Belfast avenges loss to Mustangs from three weeks earlier
THORNDIKE — A game between rival teams often brings about an increase in physical and mental effort, especially when said opponents meet for a second time in the season.
For Waldo County neighbors and longstanding high school athletic rivals Belfast and Mount View, the Lions looked to avenge a 32-26 home loss to the Mustangs on Feb. 1, while the hosts attempted to sweep the regular-season series on their home court on senior day.
Although the effort was there for both squads, Belfast's output was a tick or two higher than the Mustangs on Saturday, Feb. 20, as the Lions took control quickly and never relinquished the lead, en route to a 51-41 victory.
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The Lions, now 5-6 on the campaign, led at the quarter breaks 11-5, 22-15 and 36-26. The Mustangs stand at 4-7.
Halle Tripp led the visitors with 20 points, while Lillie Mitchell added 12; Jaiden Philbrook and Emma Waldron, eight; Madison Farris, two; and Hailee Lindelof, one. Tripp sank four treys for the Lions, while Mitchell hit one.
Hannah Coolen led the Mustangs with 18 points, while Hannah Ferreira was close behind with 14; Kricket Thompson, four; Syd Vogel, three; and Lydia Bryant, two. Ferreira connected on three treys, while Coolen hit one for Mount View.
Belfast was 14-of-28 (50 percent) from the foul line, while Mount View was 5-of-15 (33 percent).
The Lions wasted no time jumping to an advantage, as the visitors surged on an 11-2 run in the first 5:38.
Philbrook got the scoring started with two baskets, as Coolen answered with a layup to put the hosts on the board.
From there it was seven straight points for Belfast, as Philbrook made two free throws, stole the ball, got fouled and knotted two more charity-stripe points, followed by a Mitchell layup and Waldron field goal.
Ferreira was the offensive spark for the Mustangs, as she netted seven straight points, including two treys and a free throw to bring the hosts within 11-9.
A Lindelof free throw got Belfast on the board in the second stanza before Coolen made a layup to cut the Lion advantage to 12-11.
Three-pointers started to fly for Belfast, though, as Tripp and Mitchell hit back-to-back treys to push the lead to seven — 18-11 — with 5:03 to play in the half.
Mount View did not quit, however, as Vogel hit a free throw and Coolen banked a three off the glass from the wing to bring the hosts within striking distance at 18-15 with 1:45 to play.
Tripp spotted up and countered Coolen's trey with one of her own to push the lead to six with just over a minute left.
Mitchell made the first Lion field goal of the second half — after a Belfast free throw — to push the visitors' advantage to nine, but Coolen hit a layup in traffic, then stole the inbounds pass and laid it in for another two Mustang points.
With the deficit at five points, Coolen drove the lane and dished to an open Bryant for an easy basket, as the Mustangs climbed within 24-21.
Belfast turned on the offensive jets, however, as the visitors went on a 12-5 run to end the third quarter and push its advantage to 10 points.
Mount View whittled its deficit to single-digits over the final eight minutes, but the Lions fended off the Mustangs to hold on for the victory.