Top seed Camden Hills defeated Medomak Valley boys’ basketball team 69-48 in the East Class B semifinals on Wed., Feb. 17 at the Bangor Auditorium, to advance to the Regional championships with Ellsworth.
The two teams battled it out in a close 1st quarter with five lead changes. Tyler McFarland opened scoring for the Jammers. Jason Vinal connected for a three-point play to give Medomak the lead. Camden scored back-to-back hoops from Cameron Gartley and Keegan Pieri, with Pieri connecting at the line to put the Windjammers up 7-3.
Alex MacKenzie scored back-to-back hoops, the first off a Vinal steal and the second off the offensive glass to tie the score. Joel Gabriele and McFarland hit back-to-back three-pointers for Camden, before Medomak scored seven straight to take the lead.
Isaac Greenrose went back door on a feed from MacKenzie and netted a three, and Vinal scored off his own steal in the rally. McFarland tied the score at the foul line, before MacKenzie scored on a Vinal feed to give the Panthers the lead.
Windjammer Cameron Gartley hit a three-pointer with two seconds left to give Camden the lead for good. The Jammers led 17-16 at the end of the 1st period.
Camden opened the 2nd period with a 10-2 run to open up a nine-point lead at the half, 33-24. Both teams scored 10 baskets from the floor in the half; the difference in the game was Camden scored four three-pointers and Medomak one, and the Panthers made three of three foul shots and the Jammers eight of 12. Camden also held a 17-9 advantage on the boards.
The Windjammers opened the 3rd with a 12-2 run to put the game out of reach of the Panthers. Medomak came out of the halftime break cold, connecting on just one of 12 shots in the frame, including missing their first seven shots of the half. Camden soared in 23 points to take a 56-33 lead at the end of three.
Camden made 14 of 19 foul shots in the 2nd half, and 22 of 31 in the game. Medomak made 12 of 18 foul shots in the game. The Panthers out rebounded Camden 22-15 in the 2nd half.
Scoring for Medomak were MacKenzie 14 (8R,3A,1S, drew 4 charges), Greenrose 13 (2R,1A), Vinal 5 (2R,3S,3A), Isaac Durkee 4 (1S), Jarin Cocco 4 (2R), Dan Aubel 3 (4R), Shane Osier 2 (2R,2A), and John Murray 2 (3R). John Bartlett had six rebounds.
Scoring for Camden were McFarland 23 (9R,2S,2B), Pieri 15 (4R,1S,2A), Joel Gabriele 8, Gartley 8, Casey Scott 4 (6R), Adam Landwehr 2, Adam Carlsen 2, Jim Weferling 2 (5R,3S,2A), and Taylor Hall 2.
