GARDNER — The Mahar A girls summer basketball team broke out of its shooting woes on Wednesday night, defeating Quabbin 43-25 in its final game of the Gardner summer basketball league.
Mahar A shot roughly 18 percent all season. They shot 15-for-39 (38 percent) on Wednesday night. Micalyn Mailloux led the way for Mahar A, netting a team-high 19 points. Jazmyn Vautour contributed seven points along with a team-high 14 rebounds.
The two teams met after losing their opening round playoff matches. Mahar A lost to Conant while Quabbin lost to Oakmont.
Mahar A had only five players available on Wednesday night, picking up one Narragansett player for at least one rotational piece off the bench. The situation forced Abby Henne into a starting role on Wednesday, where she delivered eight points and four rebounds.
Quabbin had its own shooting woes in the second half. After taking an initial lead at the start of the second half, Quabbin generated 10 second-half points and went nearly 18 minutes scoring two baskets. Mahar A outscored Quabbin 24-4 during that run. Mahar A started and ended the run with a rebound and basket from Siobhan Davis (four points, six rebounds).
Quabbin held Mahar A in check through the first half with Mahar A holding a 16-15 lead going into halftime. Mahar A pulled ahead thanks to a free throw by Henne to tie the game at 13 and a steal and layup from Mailloux followed by one free throw 29 seconds later to put her team up 16-13.
The Mahar varsity basketball program begins its regular season Dec. 10 at Quaboag Regional High School.