By TYLER MAHEU
Eagle Times Correspondent
CLAREMONT – Through one half of basketball, it appeared to be anyone’s game, but the Gilford Golden Eagles would pull away in the second to defeat the Stevens Cardinals, 65-50.
The two teams traded shots throughout the first, as neither could break away for a lead. Gilford Junior Hannah Perkins dominated down low, scoring 7 of her 18 points in the quarter. After one, the Golden Eagles led 14-12.
The second brought more of the same, with Stevens hanging tight with the second best team in Division III. The Cardinals went into the half only down four, 33-29.
However, it all fell apart in the third. While the Cardinals lost their shooting touch, Gilford’s shots kept falling. “Defensively we fell asleep,” said Stevens Head Coach Ivy Condon. “We tried something new, but did not adjust.”
Gilford’s Brooke Beaudet, senior, really shined in the third period, repeatedly hitting shots from deep three point range and displaying her passing prowess. She would finish with 18 points.
The bad third quarter followed a trend for the Cardinals. “It kinda sums up our season,” said Condon. “We just cannot put together four full quarters.” They went into the fourth trailing 52-38.
The Cardinals put up a fight in the fourth, keeping the game within ten points, never feeling out of striking range. Junior Jenna Pond had a big quarter, making many contested threes, leading to her 14 points. The team’s, and the game’s, highest scorer was Sophomore Sydney Miller. She shot her way to 21 points, many coming from deep. While the three point shots helped sometimes, they also seemed to be a detriment in the long run. “We stopped playing basketball and felt we had to take threes. In the first half we worked the ball more,” said Condon.
Eventually the Golden Eagles would pull away, winning the game by a score of 65-50.
The win puts Gilford at 15-2, while the loss drops the Cardinals to 5-11. With only two games left to make the playoffs, Condon has hope. “Kearsarge will be tough, but I think it should be a competitive game. Newport will be a fun game, its never a nice place to play for an opposing team. I think we need to win these two games to clinch a playoff spot.”
Stevens will resume their push to the playoffs Wednesday night, when Division II opponent Kearsarge visits Carr Gymnasium.
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