By Paula Roberts
2014-15 Eastern Maine Class B champions, the Medomak Valley Panthers. Team members are (front from left) Jon Allard, Tayler McLain, Zach Starr, Colton Spear, Micah Williamson, Noah Beck, Jackson Vail, (back) assistant coach Richie Oliver, coach Nick DePatsy, manager Julia Clark, Cale Gee, Tyler Emerson, Nicholas DePatsy, Robert Cole, Cameron Allaire, Cameron Martin, Zidane McMurrin, JV coach Ryan McNelly, Kyle Donlin, manager Riley Arbour, and freshman coach Alex Goldrup. (Paula Roberts photo) |
Medomak Valley boys basketball team rallied from behind in the fourth quarter in the East Class B Regional finals to beat Winslow 51-48 and earn a berth in the State Class B championships.
The State B championship game against Cape Elizabeth will be held at the Cross Arena in Portland (former Cumberland County Civic Center) on Friday, Feb. 27 at 9 p.m.
The regional final was a rubber match for the two teams, as Winslow had beaten Medomak 62-45 in their second game of the season, and Medomak beat the Black Raiders 66-63 for the KVAC title.
Medomak netted the first five points of the game on a Nicholas DePatsy three-pointer and two foul shots. Justin Martin pulled Winslow within two, but DePatsy hit another two foul shots to give the Panthers a four point lead.
The Raiders ended the quarter with a 6-2 run to tie the game 9-9 at the break.
Martin hit two shots to open the second quarter to give Winslow a four point lead. Micah Williamson went inside on a DePatsy feed and scored from behind the arc to give Medomak a one point lead midway through the frame. Josh Kervin hit a three to put the Raiders up by two.
Twice Cameron Allaire tied the game at the foul line. Justin Burgher and Williamson exchanged threes. Medomak finished the half with a 4-1 run on hoops from DePatsy and Williamson to lead 25-22.
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Medomak Valley boys basketball team celebrate their 2015 Eastern Maine Class B championship Saturday night in Bangor. The last time the Panthers won the East B title was in 2013. (Paula Roberts photo) |
The third quarter was just as contentious as the first two. After four lead changes and three ties Winslow finished on top 36-35 on two foul shots from Martin.
The Raiders opened the final period with a hoop from Kervin and a three from Martin to take a six point lead (the biggest lead by either team all game). “We burned a couple of timeouts and I told them it was all mental,” Medomak coach Nick DePatsy said.
Zach Starr settled two foul shots and Colton Spear crashed the glass for two to pull the Panthers within two. Martin hit a three to put Winslow up by five with 3:22 to go.
Williamson and Martin exchanged foul shots, before the Panthers, who stayed calm in the final quarter, rallied for eight straight points, sparked by a couple of steals from Williamson. DePatsy opened the rally, Allaire crashed the glass for two and scored on a Starr pass, and Allaire reciprocated with an assist on a Starr hoop to give Medomak a three point lead.
Colby Robertson scored two foul shots to pull the Raiders within one. Winslow put Allaire (22 seconds) and Williamson (6 seconds) on the line and they each made one to put Medomak up by three. Winslow’s final play was a three point attempt from Martin, who had hit two already in the fourth quarter. Coach Nick DePatsy set up the final defensive play.
“We were trying to foul Martin and put him on the line and take our chances,” DePatsy added. Allaire blocked Martin from behind and the Panther bench emptied in celebration.
“They were double and triple teaming Nicholas,” coach DePatsy said of his son. “We had a different kid step up in every night. We had very good minutes from the bench, even if it was only a minute and a half. They had several key rebounds.”
Medomak held a slight advantage on the boards, 20-17 and in turnovers 15-16. The Panthers sank 17 of 25 foul shots led by Allaire (6/8), Williamson (4/6), and DePatsy (4/4). Winslow made 8 of 13 (Martin 6/9).
Scoring for Medomak were Williamson 18 (5S,4A), DePatsy 16 (2R,2S,2A), Allaire 10 (5R,2S,3B,2A), Starr 5 (6R,2S), and Spear 2.
Scoring for Winslow were Martin 28 (7R,2B), Kervin 5 (4R), Burgher 5 (3S), Robertson 4, Dylan Hutchinson 4, and Trenton Bouchard 2 (2S).
The last time Medomak won the East B Regional title was in 2013.
DePatsy, Williamson, Spear, and Starr played on that team as well. Medomak also won Regional titles in 1975, 1977, 1979, and 1980. They won state titles in 1977 and 1980.
Coach Nick DePatsy has coached several teams in Maine, including Medomak to two regional titles. He is hoping his Panthers will win him his first gold ball Friday night.
