PORTLAND -- Morgan Frame was her usual dominant self for Waterville in Friday night's Class B girls basketball state championship game.
Frame scored 22 points and hauled down 21 rebounds. And senior guards Stephanie Whitten and Paige Gardiner played their typical stingy defense and combined for 13 points.
But without the contributions of seniors Jasmine Bishop and Taylor Hart, who each came off the bench to play pivotal minutes, the Panthers aren't celebrating their 66th consecutive win and third straight state championship today after a 54-42 victory.
"That's the reason we're undefeated," Waterville head coach Ted Rioux said. "When you have those bench players who can step up and make you feel OK. Jasmine and Taylor have done that all year for us."
Bishop, a 5-foot-10 forward, scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds for Waterville.
"(Bishop) came in, she didn't make any mistakes when she was in there," Frame said. "She played unbelievable defense. That's really what you need off the bench."
Hart had two rebounds, a steal and one field goal, but Hart's basket came late in the third quarter and helped kill a York run. Stephanie Gallagher had just converted a three-point play to push the Wildcats' lead to 33-30, their biggest since the first quarter.
Seven seconds later, Hart made a 10-foot baseline jumper to pull Waterville back within a point.
"That's where my shot is," Hart said. "It just kind of came in the flow of the offense and felt good."
Bishop went 4 for 4 at the foul line, and each of her trips to the line gave Waterville the lead. A pair of Bishop free throws with 19 seconds left in the second quarter gave Waterville a 23-21 halftime lead. Her foul shots with 30 seconds to play in the third gave the Panthers a 34-33 lead.
Waterville never trailed in the fourth quarter.
"I was a little nervous," Bishop said. "Everyone was screaming."
Added Rioux: "Jasmine is an amazing shooter. She starts on every other team we played this year."
While both contributed big offensive moments in the state final, both Hart and Bishop feel offense is secondary to their ability to come in the game and play lockdown defense for the Panthers.
"My main goal is to play well on defense and help us get turnovers," Hart said.
Added Bishop: "I feel like I help more on defense, to be another big body to come in and push them around."
Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242
tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
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