Wiscasset’s game plan to limit Dirigo big man Thomas Knight’s inside shots paid off in first-half action. The Redskins held Knight scoreless in the first quarter and held him to just two baskets in the first half, but were unable to contain the 6’9″ center in the third. Knight scored 18 of the Cougar’s 24 points in the third to lead Dirigo to a 64-44 Western Maine Class C championship Saturday night at the Augusta Civic Center.
Knight, Dirigo’s golden man, did not commit a foul in the physical game, but was sent to the line seven times, where he made 12 of 14 shots.
Wiscasset bounced back and forth with Dirigo in first quarter action, taking a 12-11 lead at the quarter break on a Jason Dennison shot. Nick Crutchfield scored the opening basket for the Cougars, before Josh Sonia hit his first of five 3-pointers. Dirigo scored five straight to take a 7-3 lead. Nick Hinkley sank two at the line and Dennison found net to tie the score. Crutchfield put the Cougars up by two. Dennison hit a three to give Wiscasset a one-point lead. Tyer Chiasson answered for Dirigo, before Dennnison went inside on a Josh Hopkins pass to give Wiscasset a one-point lead at the break.
Knight scored his first basket of the game to open second period scoring. Sonia hit back-to-back threes to put the Redskins up by five. Dirigo went on a 12-1 scoring run to end the half up 25-19. Knight went six for six at the foul line and scored another hoop in the rally.
Wiscasset cut the lead to four twice in the third, the first on an opening hoop from Hinkley and the second on an offensive conversion from Dennison. Dirigo rattled off 12 straight points on a 16-2 run to take a double-digit lead. Knight went 6 for 6 at the line and scored six baskets in the rally including two slam dunks.
Dirigo continued to pull away in the fourth 15-12 to win by 20, 64-44.
Scoring for Wiscasset were Sonia 19, Dennison 11 (4R,2S,2B), Hopkins 7 (2R,2A), Hinkley 4 (4R,6A), Brad Richardson 1, Mitch DeCosta 1 and Sumner Averill 1. Scoring for Dirigo were Knight 28 (11R,2S,3B), Chiasson 13, Crutchfield 10, Eric Bolduc 6, Aaron Fenstermacher 5, Spencer Ross 1 and Tyler Gates 1.
