BANGOR – Whether it is in commanding fashion or down to the wire, the George Stevens Academy Eagles know how to win at the Cross Insurance Center.
They proved that in the Class C North semifinal game on February 22, battling back to a 45-39 win over Mattanawcook Academy in a game that went into overtime.
Percy Zentz shoots from inside for two. Photos by Anne Berleant
For head coach Dwayne Carter, the semifinal contest was as intense as the Class C State championship of two years ago, when then-senior Jarrod Chase hit a three pointer at the fourth quarter buzzer to give the team its second state championship in as many years.
“We haven’t had many of these big games this year, but I think the experience we have really came through and showed up at the end,” said Carter, whose team has now won its semifinal game each year for the last four seasons.
After rolling to an early 5-1 lead in the first quarter, the Eagles were up by just two entering the second quarter. Junior Caden Mattson opened the second quarter scoring with a three pointer, but Mattanawcook was able to settle in and tie the game up 18-18. Senior Isaac Wardwell was awarded foul shots with under a minute left in the half, and hit the front end of the one and one as the Eagles took a 19-18 advantage at the half.
From left, Teague Smallidge, Michael Moon, Eric Mote and Tanner Ashley react to GSA losing the lead in the fourth.
The third quarter saw four lead changes and a three minute scoring drought for the Eagles, who were able to keep the game tight enough to go into the fourth quarter down just four points. Mattson and Wardwell and senior Percy Zentz combined for nine points late in the fourth quarter to tie the game up and ultimately send it into overtime, after sophomore Andrew Szwez was not able to convert a contested shot at the final buzzer.
In overtime, the Eagles were able to knock down five of eight foul shots to seal the victory after Szwez knocked down a step back jumper to give George Stevens Academy the 38-36 early overtime lead.
Michael Moon ducks and shoots.
It was a balanced scoring attack for the Eagles, as Mattson led the team with 11 points, and Zentz recorded 10. Szwez and Wardwell contributed nine and six points, respectively.
Carter credited the team’s defense, and said that his shooters missed shots that would normally fall for them.
“If we would have hit those, it would have been a different story, and they would have been down instead of us,” he said. “We just needed to keep playing defense.”
The Eagles now head to their fourth straight Class C North regional finals, against the winner of Sumner and Houlton. George Stevens Academy beat Sumner twice in the regular season.
Tipoff is scheduled for 9:05 p.m. Saturday, February 23.
Reece Dannenberg works the Eagles offense.
Andrew Szwez elevates for the lay up.