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FAIRFIELD — What was seen as one of the games of the year when the Maine high school girls basketball schedule was first released did not disappoint for a moment.

In what could end up being a Class B state title preview, Lawrence opened its season Tuesday by battling tooth-and-nail with Oceanside at Folsom Gymnasium. The result was a 70-62 overtime victory for the host Bulldogs, who were led by 29 points from senior Maddie Provost.

Here are five takeaways.

Oh, what a game

Take a bow, Bulldogs and Mariners; you were both scintillating.

From start to finish, this was a battle. The teams were tied 27-27 at halftime. The Mariners led by two points after a third quarter in which neither team was ahead by more than three. Ultimately, overtime was needed to decide it, as a 3-point burst from Oceanside and a big second half from Lawrence’s Ashley Shores left the score tied at 60 at the end of regulation.

With her team down 57-55, Shores hit a 3-pointer to give Lawrence the lead. Abby Stackpole immediately answered at the other end to put Oceanside back in front. Then, a Leah Tibbetts basket for the Bulldogs forced the extra period.

“There’s been a lot of talk about it, and we’ve tried to say, ‘Ignore the hype and just go out to play,’ but man, that lived up to the hype,” said Lawrence coach Greg Chesley. “We were shooting phenomenal early on, and with how (Oceanside freshman Olivia) Breen was shooting, it was going to be tight.”

Provost’s steal-and-score seals it

Great players find ways to put games away in key situations. That’s exactly what Lawrence star Maddie Provost did in overtime.

With the Bulldogs up four in the final minute, Provost was defending Oceanside’s Renee Ripley just past midcourt. As Ripley looked to pass, Provost poked the ball away, sprinted to the other end and scored an easy layup to make it 68-62 with 25 seconds left.

“I kind of knew once the ball went through the hoop that we got the win, so it was a great feeling,” Provost said. “They came in here and played us very physical and played well. It was just a good game overall.”

Olivia Breen arrives

She was getting offers from NCAA Division I schools before she even started eighth grade. An early spurt from Breen in only her second varsity game showed why she’s so highly touted.

Even as Lawrence defenders double- and triple-teamed her, Breen made three straight contested jump shots almost effortlessly in the opening quarter. Her output was crucial to Oceanside staying in the game, as Provost and Tibbetts paced the Bulldogs early. Breen finished with 20 points.

Eight 3-pointers also kept the Mariners competitive. Ultimately, though, Oceanside coach Matt Breen said the team’s ball movement was too slow and that the Mariners didn’t rebound well enough. Lawrence outrebounded Oceanside 36-28. 

“We’ve got to be quicker with our ball movement, otherwise they’re just going to put two or three around (Olivia) and make it difficult,” Matt Breen said. “We did a lot of good things defensively, but our rebounding was atrocious, and if you give them that many shots, they’re going to make you pay.”

Shores steps up

Lawrence’s Ashley Shores didn’t score in the first half, as foul trouble limited her time on the floor. What the senior did in the second half, though, more than made up for it.

Shores scored nine points in the third quarter to help the Bulldogs keep pace before scoring six more in the fourth. She then got the opening basket of overtime to put Lawrence in front for good.

“At halftime, Coach was really saying, ‘We need to front her and have support,’ and that kind of amped us up,’” Shores said. “We were nervous, but I feel like we came (ready for) the challenge and played hard.”

Stat leaders

• Lawrence: Maddie Provost (29 points), Ashley Shores (17 points, nine rebounds), Leah Tibbetts (14 points, five rebounds), Payton Cole (eight points, eight rebounds).

• Oceanside: Olivia Breen (20 points, eight rebounds), Renee Ripley (17 points, six rebounds), Abby Stackpole (11 points), Addie Poland (eight points, five rebounds).