PORTLAND

Just like a year ago, Gray- New Gloucester’s playoff run began with a quarterfinal clash against Western Maine Conference rival Freeport. And just like last year’s matchup, the Patriots were played closely through one quarter before going into halftime up 13 points.

The end result also was the same. The Patriots proved to be too much for the Falcons, pulling away for a 57-24 victory in a Class B South girls basketball tournament game at the Portland Expo on Tuesday.

The top-seeded Patriots (18-1) scored easily after winning the opening tip, quickly getting the ball inside to Izzy DeTroy for a layup. But nothing else came easy for Gray-NG in the opening period. A three-point play at the buzzer by No. 8 Freeport senior Regan Lynch cut the Patriots’ lead to 10-9 after eight minutes.

“It was our third time with Freeport, and Mike (Hart) is a real good coach. You knew he’d make adjustments,” Gray-NG coach Mike Andreasen said. “They’re a team that I think all year hasn’t played any zone, and they came out and played that zone, and it was a high-level zone.”

The Falcon (12-8) defenders met the Patriots well outside the 3-point arc, forcing the ball to the corners. That meant not getting the ball to star post player Skye Conley, and no drives by point guard Bri Jordan. Both players were held scoreless in the first quarter.

“We did some good stuff, we changed some things up, and I feel like we did some really positive things on the defensive side of the ball,” Hart said.

That defensive pressure then led to turnovers by the Patriots to start the second quarter, and on the other end Gray-NG picked up its seventh foul 33 seconds into the period. But the Falcons couldn’t take advantage of what was given to them, scoring just two points in the second, both on foul shots.

“It’s demoralizing because we had an opportunity there when we had a chance to make some layups, some easy buckets that I felt like was in us,” Hart said. “And then we went 2- of-7 from the line. If we go perfect, we’re in a good spot, obviously, to close the half out.”

The Gray-NG lead was seven heading into the final minute of the first half, then Jordan hit a 3-pointer (the only one of the game for either team) for her first points and Alicia Dumont hit a jumper with one second left for a 24-11 lead.

“At the end of the half we spurted. It was 18-11, and then we made it 24-11,” Andreasen said. “I think that, right there, gave us a little bit of breathing room.”

The Falcons were able to cut it to nine in the third quarter, thanks in part to Joanna Bogue-Marlowe scoring all four of her points in the period and Taylor Dostie making a layup out of a timeout for her only points, but the Patriots “answered,” according to Andreasen. A Jordan coast-to-coast layup was part of an 8-0 Gray-NG run to end the third.

Conley made a turnaround layup to open the fourth, and the rout was on. The Patriots outscored the Falcons 21-5 in the final period to pull away.

“That was not a 33-point game. That game was 10 or 12 points most of the way,” Andreasen said.

Conley finished as the game’s leading scorer, with 10 points. Jordan added nine, DeTroy and Dumont eight apiece, and Jordan Grant scored seven off the bench.

“We had 57 points, and the highest scorer was fewer than 20 percent of it. These kids take turns that way, which is nice,” Andreasen said.

Freshman Caroline Smith led the Falcons with six points. Jessica Driscoll added five, and Lynch matched Bogue-Marlowe with four.

“I think we can definitely take away from this first quarter. And I feel like we played decently in the second quarter if we had made some shots,” Hart said. “We just didn’t execute on the offensive side of the ball and make free throws.”

The Patriots’ run continues into the semifinals, where just like last year they will meet No. 5 Lake Region at Cross Insurance Arena on Thursday.

No. 1 Gray-NG 57, No. 8 Freeport 24

Class B South Quarterfinal At the Portland Expo

Freeport — Driscoll 1-3-5, Thomas 0-0-0, Bogue-Marlowe 1-2-4, Cormier 0-0-0, Rinaldi 1-1-3, Smith 3-0-6, Spaulding 0-0-0, Lynch 1-2-4, Routhier 0-0-0, Dostie 1-0-2, Hall 0- 0-0, Gould 0-0-0. Totals — 8-8-24. Gray-NG — West 0-0-0, Michaud 0- 0-0, Ryan 0-0-0, DeTroy 4-0-8, Jordan 2-4-9, Dumont 3-2-8, Hotham 1- 0-2, Davis 0-0-0, Thayer 1-3-5, Kariotis 1-4-6, Grant 2-3-7, Kirby 0-0-0, Conley 5-0-10, Irish 0-0-0, Fortin 1- 0-2. Totals — 20-16-57. 3-point field goal — (G-NG) Jordan. Records — G-NG 18-1; Freeport 12- 8. Note — Freeport’s season is completed.