BANGOR – The George Stevens Academy boys basketball team’s post-season run was ended in a 58-60 overtime thriller against the No. 1-ranked Central Aroostook Panthers in the Class C North semifinals on February 21 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Coach Dwayne Carter watches from the sidelines as the Eagles trail in the first half. Photos by Anne Berleant
After going down 13-15 in the first quarter, the Eagles only scored two points in the first five minutes of the second quarter as the Panthers built a 23-15 lead. Senior captain Caden Mattson hit the first field goal of the quarter for the Eagles, a three-pointer with 2:30 left in the half, to cut the lead to 23-18 but at the end of two, George Stevens found themselves down 22-30 going into the locker room.
Senior Milos Sujica powers through the Central Aroostook defense.
The Panthers came out firing in the third quarter, outscoring the Eagles 6-2 to open the second half to take a 36-24 lead. The Eagles closed the gap to 37-40 with less than a minute to go, but Central Aroostook forced a turnover in the closing seconds to take a 42-37 lead going into the final quarter.
After Central Aroostook scored the first two points of the fourth quarter, senior starter Milos Sujica took over, burying back-to-back three-pointers to cut the Panther lead to one, 43-44, with about six minutes on the clock. Central Aroostook hit a jumper to extend the lead to four, but Sujica answered with a jumper of his own before knocking down another three to cut the lead to one, with just over three minutes to play. Sujica then scored a layup to give George Stevens Academy its first lead of the game, 51-50, but a foul called against him was his fifth of the game, sidelining him with 3:08 still on the clock.
Senior Austin Snow windmills for two points.
With 2:40 left to go, junior Mike Moon put in a layup to give the Eagles a 53-50 lead, but at the end of the fourth, the game was all tied up at 55-55.
In overtime, the Panthers outscored the Eagles 5-3 to seal the win and an appearance in the Class C North regional final.
Senior Caden Mattson leads the Eagles’ defense.
Sujica led the Eagles with 18 points, 14 of which came in the fourth quarter. Mattson put up 13 points, while sophomore David Gadsby contributed 11 points.The Eagles finished the season 18-3.
The Eagles bench watches the on court action.
Sophomore David Gadsby works the Eagles offense.
Senior Gage Astbury faces the Central Aroostook defense.