GIRLS BRING HOME THE GOLD
By Jessica Block
BANGOR - Junior forward Karin Bird scored 14 of Lee Academy's 30 points in the first quarter as the Pandas rolled to a 65-45 victory over Hyde of Bath in Saturday afternoon's Class D state championship game at the Bangor Auditorium.
It was the second state crown for Lee, which beat Hyde 64-25 for the Class D title in 2005.
Bird finished with a team-high 23 points and game-best 11 rebounds, while junior forward Dana Houghton chipped in with 14 points and junior guard Amanda Gifford added 10 points, five assists, four steals and eight rebounds.
The Phoenix had 16 turnovers, including four Amanda Gifford steals, in the first half against Lee's pressure defense, leading to a 42-19 Panda halftime lead. Lee had a 23-13 rebounding edge at halftime.
Hyde's Chelsea Malen poured in 24 points, 15 of which came in the second half. Mahalia Gauld added 11 points including a 3-pointer with 2 minutes left to cut the lead to 15 points.
Lee's Aarika Ritchie, the Eastern Maine Class D tourney MVP, scored nine points to go with five assists and six rebounds.