In 94 minutes of playoff basketball, the Lawrence Bulldogs had not trailed for a single second. In fact, Lawrence had outscored their opponents 47-19 in their three opening quarters. However, Brunswick scored the first two baskets of the game to take a 5-0 lead. The Bulldogs then rattled off a 12-0 run and help the Dragons at arm’s length for the 58-43 state championship win.
The seniors of Lawrence told anyone who asked they were confident in their chances because they had Hope Bouchard leading their team. Fresh off of 26 points to lead the Bulldogs in their upset of top-seeded Gardiner, the senior continued to set the tone and close out the game. 18 of her game-high 25 points were scored in the first and last quarter, including a 6-7 night from the charity stripe with all but one trip coming in the final quarter.
The Dragons found themselves trailing 29-16 at the half but used a 9-0 run in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 35-31. Junior Dakota Shipley got the ball on a give-and-go but was too strong with the layup that would have made it a one-possession game. Instead, out of a timeout, Lawrence senior Elizabeth Crommett was left open for a buzzer-beating three and that was the end of Brunswick’s chances.
The Bulldogs went 10-16 from the charity stripe, on a 15-24 night, to close out the game. Freshman Madalyn Provost was the only other Bulldog in double figures, finishing with 16 points. Senior Brianna Poulin only had five points but added 12 rebounds and two steals.
Maddy Werner finished with a team-high 16 points for Brunswick, along with six rebounds and three blocks. She was the most consistent threat for the Dragons but Poulin and the backup bigs did a great job controlling the glass throughout the night. Alexis Morin was the only other player in double figures with ten points but struggled throughout the night from the three-point arc. Leading scorer Dakota Shipley was held to just nine points but did have 14 rebounds and three steals. Brunswick finished 6-11 from the free-throw line.
