Waterville holds on to upend Oceanside in varsity matchup

ROCKLAND – Sometimes you win games because you are a better team, sometimes you lose games because you play not to lose, occasionally two teams both have off nights and it turns into an exciting game to see who will outlast who. Saturday night was that kind of game as the Purple Panthers built an 8-point halftime lead and then held on for the 45-41 win.

Oceanside's freshman Grace Woodman came off the bench Saturday against Waterville to put in a game-high 12 points on four 3-point baskets. Waterville went on to win 45-41. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

Click here for the Photo Gallery from this game.


Oceanside falls to 7-8 on the season and is now #10 in the Maine Principles Association Heal Point Standings. The top 11 make the playoffs. Waterville goes to 9-5 and moves up to #9 in the standings.

Waterville led the while game taking a 10-7 first-quarter lead and extending it to a 28-20 halftime advantage. Neither team could find the basket in the third quarter with Oceanside outscoring the Purple Panthers 6-5 to cut the Waterville lead to seven points, 33-26. The Mariners had many opportunities in the final stanza to take the lead, but Waterville prevailed with some solid play to hold on for the win.

In the first quarter, the Purple Panthers came out strong taking a 10-4 lead late in the quarter when freshman Grace Woodman came into the game and the first touch buried a three-point basket to put the Mariners back in the game as the quarter came to a close now only trailing 10-7. Woodman continued to show coach why she needs to be on the floor. This girl is a shooter. Woodman kept the Mariners in the game in the second quarter lead the team with six points on two more 3-point baskets.

Oceanside's Abby Veilleux, left, and Kassidy Robinson (20), battle with a Waterville defender for a rebound. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

After a silent third quarter from each team the Mariners came out ready to play, with junior Hope Butler leading the way with five points as the Mariners cut the lead, but in the end, missed some shots that could have easily changed the outcome. Woodman nailed her fourth 3-point basket off the bench to lead the Mariners.

Scoring for Oceanside was Woodman with a game-high 12 points; Butler nine; Gabby Simmons eight; Sara Dorr four; Kassidy Robinson and Kalli Grover three each; and Hannah Moholland two.

Oceanside was 13-of-20 (65 percent) from the foul line and they had four three-point baskets, all from Woodman.

Waterville used a balanced scoring attack with 8-of-10 players scoring. Paige St Pierre had 10 points; Jayda Murray nine; Abby Saucier six; Sadie Garling five; Lindsay Given, Hannah LeClair, and Maddie Martin four each; and McKenzie St. Pierre three.

The Purple Panthers were 14-of-26 (54 percent) from the foul line. They had three 3-point baskets, one each from, Martin, Garling, and Saucier, all in the second quarter.

Oceanside has three games left, Tuesday, Jan. 30 at Belfast, Friday, Feb. 2 at MCI, and they will close out the season at home Thursday, Feb. 8 against rival Medomak Valley.

Waterville - 10-18-6-12=45
Oceanside - 7-13-6-15=41

Oceanside's Grace Woodman nails her second 3-pointer of the game. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

Oceanside's Kalli Grover uses a nice ball fake to get this shot off over the Waterville defender. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

Oceanside's Gabby Simmons, left, drives past Waterville's Jayda Murray for a layup. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)