a pair and just like that, Yarmouth trailed by a single point.

After Wall sank a foul shot to end the Clippers’ 10-0 run and a 4:40 drought, Smith scored her first points of the second half, on a leaner, but Olson got a 3 to circle the cylinder and drop and May added a foul shot to tie the score, 26-26.

“We didn’t take care of the ball at all,” Smith said. “We were rattled by their defense. I give them credit for getting back into it.”

“All the credit to Yarmouth for those turnovers, but some of them were us dragging pivot feet and not valuing possession as well as we should,” Freeport first-year coach Seth Farrington said.

Smith put Freeport back on top with a driving layup, but a bank shot from McNeil tied it again.

A Smith bank shot with 48.2 seconds on the clock was countered by a May layup 18 seconds later for one final tie, but with 17.1 seconds remaining, Smith’s jumper rolled in and the Falcons took a 32-30 advantage to the final stanza.

Where Smith put the finishing touch on her game for the ages.

Smith started the quarter with a leaner in traffic, but Olson countered with a runner.

Smith then drove for a leaner and after May made a free throw, Smith sank two foul shots for a 38-33 lead with 4:33 to play.

McNeil made things very interesting 34 seconds later with a 3, but with 3:08 on the clock, sophomore Hannah Groves made two free throws for Freeport to make it 40-36.

Ten seconds later, Olson kept the pressure on to make it a two-point game again, but Smith drove for another layup.

With 2:30 to play, May made a layup to cut the deficit to 42-40, but the Clippers would draw no closer.

Yarmouth would have two possessions with a chance to tie or go ahead, but Olson missed on the first and Groves stole the ball on the second.

Then, with 1:34 remaining, Smith was fouled and she calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to four.

After McNeil missed a 3, Smith made two more foul shots with 54.9 seconds left for a 46-40 advantage.

McNeil countered with a free throw, but that proved to be the Clippers’ final point and after Smith sank a foul shot, she hit two more with 6.7 seconds left and that slammed the door on Freeport’s 49-41 win.

“We ended the game well, got to the line and made enough free throws.,” Farrington said.

Smith made 12 field goals and 11 free throws to lead all scorers with 35 points. She also grabbed six rebounds and had three steals.

“My coach got me good shots, my teammates just got me the ball where I needed it and my dribble-drive was working today,” Smith said. “It helped my confidence getting off to a fast start, especially coming off some rough games.”

“Caroline is one of the top players in the conference,” said Farrington. “Last year, (Freeport) had such a great team and I don’t think she got recognized like she should have. She’s filling the stat line this year. Not just scoring, it’s assists, steals, rebounds. She’s the Oscar Robertson of our team. She made some really tough shots. She’s going to see the play before anyone else.”

“She’s a player,” Yarmouth coach David Cousins said, of Smith. “She’s determined and we let her take it to us. She carried them and we don’t have a player like that. The difference is, they needed a bucket, they go to Caroline and we come down and we don’t have that player. We mixed it up and put different people on her. We tried different things. We’re usually a good defensive team, that’s our trademark. but hats off to her. We’ll learn from it.”

Baker-Schlendering added six points for Freeport, Wall had five (to go with four rebounds, two assists and two steals), Groves two and Gould one.

The Falcons didn’t make a single 3-point shot and committed 29 turnovers, but had a 29-28 edge on the glass and managed to sink 15 of 24 foul shots.

Yarmouth was led by Olson, who had 16 points. McNeil (nine rebounds, three steals) added 10 points. May finished with eight points off the bench.

“When the kids come off the bench and play aggressive, they’ll see minutes and Avery did that tonight,” Cousins said. “She didn’t back down, she was a monster on the boards and she drew some fouls.”

McGonagle had seven points and four steals.

The Clippers turned the ball over 25 times and hit 9 of 16 free throws.

“We couldn’t score in the first half, but we fought back in the second,” Cousins said. “No more excuses. This group has played 13 games and we should be ready to come out and play.”

Down the stretch we come

Yarmouth (currently fifth in the Class B South Heal Points standings) is scheduled to host Cape Elizabeth Monday, then plays at Wells Friday.

“We have to get refocused because we have a couple tough ones,” said Cousins. “Cape, which we lost to, then Wells, which won’t be easy. We just have to focus on the next game.”

Freeport (third in the region) is home with winless Waynflete Tuesday, then goes to Fryeburg Academy Friday.

“I have to give a huge amount of credit to Coach Farrington (for our success),” Smith said. “He has confidence in everyone. Players like Rachel and Cat have really stepped up their game. We have to get the younger kids more experience and we have to stick together.”

“We have to continue what we’re doing, work harder every day and we’ll be in good shape for February,” Farrington said.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Freeport sophomore Hannah Groves blocks the shot of Yarmouth sophomore Kathryn Keaney.

Yarmouth junior Hope Olson soars for a shot.

Freeport sophomore Rachel Wall gets past Yarmouth sophomore Calin McGonagle.

Recent Freeport-Yarmouth results

2018-19
Freeport 39 @ Yarmouth 30

2017-18
Freeport 44 @ Yarmouth 35
@ Freeport 46 Yarmouth 36

2016-17
Freeport 43 @ Yarmouth 30

2015-16
Yarmouth 51 @ Freeport 47

2014-15
@ Yarmouth 47 Freeport 24
Yarmouth 62 @ Freeport 38

2013-14
@ Yarmouth 45 Freeport 38
@ Freeport 55 Yarmouth 36

2012-13
Freeport 69 @ Yarmouth 31
@ Freeport 60 Yarmouth 43

2011-12
@ Freeport 53 Yarmouth 52
@ Yarmouth 46 Freeport 37

2010-11
@ Freeport 42 Yarmouth 31
Freeport 44 @ Yarmouth 24

2009-10
Freeport 49 @ Yarmouth 48
Yarmouth 57 @ Freeport

2008-09
@ Yarmouth 46 Freeport 19
Yarmouth 51 @ Freeport 23

2007-08
Yarmouth 34 @ Freeport 19
@ Yarmouth 56 Freeport 45

2006-07
Yarmouth 47 @ Freeport 37
@ Yarmouth 34 Freeport 28

2005-06
@ Yarmouth 49 Freeport 41
Yarmouth 55 @ Freeport 35

2004-05
@ Yarmouth 55 Freeport 34
Yarmouth 58 @ Freeport 40

2003-04
@ Yarmouth 51 Freeport 31
Yarmouth 50 @ Freeport 31

2002-03
Yarmouth 49 @ Freeport 19