The Red Eddies picked up their defensive play and started hitting shots with consistency, forcing their rivals from Lewiston to do the same.

But the Blue Devils couldn’t keep pace.

The Eddies opened a double-digit lead in the second quarter and controlled the game the rest of the way in a 46-26 win in a showdown between two of the top four Class AA North teams.

“There was no way in a million years that I thought we’d be 8-1,” said EL coach Craig Jipson, whose team lost eight players from last year’s club. “We’ve played a lot of good teams. Lewiston is a good team. Defensively, we amped it up. I think we really controlled the pace. Lewiston has three of the top players in AA North, and I thought when they couldn’t get easy shots early, it frustrated them a little bit.”

The two teams were tied 10-10 after the first quarter, but Edward Little opened the lead with an 11-1 run in the second. The Red Eddies had the lead up to 24-13 at the half, and Lewiston couldn’t get any closer the rest of the way.

“They hit some really big shots,” Lewiston coach Lynn Girouard said. “They hit some big 3s. Then we turned the ball over. We played great in the first quarter. We couldn’t have asked for a better first quarter. Then things just got away from us.”

Karli Stubbs led EL (8-1) with 15 points, while Emily Jacques and Jordyn Reynolds each had 12. Lewiston (4-5) got nine from Morgan Eliasen while Kristina Blais and Victoria Harris each had six.

“We struggled tonight,” Girouard said. “I don’t think they’re 20 points better than us by any means. They shut down Victoria, which was part of their game plan. She’s young still. We have to get her to figure out how to work through those things.”

Lewiston has lost three straight and has averaged just 33 points in those games. The Devils were averaging 50 points per outing during their 4-2 start. Edward Little, meanwhile, has allowed just 35.6 points per game and has held opponents to just 27 points per game in the past four wins.

“I was really happy with the defensive effort tonight,” said Jipson, whose team has won six straight and is ranked first in the Class AA North standings.

While EL got the offense rolling in the second, it was the defense that sparked things.  The Red Eddies forced six turnovers and held Lewiston to just 1-for-10 from the floor, including six straight missed shots to begin the quarter. Harris had scored five points in the first quarter while Skylar Gaudette hit a 3 and Blais scored on a drive. That kind of offensive production dried up in the second.

“We have some kids like Grace Fontaine and Kaylee Jipson that come in and put pressure on their shooters and help us get big defensive stops,” Stubbs said.

It was freshman Jade Perry that started the second quarter with a drive. Then Jacques hit a 3 for a quick 15-10 lead. After a free throw by Harris, her last point of the game, Jacques and Reynolds each converted steals. Then Fontaine hit a corner jumper and the lead was up to 21-11 with 3:57 left in the half. Lewiston’s only field goal was an Eliasen rebound with 2:33 left. EL finished the half with a Jacques free throw and a Reynolds basket in the post. EL hit its first five shots of the quarter.

“The chemistry really started to flow,” Stubbs said.

Stubbs led the way in the third with seven points, including a 3. EL also got 3’s from Grace Beaudet and Jacques. Lewiston hit just one of its first six shots in the third. Eliasen had a pair of baskets and Gaudette hit a jumper, but the Blue Devils were still down 37-19 after three.

“We had to stay calm,” Stubbs said. “Lewiston’s a good team, but we just had to stay calm.”

Reynolds had six points in the fourth while Jacques and Stubbs preserved the lead with free throws.

“We hit some big shots,” Jipson said. “We haven’t shot the ball great this year. We have to definitely shoot the ball better, but we’re playing well enough to win.”

kmills@sunjournal.com