The Bangor High football team had a second half to forget in the State title game against Cheverus. Well, their Basketball brethren got revenge, knocking off defending-state champ and undefeated Cheverus to win the Class A Boys State title, 56-49.
Bangor got off to a hot start, scoring 9 straight points in the first quarter after Cheverus got out to a quick 3-0 lead. Tristan Thomas had 5 points in the opening quarter. It was Bangor up 9-3 after the first quarter.
The Stags had 13 turnovers early in the second quarter, and only 3 points. The Stags would turn it around, however, going on a 15-6 run, led by Griffin Brady's 10 points in the second quarter. Patrick Stewart paced Bangor with 6 points in the quarter, as the Rams were up 21-20 at halftime.
Brady kept it going to start the second half, scoring 4 points in a 6-2 Cheverus run. Cam Olson pitched in 4 points late, as it was 34-31 Stags after three quarters.
Bangor was determined to not lose to Cheverus in two state titles in one year. Luke Hetterman, the smallest player on the Bangor roster, put his team on his back in the fourth quarter. Hetterman hit an astounding 9 free throws to push Bangor to victory. Hetterman finished with a team-high 14 points, all in the second half. The Bangor senior was named the Capt'n Eli's Player of the Game and had a dream end to his high school career, being lifted in the air by his team after winning the State Title. For Bangor, revenge is sweet.
Throughout the Western Maine tournament McAuley was led by Rebecca Knight, Alexa Coulombe, and Allie Clement. Things didn't change in the State Final, as the trio led the Lions to their third Gold Ball, winning 39-23.
McAuley was ready to go in this one, with their memorable Regional Final in the rear-view mirror. The Lions jumped out to a 13-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. Clement had 6 points, and Coulombe 5 in the quarter.
Hampden started to get going in the second quarter, clawing their way back into it. They went on an 8-2 run to start the quarter, led by 3-pointers from Michaela Stephenson and Jordan Maxwell. Knight and Coulombe scored 4 points a piece as McAuley took a 21-13 lead into halftime.
Stephenson would hit two more 3-pointers in the third quarter, and Courtney Doyon would chip in with 4 points, but that was it for Hampden. Coulombe, Knight, and Clement did the dirty work for McAuley, as they extended the lead to 33-23 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Lions would completely shut down Hampden in the fourth quarter, holding them scorless for the rest of the game. Clement and Hannah Cooke hit free throws as McAuley pulled away. Alexa Coulombe was named the Capt'n Eli's Player of the Game after leading McAuley with 15 points, and a bunch of big rebounds and blocks.
If Cape Elizabeth was to have any chance beating Camden Hills, it had to have a big game from Theo Bowe while also limiting Camden's Tyler McFarland. The Capers could only do that for one half, as Bowe's 36 points weren't enough as McFarland and Keegan Pieri led the Windjammers to a 68-59 win in the Boys Class B State Title game.
Camden Hills got off to a 8-0 start, and it was looking like this game wouldn't be a game. Then Bowe took over, scoring 12 points as Cape led 14-12 at the end of the 1st quarter.
Bowe then started the second with a 3-pointer, as it looked like Cape would pull away. The Windjammers pulled back into it behind Pieri's four big baskets. It was 34-31 Cape on top at halftime.
The Bowe vs. McFarland duel we were all expecting finally took place in the second half. Bowe was up to 28 points by the end of the 3rd quarter, and McFarland came back to life with 10 points. Pieri chipped in with 6, and Camden Hills kept the rest of the Capers quiet, as the Windjammers led 49-44 after three quarters.
McFarland had 9 more points in the fourth quarter to finish with 24 in the game. Bowe had 8 points and Cam Brown 7 as the Capers kept it interesting. Joel Gabriele finished it off for Camden Hills, however, with two big steals and four big free throws as Camden Hills pulled away in the last 2 minutes. McFarland was named the Capt'n Eli's Soda Player of the Game after his monster second half. After watching his team lose in overtime in the State game last year, "T-Mac" was not to be denied on this night. It was a magical end to a magical run for McFarland, Pieri, and Gabriele at Camden Hills.
No one in Western Maine showed the ability to slow down the high-flying Leavitt Hornets. Nokomis made it their mission to be the first. The Warriors stalled the Hornets for spurts, but Leavitt pulled away to win the Girls Class B State Title, 49-37
Nokomis did a good job of staying with Leavitt to start the game. Marissa Shaw and Danielle Watson each scored 4 points in the opening quarter as the Warriors were down 16-12 eight minutes in. Adrianna Newton and Courtney Anderson each made three baskets for Leavitt.
The pace slowed down in the second quarter, as the defensive pressure picked up. Nokomis opened with a 7-2 run to start, with Watson's basket giving the Warriors a 19-18 lead. It was the last time Nokomis would lead, as Leavitt would end the half on an 8-0 run, lead be Kristen Anderson's first 3-pointer of the game. It was 26-19 Leavitt at halftime.
Things were pointing Nokomis' way to start the half, as the Warriors started on a 4-1 run. Newton left the game with an ankle injury for Leavitt, giving Nokomis an opening to get back in the game. The Warriors couldn't take advantage, as Leavitt ended the third quarter on an 8-2 run, and Newton was back on the court.
It was all Leavitt in the fourth quarter, or more specifically, all Courtney Anderson. The Leavitt Senior captain scored 11 of her game-high 21 points in the quarter as the Hornets fulfilled their destiny. Leavitt capped off a 22-0 season with a dominating second half. Anderson was named the Capt'n Eli's Soda Player of the Game as she rode off into the sunset of her high school career.
With two teams that like to shoot the 3-ball, you would have thought that a Cheverus - Bonny Eagle match-up would be high scoring. Not when you can't hit the 3-pointer. Cheverus made one more 3-pointer, and that was the final margin as the Stags downed the Scots 30-27 to win the Western Maine Class A Boys title.
Cheverus got off to an 8-2 start, as Bonny Eagle was cold from the field to start. Louis DiStasio and James Kapothanasis both hit 3s for the the Stags. It was 8-4 Cheverus after the first quarter.
Bonny Eagle would end the first and start the second on a 5-0 run, with Freshman Dustin getting a basket and a free throw to start the second quarter. The teams combined for 10 field goals in the first half, as turnovers and clanked shot attempts were the telling tale. Cheverus held a 15-9 lead at halftime.
Bonny Eagle would pick up the offense in the third quarter. Four different players would score for the Scots, with Levi Meggison scoring 4 points. DiStasio paced the Stags with 4 points of his own, as he also battled foul trouble. Meggison would get a put-back at the buzzer as Bonny Eagle was only down 22-21 heading into the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter was quiet until the last two minutes, when the teams finally woke up. Steve Simonds and Cole hit back-t-back 3s as Bonny Eagle took their first lead of the game. Griffin Brady would hit a 3-pointer to put Cheverus back on top with under a minute to go. Connor O'Neil would hit a free throw to push the lead to 3 with time winding down. Simonds missed a game-tying 3, and Meggison was called for traveling trying to take the rebound outside the arc as time expired.
DiStasio was named the Capt'n Eli's Player of the Game after leading all scores with 11 points. The Stags will now head to the Augusta Civic Center to play for the Class A Boys State Title on Saturday.
After seeing York and Leavitt play a classic in the Class B West final, the Deering and McAuley girls wanted to play one of their own. They certainly accomplished that, as McAuley won a heart-stopper of a game, winning 41-40 in overtime to claim the Western Maine Class A Title.
Marissa MacMillan would get Deering off to a good start, scoring the first 4 points of the game. McAuley would answer with an 11-2 run as Alexa Coulombe and Rebecca Knight combined for 9 points. Deering would end the quarter on another 4-0 run, and the Rams were down 11-10 after eight minutes of play.
The teams traded baskets in the second quarter, as the defenses clamped down. Knight scored 4 more points to finish with 9 for the half as the Lions held a 19-18 lead heading into halftime. The first half only took 25 minutes to play, as both teams limited fouls and turnovers.
The teams played even to start the second half, as it was clear neither team was pulling away in this one. Kayla Burchill would hit a 3-pointer with under 30 seconds to go in the quarter to give Deering their first lead since midway through the second quarter. It was Deering with a 28-26 lead heding into the fourth quarter.
GAME REPLAY
Freshman Ally Clement played well beyond her years in the fourth quarter. Clement hit two big baskets and displayed excellent ball-handling for the Lions. Burchill would find herself at the free throw line throughout the quarter, and she would find herself there at the end. The Deering star was fouled with .5 seconds left after it looked like the Rams wouldn't get off a shot down by 1 with 10 seconds to go. Burchill would hit the first free throw to tie it, but miss the second one. The game needed an extra four minutes to be decided.
Coulombe made a big 3-point play for McAuley as they took the early lead. Burchill would answer with a basket. Knight hit a free throw to push the Lions lead to 41-39 with the clock winding down. Burchill would head to the free throw line with 9 seconds to go, and the weight of the world on her shoulders again. She again would hit the first free throw to cut the deficit to one. She again would miss the second, and Ella Ramonas' attempt off the rebound clanked out and went out of bounds. McAuley got the inbounds play off cleanly and ran the final seconds off for the victory.
Alexa Coulombe was named the Capt'n Eli's Soda Player of the Game after pacing McAuley with 17 points. The Lions will play for the State Title on Saturday night at the Augusta Civic Center.
Deering didn't play like the top seed in their quarterfinal against Marshwood. Through halftime of their semifinal match-up against Sanford, they still didn't. However, a commitment to defense int he second half propelled the Rams to a 51-45 win over the underdog Redkins.
Sanford started the game hot, jumping out to a 6-0 lead on high-percentage baskets from Shae Riley, Lindsay Nolette, and Taylor Flood. Deering than returned the favor, finishing the quarter on a 10-0 run, taking an 12-11 lead.
GAME REPLAY
Deering's star player, Kayla Burchill then took over in the second quarter. Burchill scored 9 of her 21 points in the quarter, as the Rams opened up a lead. Sanford would fight right back, as Riley paced the Redskins with 6 points in the quarter. The teams were knotted up at 23 all heading into halftime.
Ella Ramonas keyed Deering's big third quarter, scoring 5 points early. Marissa MacMillan and Chelsea Saucier shipped in 4 points a piece as Burchill was quiet offensively in the third. Flood had 6 points for Sanford, but it was Deering with a 38-32 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Sanford made some big plays to try and get back into the game, but they weren't enough to match Burchill. Riley hit a 3-pointer, and Flood and Heather LeBlanc had And-1s, but LeBlanc missed the free throw both times. Burchill had 7 points in the quarter as the Rams kept just enough distance to complete victory. They will now play for the Western Maine Class A Girls title on Monday night.
WELCOME TO THE MAINE HITS MAINE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY. WE WILL BE ON LOCATION FROM PORTLAND AND AUGUSTA. THANKS TO OUR PARTNER FOR THE DAY SATURDAY, THE LEWISTON SUN JOURNAL AS WE ALL GET TO TALK MAINE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL!
CLASS B GIRLS WESTERN MAINE REGIONAL FINAL
#3 GREELY VS YORK
MAINE HITS CLASS B BOYS REGIONAL FINAL
#2 FALMOUTH VS #1 CAPE ELIZABETH
MAINE HITS CLASS A GIRLS REGIONAL FINAL
#2 DEERING VS #1 SCARBOROUGH
MAINE HITS EASTERN MAINE CLASS C BOYS AND GIRLS REGIONAL FINAL
After 2 good games Thursday night where Stefano Mancini and the Falmouth Yachtsman buried 9 three pointers to take care of Mt Valley 67 - 37 and Cape Elizabeth played gritty defense down the stretch to hold off Greely 51 - 43.
Tonight's action turns to the Girls as #1 Scarborough takes on Biddeford and Deering takes on McAuley. Stick right here all weekend for your place to talk Maine High School Hoops action!
Girls Class A #1 Scarborough Red Storm vs #5 Biddeford Tigers 6PM
Girls Class A #2 Deering Rams vs #3 McAuley Lions 7:30PM
THANKS TO MAINE HITS FOR BRINGING YOU LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL ACTION FOR THOSE THAT CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE GAMES! PLEASE VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT MAINEHITS.COM OR GIVE THEM A CALL AT (207) 730-7227 FOR ALL OF YOUR BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL TRAINING NEEDS!
Here are some easy to follow brackets for the upcoming MPA Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament. If you sign up and log in, you can participate in a pick-em contest.
Here are some easy to follow brackets for the upcoming MPA Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament. If you sign up and log in, you can participate in a pick-em contest.
Here is Chris Sedenka of WJAB 96.3 FM/1440 AM interviewing the Executive Director of the Maine Principals Association Dick Durost, discussing the proposed changes to sports in the State of Maine.
Part 1 Part 2
Editorial Comment. Comments of this or any contributor to the Central Maine Sports Blog are not genreally the opinions of any of the other contributors and should not be viewed as such.
There were a couple of points very new to this discussion during the interview. According to Mr. Durost, part of the reasons for not allowing participation in exhibition games is to level the playing field, not for econimic reasons. Please listen to this interview and draw your own conclusions and most importantly, take action. This is an issue that NEEDS to be disscussed in school committee meetings across the state and VERY soon. Please feel free to email us at editor@centralmainesportsblog.com with any comments or suggestions.
We have been remiss in reporting this, so apologies to our pals over at MBR.org. Blame it on Post Holiday Brain Cramps! Please visit the Official Yankee Ford Holiday Classic Website for audio archives of already played games. Here is Monday's Schedule
6:30 Semi Final - Cape Elizabeth will take on Cheverus
8 PM Semi Final - South Portland will take on Susan Wagner, NY
