Over the course of a trying season, the Wiscasset Lady Wolverines have stayed positive and had two of their closest contests of the season over the last 10 days and on the road.

At Dirigo, Wiscasset had its best game of the season, losing 35-33 after leading at the half by four. Lindsey Gordon scored nine points in the game, and Maeve Blodgett sank two late free throws, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the home team.

“We have to give ourselves a chance to be successful, and often that simply means making fewer mistakes. I thought we did a nice job with that at Mt. Abram in the second half, and at Dirigo,” said Wiscasset Head Coach Ben Clark. “Our girls continue to work hard and keep a positive outlook. I love coaching this group for that reason.”

Thursday night, Jan. 18,  Wiscasset faced a tough Richmond team at home. The Bobcats are 9-4 in their first season in Class C and the Mountain Valley Conference, and rank fifth in the Class C South standings. “They are physical and aggressive and are a really good team in our league,” said Clark.

Richmond’s Sydney Underhill-Tilton dominated the first half, accounting for all but five points of her team’s first half offense, as Richmond jumped out to a 12-4 advantage after one quarter. A couple of hoops by Gordon and a Grace Webber three kept Wiscasset in the game, cutting the lead to 12-7 early in the second, but they wouldn’t get any closer the rest of the game. The Bobcats were the beneficiaries of 27 turnovers, which did not allow the Wolverines to get any closer the rest of the way.

With a modest 22-10 halftime lead, Richmond asserted itself in the third period. With Ashley Abbott and Bryanne Lancaster combining for 10 points in the quarter, the Bobcats outscored the Wolverines 18-5 in the decisive frame, and 28-11 in the second half. 

For Richmond, Caitlin Kendrick finished with nine points, and Abbott added eight. Wiscasset was led by Webber with 10 points and six rebounds, Gordon with five points and four rebounds, and Sydnie Thayer with five points and eight boards.

Finally, on Friday night, Jan. 19, Wiscasset made the trek to Bethel to face a Telstar team also looking for its first win of the season. 

Blodgett spotted Gordon for a quick two as Wiscasset struck quick, but Telstar answered. Behind two three-pointers from Aneah Bartlett, the Rebels went on an 11-3 run, closing out the quarter up 11-7. 

Gordon continued to supply the offense to start the second quarter with another hoop and a made foul shot. Telstar answered right back, outscoring Wiscasset 16-12 in the second, with three Rebel players with four points apiece. For Wiscasset, Webber had four points in the frame and Blodgett five, including a three. 

After trailing 27-19 at the half, Wiscasset’s Thayer picked up her fourth foul in the first five seconds of the third quarter, sending her to the bench. But after allowing a quick three, Wiscasset exploded for a 13-3 quarter, turning an 11-point deficit into a one-point lead after three quarters, 32-31.

After a Blodgett three-pointer put the team up 35-33 with 5:56 in the fourth, Telstar went on a 7-2 run to close out the game. Webber finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, Blodgett had 11 points and four rebounds, and Gordon had nine points and three rebounds.

“Ultimately, we made too many mistakes early in the game and didn’t make enough positive plays, offensively,” said Clark.  “We foul too much and that really hurts us.”

Added Clark:  “I was proud of how our girls fought back in the second half to make it a good game down the stretch.  There were many positives that we'll take from the game, including our defensive pressure that we extended to the full court in the second half. I thought that looked pretty good.”

Next up, Wiscasset hosts top-ranked and undefeated Boothbay Thursday. Junior varsity plays at 5:30 p.m and varsity at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Wiscasset travels to Richmond for the same start times.