GARDINER — When Gardiner played Leavitt earlier this season, it could take pride in being one of the few teams in the state to play evenly with the defending state champion Hornets for most of the game.
After Thursday night, it’s clear that if these teams meet again, it could go either way.
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In another sign that Gardiner is for real this season, the Tigers nearly pulled out a win against Leavitt. The Hornets held on for a 65-60 victory in the regular season finale for both teams.
“We gave it everything we had,” said Gardiner coach Mike Gray, who team finishes at 15-3 and will host an Eastern B preliminary round game Tuesday. “They made plays down the stretch. We’d keep getting it to two or three, and we just couldn’t get over the hump.”
The Tigers hit their first four shots to open the game, and the crowd roared and Gray pumped his fist when Kelsey Moody’s 3-pointer gave the Tigers their largest lead at 13-4 with 3:27 left in the first quarter.
Gardiner led 20-16 after one and had eight different players score in the quarter. Leavitt (16-2) got its first lead at 29-27 with two minutes left in the half and led 32-30 at the break.
Leavitt never led by more than seven in the second half, but also never lost the lead. While Kristen Anderson scored 25 points and Adrianna Newton added 16 points and 13 rebounds, senior forward Sarah Frost was also a key. Anderson and Newton combined to shoot 12-for-39 from the floor, and Frost (six points, nine rebounds) always seemed to be grabbing a rebound or making a steal when the Hornets needed the ball.
“(Sarah) was huge for us tonight,” said Leavitt coach Tammy Anderson, who is Kristen’s mother. “She’s been doing that for us for a long time, but tonight, I think she showed some senior leadership. I think, if anything, that’s what really got us through.”
The Gardiner fans had a lot of chances to really get loud in the second half. Moody hit a 3-pointer in the third quarter and was fouled on the play, cutting Leavitt’s lead from six to three. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Coach Anderson got a technical foul for Leavitt. Jenna Moore (16 points) also hit several big shots for Gardiner, and the Tigers were within 59-56 after a layup by Paige Pilsbury with 1:08 left in the game.
Down the stretch, the Hornets went completely away from their run-and-gun style and stalled until the Tigers fouled. Newton and Anderson each hit two foul shots in the final minute, and Leavitt was able to hold on.
“That’s as good a tune-up as anyone’s going to get for the playoffs — both us and them,” Gray said. “That’s what this part of the year is all about.”
Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243
mdifilippo@centralmaine.com
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