BREWER, Maine — Brewer High School junior forward Gabrielle Roberts scored only one basket during Tuesday night’s schoolgirl basketball game against archrival Bangor but it will be one she will never forget.
Roberts grabbed an offensive rebound and flipped the ball into the hoop as time expired to give the Class A Witches a come-from-behind 43-42 over the AA Rams at the Brewer High School gym.
Avery Clark’s two free throws with 10.7 seconds remaining gave the Rams a 42-41 lead but, following a timeout, the Witches raced down the court and got the ball to Jillian Ford, who drove the lane only to have her layup roll around the rim and out.
But Roberts, wedged between a couple of Rams in the crowded paint, hauled in the rebound and then put it back up.
“I told Gabby she was long and lanky and to get the rebound if we missed and put it right back up. And she did it,” said first-year Brewer coach Tanna Ross.
“We had talked about it in the timeout,” said Roberts. “I was really nervous [when I shot it] but I got it in.”
It is believed to be Brewer’s first win over Bangor in over a decade, and the Witches accomplished the feat in impressive fashion, rallying from seven points down with 3:40 left in the game.
Trailing 39-32, Mariah Roberts began the comeback with a short jump shot and, after a Clara Oldenburg free throw for Bangor, Allie Flagg hit a long 3-pointer from way beyond the top of the key.
Bangor standout senior guard-forward Mimi Quinn, whose 14 points paced the Rams, fouled out with 1:28 remaining, and Ford scored on an inside move to reduce the lead to 40-39, 18 seconds later.
Ford then stole the ball and the Witches took a 41-40 lead with 29.6 seconds left when freshman Ainsley Goodwin scored her only points of the game on a layup off an inbounds pass.
Clark was fouled driving the basket and sank both free throws to give the Rams the lead before Roberts’ heroics.
“Gabrielle does that all practice long. Thankfully she was right there,” said Brewer junior guard Allie Flagg, whose freshman sister Abbie also starts for Brewer.
Brewer improved to 4-5 and avenged a 49-31 loss in December.
Bangor fell to 7-2 as it lost its second straight game after winning its first seven.
“This was a fantastic win, and I love beating our neighbors,” said Ross.
“We wanted it more than they did. That’s what it comes down to at the end of a [close] game,” said Allie Flagg.
“[Bangor] doesn’t think anything of us. So we came in here strong. I’m so happy we got this win,” said Ford.
Bangor coach Jay Kemble praised the Witches for their performance.
“Brewer played hard. You have to give them credit,” said Kemble. “They made shots when they needed to and got some stops. We got into foul trouble, we lost Mimi and Emily (Adams) but that’s part of the growing process. You have to know when you can foul and when you can’t.
“But kudos to Brewer,” he added.
Flagg led all scorers with 17 points and the quick point guard also had five rebounds and two steals. Sophomore guard Ford contributed 13 points and six rebounds. Gabrielle Roberts had four steals and three rebounds to go with four points, and senior Mariah Roberts also had four points.
Gabrielle Roberts’ other two points had come on foul shots.
Abbie Flagg had a 3-pointer and two rebounds.
The 6-foot Quinn had a game-high nine rebounds to go with her 14 points. But Quinn shot just 2-for-9 from the foul line as the Rams made only 13 of their 25 free throws.
Sophomore Clark finished with 10 points and five rebounds and sophomore Oldenburg gave the Rams a big lift off the bench with seven points and a pair of steals. Another sophomore, Dalaney Horr, chipped in with four points, six rebounds and three steals.
Junior Adams contributed four points, three rebounds and two steals before fouling out late in the game and freshman Emily Caulkins corralled four rebounds and also had a basket.
Quinn, Horr and Adams each had two assists.
Both teams will return to action Friday night at 6:30 as Bangor will host Lewiston and Brewer will travel to Mt. Blue of Farmington.
