The Wolverines rallied late from a 10-point deficit but came up short, losing 29-24 to visiting Mt. Abram at Wiscasset Middle High School. Monday night’s girls’ basketball game was the Mountain Valley Conference opener for both teams.

Wiscasset went out in front early. Kateleen Trask staked the Wolverines to a 10-4 lead after drawing a foul on a three-point attempt and converting two of three foul shots at 6:51 of the second period. The Roadrunners then went on a 6-0 run; a basket underneath by Cassandra Hobbs tied the score. Madison Phelps’ jump shot briefly put Mt. Abram ahead 12-10. The Wolverines then went back on top after Trask swished in a trifecta.

In the final minutes of the half, the visitors regained the lead for good. Emily Marden’s basket with 46 ticks left opened up a six-point lead for the Roadrunners, 19-13, which is where the score stood at halftime.

Both teams struggled in the third quarter, the visitors outscoring their hosts 8-4. The Wolverines caught a break six minutes into the quarter after the Roadrunners were whistled for a technical foul. Zoe Waltz converted one of two free throws and Wiscasset retained possession of the ball but failed to score. Heading into the final period, Mt. Abram led 27-17.

With 5:55 left, Brianna Orr found Waltz open for a field goal from the left side; Orr to Madison Carrier cut the Roadrunners’ lead to six, 27-21. In the closing minutes, Kylie Peoples found Waltz open for a trifecta, the Wolverines’ final basket of the game. Waltz and Trask led the Wolverines with nine points each. Phelps netted 10 for Mt. Abram. Peoples grabbed 15 rebounds. Waltz had seven steals.

The Roadrunners went to the foul line 23 times but made only seven shots, Wiscasset converted five of seven free throws.

Roadrunners by a mile

Mt. Abram scored 21 unanswered points, 10 by senior Nate Lutes in the first six minutes of the game, and coasted to a lopsided 91-18 win over the Wolverines in the night cap.

Luce finished with a game-high 17 points and sat out most of the second half. The Wolverines’ first basket of the game came when Marshall Weeks converted a free throw with 2:58 left in the opening quarter.

The second quarter started off better for the Wolverines. Billy Pinkham drove to the hoop and scored on the team’s first possession. Soon after, things went downhill after Pinkham carried the ball inside for a layup, rolled his ankle and had to leave the game. In the game’s closing minutes, Matt Eckert and Brett Osmond hit three-point baskets for the Wolverines. Dillion Leeman and Kyle Ricker both played well off the bench. Noah Haggett led WMHS in rebounding and had five points. Osmond had five points as well.

Mt Abram led 35-1, 64-7 and 85-11 at the period breaks.

The Wolverine boys’ and girls’ next three games are away; they’ll travel to Madison on Friday, Dec. 13, Monmouth Academy Dec. 19, and Lisbon Dec. 20 and then take a break for the Christmas holiday.