Oxford Hills shoots out of the gate, tops Cheverus in AA North showdown

Jan. 21—PARIS — Tristen Derenburger’s exterior taking pictures helped construct the lead, and Oxford Hills’ well timed playmaking stored Cheverus at a distance in Saturday’s showdown of Class AA North women basketball contenders.

Derenburger drained seven 3-pointers to tempo the unbeaten Vikings to a 61-50 victory over the Stags.

“That was wonderful,” Oxford Hills guard Sierra Carson stated of Derenburger’s taking pictures. “I might be like, ‘That is automated.’ It was wonderful.”

Derenburger hit three of her treys through the opening quarter, keying a pair of 8-0 runs for the Vikings (11-0) as they jumped out to a 16-4 lead.

She drained three extra 3s early within the third quarter and Ella Pelletier added one other as Oxford Hills pushed its 29-19 halftime result in 42-23.

Cheverus coach Invoice Goodman stated that the Stags had been conscious of Derenburger’s taking pictures skill earlier than Saturday’s sport.

“She’s an incredible participant,” Goodman stated. “The issue is that they have 5 different gamers who’re actually good gamers. So, except they let me have six gamers towards their 5, they’re robust to cease. They’re. They’ve numerous good shooters and gamers that may drive. So that they’re actually robust to deal with.”

The Vikings (11-0) maintained a double-digit lead for a lot of the second half, however Cheverus (11-2) continued to battle, and within the fourth quarter acquired inside eight factors, 52-44, with lower than 4 minutes remaining. Derenburger rapidly responded along with her seventh 3-pointer to place the Vikings up 11 factors, and so they maintained a double-digit lead for the rest of the sport.

“They suppose that they are getting shut,” Carson stated, “and she or he simply hits that, and she or he’s similar to, ‘Nope.'”

Derenburger stated that her focus earlier than that shot wasn’t as a lot concerning the Stags closing the hole, however, relatively, it was on giving the Vikings a spark.

“I strive not to have a look at the scoreboard and every little thing. I knew what wanted to be achieved, and I acquired it achieved,” Derenburger stated. “I simply — if I’ve it open, I will shoot it. … I simply knew we wanted to get slightly extra of a kick beneath us.”

Derenburger completed with 21 factors to steer Oxford Hills. Her seven 3s matches a private excessive that she has achieved just a few instances this season. Vikings coach Nate Pelletier stated that it matches probably the most a participant has made since he took over this system 18 years in the past.

“That is the factor, it isn’t even at this time, she’s hit seven 3s in a few video games this yr. She’s shot nicely for us all yr,” Pelletier stated. “It is now not a fluke, she will be able to shoot.”

Ella Pelletier added 17 and Carson scored 15.

Maddie Fitzpatrick paced Cheverus with 21 factors, and Ruth Boles completed with 10.

After Derenburger’s taking pictures gave Oxford Hills a giant lead within the opening quarter, Cheverus spent the rest of the sport battling again. The Stags scored the ultimate 5 factors of the primary to chop the deficit to 16-9. The Vikings, spurred by a Molly Corbett 3-pointer, acquired it again to 11 factors, 21-10, early within the second.

Cheverus resumed chipping away on the lead and had it all the way down to 25-19 with about 30 seconds remaining within the second. However Carson scored a basket after which stole the ball close to midcourt and drove for a layup within the waning seconds of the half to ship the Vikings into the break with a 29-19 benefit.

Carson additionally had steal and a layup on the finish of the third quarter.

“They’re very proficient, they shoot amazingly, they transfer the ball. I like our struggle and our soul. I used to be actually dissatisfied in how we took care of the ball,” Goodman stated. “We did not do too nicely dealing with stress.”

Derenburger, Carson and Nate Pelletier every talked about the significance of Oxford Hills’ vitality, which was notably necessary towards the taller Stags. The Vikings needed to hurry up the tempo on offense, and work arduous on protection, particularly towards Cheverus’s prime scorers, Fitzpatrick and Emma Lizotte, who helped the Stags win final yr’s Class AA state title.

Maddy Miller, Ella Pelletier and others teamed as much as maintain Lizotte to seven factors.

“We want everyone to win. And we wanted everyone tonight,” Nate Pelletier stated. “We had Maddy Miller foul out, however I assumed she had an incredible sport defending Lizotte, which isn’t simple — I could not defend her, it isn’t simple to do.”

Fitzpatrick, a junior who has already dedicated to play on the College of Maine, needed to work arduous for her 21 factors.

“We did every little thing we will. We fouled her a bunch, too,” Nate Pelletier stated. “She is so dynamic as a result of she’s 5-10, 5-11, so you set a smaller guard on her, she simply goes proper to the submit and posts up and scores. You place anyone that is greater than her, she goes by. She shoots the three.

“She’s going to UMaine for a purpose. She’s excellent, and she or he’s actually labored on her sport. I instructed her after, ‘You are simply tremendous arduous to defend.'”

Subsequent up for the Vikings is probably an excellent harder sport. They play at fellow unbeaten Bangor (11-0) on Tuesday — and relying on Monday’s climate, may achieve this with out one other apply. The Rams, the one different group to beat the Stags this season, are the highest group within the AA North standings and ranked No. 1 within the Varsity Maine women basketball ballot (Oxford Hills is second and Cheverus is No. 4).

“I preserve telling them — even earlier than the sport, after the sport — this wasn’t a state championship,” Nate Pelletier stated. “We have got lots to do to be the place we should be come playoffs.”