The Cony girls basketball team won a pair of one-point decisions in two entirely different games last week.

First, the Rams pulled out a 65-64 double-overtime win against Edward Little in which senior Josie Lee made the game-winning free throw with no time remaining. Later in the week, they beat Oxford Hills 38-37 in a much more slowly played game.

“They help us a great deal because we have to make the right decision (down the stretch),” Cony coach Karen Magnusson said. “It proves how good our league is and how even it is. It’s also a confidence boost for us.”

Both Edward Little and defending Eastern Maine champion Hampden began the season at 1-2 but there’s no doubt in Magnusson’s mind they will contend.

“Edward Little could win out and go No. 1,” she said.

The Rams (4-0) are also in the mix along with eight or nine other teams, including two other unbeatens in Eastern A, Messalonskee and Skowhegan.

Against Edward Little, Cony senior Mia Diplock and Edward Little junior Ashlee Arnold put on a show. Diplock finished with 27 points while Arnold scored 24 before fouling out in overtime.

“It was one of the best games I’ve been a part of,” Magnusson said. “Both teams made big plays at the right moments.”

Diplock, Cony’s point guard, scored on drives to the hoop as well as shots from the perimeter.

“She did not want us to lose,” Magnusson said. “Our team fought and fought. We were down five (points) in the first overtime.”

Lee, who plays guard and sometimes alternates at point with Diplock, hauled down a game-high 17 rebounds.

“She’s so athletic,” Magnusson said. “She can out-jump post players. She’s 5-8 but she plays like 6-2.”

Lee added a triple-double Tuesday night against Lewiston, scoring 19 points to go with 10 rebounds and eight steals. She also recorded 10 assists.

Against Oxford Hills, the host Vikings played a zone and controlled the tempo. Diplock, Lee and center Melanie Guzman were in foul trouble. Guzman played less than 10 minutes and didn’t score as the Rams trailed most of the game.

“We kept chipping away,” Magnusson said. “Their point guard fouled out with a couple of minutes left and we got a couple of turnovers. (Emily) Sanford hit a big basket near the end.”

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Hall-Dale pulled out an overtime win at Boothbay on Tuesday night against a taller Seahawks team.

“They have two very good post players, which was a pretty tough matchup for us,” Hall-Dale coach Brandon Terrill said.

Sophomore Allison Crockett guarded Boothbay senior Meghan Smith while Carylanne Wolfington gave away about six inches in guarding Alexandra Clarke.

“I love the way that Allison Crockett battled for us,” Terrill said. “As a sophomore, her first year on varsity, she’s doing a tremendous job as primary post player.”

Wolfington did what Terrill has come to expect of her. Not only did she score a game-high 27 points, the senior forward also grabbed a key offensive rebound in overtime and sealed the win with a steal and layup. The Bulldogs (4-0) trailed by four points late in the fourth quarter.

“They have a passionate will to win,” Terrill said.

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After losing three players, including two starters, to knee injuries before the season even started, Monmouth is adjusting on the fly.

“We were really expecting this season to be really good for us,” Monmouth coach Scott Wing said. “We haven’t won much the last couple of years so we were really under the radar.”

The Mustangs got off to a good start with wins against Lisbon and Winthrop and played a couple of close losses to Dirigo and Mountain Valley. They fell behind 21-2 against Dirigo but battled back to within four points with three minutes left before losing 37-27.

“We got back in it with defensive pressure,” Wing said. “It was an absolute bloodbath. I told the girls if they’re not going to call it let’s start getting after the ball.”

During the third quarter, the Mustangs held Dirigo to one shot, a last-second basket. Junior Melissa Brassard guarded Dirigo’s Alyssa Wade and held her to 13 points, six of those free throws down the stretch.

“Melissa Brassard has been playing unbelievable defense,” Wing said.

In a 50-42 loss to Class B Mountain Valley, Brassard held high-scoring Ayla Allen to six points.

Guard Colby Wilson and Molly Menice are also playing well, Wing said, while senior Kristine Kahl leads the team in scoring at 12 points per game, and rebounding at nine per game. Sophomore Kylie Kemp comes off the bench and is averaging eight points and eight rebounds a game.

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Skipping a couple of sports seasons has paid off for Richmond junior Jamie Plummer. Tuesday night, she scored a career-high 33 points as her Bobcats beat Rangeley 43-41. Last season against Rangeley, Plummer sat out frequently to rest her body and the Bobcats were soundly beaten.

“Last year I had knee issues, calf issues and back issues,” Plummer said. “This year I took soccer off and worked hard all summer and tried to do something every day to get stronger.”

Plummer didn’t play AAU basketball in the spring or summer basketball.

“I started playing on Sundays, beginning in October,” she said. “Since I got stronger my pain definitely is not as high as last year.”

Although the six-foot Plummer scored all of her points in the paint or at the foul line, she showed good versatility by often bringing the ball up court against defensive pressure.

“I would love to play in college,” she said. “That’s my goal.”

Gary Hawkins — 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com