From the opening tip, it was all Boothbay in a Mountain Valley Conference schoolgirl basketball game against Carrabec Jan. 4.  Seahawk guard Chloe Arsenault secured the opening tip and raced down court scoring the game’s first hoop on a layup. Teammate Glory Blethen scored on a fast break. And two baskets by Ashley Abbott, an eight foot jumper and a fast break hoop, gave Boothbay an 8-0 lead in the game’s first 70 seconds.

Carrabec of North Anson tried to run and gun with Boothbay throughout the contest. The Cobras’ aggressive tactic paid an early dividend by scoring two straight baskets cutting Boothbay’s lead in half, but after that, Carrabec didn’t score again until the half’s last minute. Boothbay’s defensive pressure, transition game and half-court offense left the visitors snake bitten in being outscored 27-0 with 1:11 seconds remaining in the half. Boothbay led 41-6 at intermission.

This was Boothbay’s eighth straight victory in starting the season. Boothbay defeated Carrabec 62-19. Carrabec is now 2-7 in league play.

For Boothbay, the game is all about playing fast. But the high risk game has not resulted in sloppy play. The Lady Seahawks have harnessed their speed, and play each game faster and faster without a lot of turnovers. 

Coach Brian Blethen’s X’s and O’s are working on the court, but so is each player’s own XOXOs (hugs and kisses) for each other. The Lady Seahawks play as a cohesive unit with an emphasis on sharing the ball, and their on-court love shows as each player plays with a determination to play both with and for one another.

“It is a lot of fun,” said junior Seahawk guard Maddie Faulkingham. “We all enjoy playing with each other and sharing the ball. So when we are out there playing, you see a lot of smiling, happy faces.”

Carrabec struggled to stop Boothbay’s transition game and didn’t have much luck stopping the Seahawks' half-court offense, either. Carrabec was a quick, scrappy team, but Boothbay’s size, speed and execution were too much for their Somerset County rival.

“In the beginning, we executed our plays and moved the ball well,” said junior guard Josey Smith about her team’s performance. “This season has been a lot of fun. We all like each other which shows in how we share the ball, and why we are doing so well this season.”

The Lady Seahawks are also developing a potent perimeter attack. During the game, several players showed their long-range shooting by connecting on 3-pointers. Coach Blethen explained his team’s offensive potency is due to a commitment making each player a scoring threat. And from a coaching standpoint, Blethen enjoys watching how well his team is executing the “share the ball philosophy.”

“For the past two years, we’ve encouraged our players to shoot the ball. They all have the green light,” he said. “It’s taken awhile, but what I think you are seeing is our players are finally embracing it,” he said.

Three Seahawks scored in double figures: Glory Blethen, 16; Faith Blethen, 15 and Ashley Abbott, 14. Other Seahawks scorers were Chloe Arsenault with eight, Josey Smith with three, and Maddie Faulkingham, Jaelyn Crocker and Kylie Brown with two each.

At Wiscasset Jan. 2, Boothbay easily defeated the winless Wolverines, 65-22. Glory Blethen led Boothbay with 21 points, followed by her sister, Faith, with 19.

At press time, Boothbay was in second place in the Class C South Heal point standings. Winthrop (7-0) was the only other undefeated team in the region and was in first place at press time.