Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
IN FLIGHT — Cameron Landry of SACS soars through the air for a one-handed scoop shot during Monday’s quarterfinal against Deer Isle-Stonington. Defending on the play is Justin Pelletier.
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
BANGOR — A strong fourth-quarter surge carried the Southern Aroostook boys basketball team to an impressive 53-45 victory over Deer Isle-Stonington Monday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Center in Eastern Class D quarterfinal play.
No. 5 SACS (14-6 overall) showed poise from the free throw line in the final frame, outscoring the No 13 Mariners 22-15 over the final eight minutes to seal the victory. The Warriors face No. 8 Van Buren 3:35 Thursday in semifinal action. Van Buren beat SACS 66-50 Jan. 4 at Van Buren, but the Warriors were victorious 64-38 at home Jan. 20.
The Warriors were led by 6-foot, 2-inch freshman center Noah Altvater, who poured in 20 points, while junior Cameron Landry netted 13 and freshman Jackson Mathers chipped in eight, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
Stuart Bray paced the Mariners with 16 points, while Jared Gove chipped in 12.
“This was a thrilling back-and-forth game that was close most of the way,” SACS coach Bill McAvoy said.
With so many youngsters in the lineup for SACS, one might have thought the team would come out with some opening jitters. That was hardly the case.
“Playing here on the court is just amazing,” said Altvater. “We are proud to be here and worked so hard to get to this point.”
Coach McAvoy said he was surprised the Mariners, who finished at 8-12, did not try to work the ball down low to their two big men — Bray (a 6-5 senior) and Ethan Shepard (a 6-2 freshman) — more often than they did.
“They had a definite size advantage, so I thought they would put (Bray) down in the box and keep working it around until he got open,” McAvoy said. “We didn’t have the size to match up with him. But they didn’t do that.”
Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
REBOUND — SACS’ William McGary soars into the air to tip the ball away from Deer Isle-Stonington’s Lucas Oliver during Monday’s quarterfinal game. The Warriors won 53-45.
The lead changed hands three times in the first quarter, with neither team able to establish dominance. Altvater led the charge in the first period, netting five of his team’s seven points. Still, the Warriors found themselves looking at an 8-7 deficit at the end of the quarter.
The second period featured more of the same as neither squad was able to build a lead greater than two points. SACS found itself trailing 21-19 at the halftime break.
Coach McAvoy then decided to change things up a bit and play more aggressive on defense in the hopes of generating turnovers. That plan worked well as SACS forced numerous errors by the Mariners and was able to pull away in the fourth period thanks to stellar free throw shooting by Mathers (6-for-6) and Altvater (4-for-5) down the stretch.
“We are better when playing aggressive,” he said. “The work ethic of these guys is amazing. I have coached for 40-some years and not once have I ever had to jump on them for not working hard. They give me everything the have every single night.”
DEER ISLE-STONINGTON (45)
Duddy , Melanio 2 5-7 9, Gove 4 1-2 12, Turner, Oliver 3 2-4 8, Bray 7 2-3 16, Shepard. Totals: 16 10-16 45. 3-pointers — Gove 3.
SOUTHERN AROOSTOOK (53)
Cullinan, Landry 5 1-2 13, Mathers 1 6-6 8, Lassonde 2 1-2 6, Burpee 1 0-0 2, Altvater 7 6-9 20, Nelson 2 0-0 4. Totals: 18 14-19 53. 3-pointers — Landry 2, Lassonde.
Mariners 8 13 9 15 — 45
Warriors 7 12 12 22 — 53
