BANGOR,Maine -– Ellsworth High School girls basketball coach Andy Pooler said his team doesn’t actively go into games seeking to break records for 3-pointers.
But the Eagles now own the Maine high school girls tournament record for all classes after hitting 14 3-pointers in a 76-35 Class B North quarterfinal win over Presque Isle on Saturday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. The previous girls record was 12 in a tournament game set by Waynflete in 2012 and tied by Calais in 2019.
The boys tournament record for 3-pointers in a game is 20 made by Washburn in 2011, according to Maine Principals Association records.
The Eagles coach said if there is an open 3-pointer, he wants his players to take the shot.
“We have seen a ton of zones (defenses) night in and night out so, from the middle of the year to the end of the year, we shot more (threes) in practice,” explained Pooler. “We can run five good shooters out there all the time. It’s not super-emphasized but every single one of them has the green light to shoot one at any time.”
“I wouldn’t have guessed that we would beat the record,” said junior forward Grace Jaffray, who had four of the threes. “It’s just what we go out and do. If we aren’t hitting threes, we’ll just get the ball inside and create for each other.”
Sophomore guard Lizzie Boles had six threes to lead the Eagles and she tied the individual record for Class B North.
“This means a lot to us. I’m very excited. It’s very special,” said Boles. “We love to shoot and we work on it in practice.”
She said shooting is contagious and once one of them hits a three, the others will get into the act.
“Lizzie is a feel shooter,” said Pooler, noting that once she hits a three, she can get on a roll.
“Once she hits one or two, they keep feeding her,” said Pooler. “Lizzie and Grace both know where they are on the court at all times and they are always ready to shoot.”
