By Michael C. Guilmette Jr.
Sports Reporter
BRIMLEY — It may not have been pretty, but it was a win.
The Brimley Varsity Girls Basketball Team took the lead early in their game against the Newberry Indians on Sept. 16 and held on for a 43-35 win, but the Bays paid a price for the victory as both Candice Leapley and Emily Gillies fouled out in the fourth period.
The Bays led in scoring in the first half of the game, holding back Newberry 14-6 in the first period and 24-12 in the second period. However, Newberry pushed back in the second half, scoring 11 points to Brimley's 9 in the third period and 12 points in the fourth, outscoring the Bays by two points.
“[Newberry] made a good comeback in the second half while we held on,” Coach Ray Bell said. “We had very good defense, when we weren't running into foul trouble.”
Leapley led in scoring for Brimley, sinking 16 points during the game and chalking up nine rebounds. Stephanie Carrick followed with eight points and six rebounds, and Gillies scored six points.
Contrasting the varsity team, the Brimley JV team beat Newberry in a 37-34 nail-biter that turned over three times in the closing moments of the game.
“All of our girls did a good job,” said a relieved Coach Scott Church. “They are working together as a team now and not as five individual players, and they are learning to play with a little pressure.
The Bays traveled to Engadine on Sept. 18 and squeaked by the Eagles with a 45-44 win. Engadine edged by Brimley in the first period with a 10-8 score, but Brimley answered that by scoring 14 points to the Eagles' four, bringing the score to 22-14.
The Bays held on to that lead in the third period, bringing the total points to 34-28, but had to contend with an Engadine comeback that put the Eagles in the lead in the fourth period. Engadine actually outscored the Bays in the second half, scoring 30 points to Brimley's 23, but their second period deficit and the Bays' fourth period rally and a three-point shot by Stephanie Freedman in the final seconds gave Brimley the 45-44 victory.
Leapley again took top-scoring honors with 18 points and a three-point shot, followed by Emily Gillies with 11 points with a three-point shot and Tara Lothrop with seven points. The Bays again ran into foul trouble when Stephanie Carrick fouled out.
The Brimley girls will travel to Newberry for a rematch on Sept. 25 and will then play DeTour at home on Sept. 30.
