Medomak Valley girls’ basketball team trailed by as many as 15 points in the 1st half, before rallying to cut the lead to two mid-way through the third period. Nokomis’ tough inside game ruled the day, as they held off the Lady Panthers to win 58-51 in the East Class B quarterfinals in Bangor on Feb. 18. With the win, Nokomis moves on to the semi-finals.
Medomak senior Alanna Vose scored her 1000th career point with 3:22 to play in the 3rd period, when she drove down the left side for a lay-up. Coach Hooper immediately called time-out for Vose and her teammates to celebrate the milestone. Vose was unaware she had reached 1000 points until Coach Hooper gave her a hug during the time out.
The two teams were not strangers going into the quarterfinal match-up, having faced each other during the KVAC season, where Medomak lost 66-31. Unlike that game, the Lady Panthers gave Nokomis a run for their money in the Regional quarterfinal.
Medomak and Nokomis were tied with just under six minutes to go in the 1st period, and the Panthers had the chance to take the lead at the foul line, but uncharacteristically came up empty. The Warriors rattled off eight straight points. The Lady Panthers scored back-to-back hoops from Mallory Robbins and Vose, before Nokomis went on a run of six. Nokomis led 20-10 at the end of one.
Nokomis kicked off the 2nd frame with a 9-3 run to open up a 15-point lead. Medomak scored 7 straight to cut the lead to eight with 1:35 to go. Vose and Robbins scored two foul shots each, Hannah Marks scored on a Vose feed and Robbins hit another foul shot in the rally. Anna Mackenzie crashed the glass for two, but Vose had the final say of the period with a 3-pointer to pull Medomak within seven, 30-23 by halftime.
Mallory Conary hit a big three to open the 3rd and cut the lead to four. Mackenzie drove inside for back-to-back hoops to extend Nokomis’ lead to 8. Conary hit another three, and Vose converted at the foul line for a three-point play to cut the lead to two. Nokomis answered the threat with seven straight points, and led at the end of three 46-38.
The Warriors scored the first six points of the 4th quarter to lead by 14, with Vose out of the game with ice on her elbow after getting tripped up. Vose returned two minutes later and led the Panthers on a 7-2 run to cut the lead to 9 with three minutes to play. The two teams traded points down the stretch.
Scoring for Medomak were Vose 24 (5R,4S,5A), Robbins 9 (6R,2B), Marks 8, Conary 8 (6R,2A), and Amanda Hendrickson-Belloguet 2 (2S). Taylor Simmons had 2 steals and 2 assists. Scoring for Nokomis were Marissa Shaw 14 (5R,3S), Kelsie Richards 14 (4R,4S), Mackenzie 14 (10R), Emilee Reynolds 8 (4R,3S), Kylie Richards 6 (3S), and Lindsay Whitney 2.
Nokomis held a 32-20 advantage on the boards.