Crusaders playoff hopes stay alive with win over Hermon
The John Bapst girls basketball team has been one of the elite teams in Eastern Maine Class B over the last several seasons, and the words “must win” are words that were not in the vocabulary of those Crusaders teams. The 2009-10 season has been a different story for Bapst, and entering Thursday night’s game against the Hermon Hawks the Crusaders found themselves in a “must win” situation if they wanted any chance to advance to the Eastern Maine Class B playoffs that begin on February 9. Bapst was No. 11 in the Heal Point standings, and only the top 10 teams will advance to post season play.
It took all four quarters for Bapst to put away the Hawks as Taylor Edgecomb scored seven of her game high 15 points in the final period, and Jordan Myerowitz scored the go ahead basket that put the Crusaders on top for good in their 46-41 victory at Hermon High School.
John Bapst's Jordan Myerowitz sails past Hermon's Dani Ross to score the eventual game winning basket in Thursday night's game in Hermon. John Bapst won the game 46-41. Photo by Skip Hawkes
In a low scoring first half, Bapst trailed the Hawks 18-15 heading into the third quarter. Bapst picked up their scoring and out scored Hermon 31-23 over the second half. In the third quarter Edgecomb, held to just two points in the first half, combined with Kirsty Moriarty to score 10 of the Crusaders 14 points as Bapst out scored Hermon 14-12. Dani Ross (two 3-pointers) and Victoria Davenport combined for 10 of Hermon’s 12 points in the quarter.
John Bapst's Taylor Edgecomb drives past Hermon's Kayla Snow during the second half. Photo by Skip Hawkes
Bapst overcame the one point third quarter deficit (30-29) in the final period, and led by six points (39-33) with 2:23 left in the game. Ashley Thayer scored four consecutive points on a field goal and two free throws to cut the Bapst lead to 39-37 with 1:56 remaining. Hermon regained the lead for the final time with 56 seconds left to play on a Ross steal and basket putting the Hawks on top 41-40. Myerowitz gave the lead back to the Crusaders (42-41) with a layup over the top of the rim with 43 seconds left on the clock. Edgecomb made it a three point game on two free throws with 12.8 seconds remaining, and Moriarty put the game away with 6.3 seconds left on two free throws for the 46-41 final score.
Edgecomb had 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists to pace the Crusaders, and Myerowitz added 10 points and six rebounds. Moriarty had seven points and four rebounds, and Brittany Williams scored six points and had a team high seven rebounds. Paige Martin and Riley Boyle each added four points. Bapst went 10-15 (67%) from the free throw line, including 7-11 in the fourth quarter.
Hermon's Victoria Davenport pulls in a rebound during the first half. Photo by Skip Hawkes
Hermon was led in scoring by Davenport with 13 points and Ross and Thayer with 10 points each. Marisa Kelley and Ripley King each added four points. The Hawks had three 3-point baskets, two by Ross and one by Thayer, and they went 6-8 (75%) from the foul line.
Maine Sports Report Score Board
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | OT | FINAL |
| John Bapst (8-8) | 8 | 7 | 14 | 17 | X | X | 46 |
| Hermon (8-8) | 7 | 11 | 12 | 11 | X | X | 41 |
JV GAME
Taylor True scored all eight of her game points in the second half to spark the John Bapst Crusaders to a 40-32 win over the Hermon Hawks.
John Bapst's Taylor True puts up a shot during the second half. Photo by Skip Hawkes
Bapst and Hermon tied in both the first and second quarters (6-6, 10-10), but in the third quarter True and laine Ferrill combined for 10 points to help Bapst out score the Hawks 15-11 to take a 31-27 lead into the final period.
In the fourth quarter, Bapst held Hermon to just five free throws out scoring the Hawks 9-5 to wrap up the victory.
Hermon's Jessica Allen gets off a jump shot during the first half. John Bapst's Victoria Miller watches the play. Photo by Skip Hawkes
True led the Crusaders in scoring with eight points and Laura Williamson added seven points. Also scoring was Allison Higgins (6), Emily Carlson (5), Ferrill (5), Darby Paul (4), Kristen Weed (2), Kristian Kenney (2), and Sarah Pyne (1). Bapst went 10-15 (67%) from the free throw line.
Jessica Allen scored a game high nine points to pace the Hawks. Other scorers included Gabby Bryant (6), Elizabeth Richards (5), Kelly Berglund (5), Lindsey Allen (3), Kristen Wilcox (2), Audrey Cliff (1), and Nicole Ryder (1). Hermon had two 3-point baskets by Bryant and went 12-26 (46%) from the charity stripe.
Maine Sports Report Score Board
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | OT | FINAL |
| John Bapst | 6 | 10 | 15 | 9 | X | X | 40 |
| Hermon | 6 | 10 | 11 | 5 | X | X | 32 |