Lady Falcons hold on to edge Cobras

RUMFORD -- There are times when things don’t go as planned, but the Mountain Valley girls' basketball team has a simple philosophy and the bottom line is to win.

Ayla Allen recorded a double-double by scoring a game-high 16 points and hauling down 11 rebounds as the Lady Falcons held on for a 48-46 win against Carrabec at Puiia Gymnasium.

Mountain Valley had taken a 47-44 lead on a baskets by Lindsay Gallant (seven points), McKenzie Paterson (seven points) and by Allen down the stretch. But Carrabec made seven of eight free throws in the fourth quarter, including two by Melissa White (11 points) with 24 seconds remaining. MV turned the ball over, but Allen stole the ball and was fouled. She made one free throw and Carrabec called time with 12 seconds left. They got a good shot off, but it bounced off the rim and Allen grabbed the rebound as the final buzzer sounded.

“We needed to work hard defensively down the stretch,” said Allen. “Basically our offense was created by the defense.”

By early in the fourth quarter, the score was tied or changed hands five times. Carrabec had forced the issue by scoring the first two baskets. Allen made two free throws and a basket, as the Cobras Becca Bergeron (11 points) buried a trey.

“A win is a win,” said MV coach Rich Allen. “We did have some clock management problems that allowed Carrabec to stay close down the stretch.”

MV started strong and then hit a lull, with Chrissy Briggs draining a three pointer for the teams long field goal in the second quarter. MV still led 19-14 at half time.

“We did (falter) at times,” said senior Lindsey Gallant. “Carrabec came out with a 1-3-1 zone and that surprised us.”

The Falcons made some adjustments in the third quarter and pulled with in a 9-0 run to lead 36-26. Allen scored with 3:23 left and Gallant buried a trey. On the ensuing possession, Kaitlin Armstrong stole the ball near center court and dribbled in for a lay-up.

"It’s a long season,”Allen said. “So there are times when (execution) will not go right. We need to try and limit those times.’’

Carrabec outshot the Falcons 48 to 41 percent and each team committed 17 turnovers and made 13 of 25 from the free throw line.