Tyson Ball passes the ball inside for the Eagles. (Lydia Simmons photo)
The Yarmouth boys basketball team clipped the Eagles 54-50 in a Class B South semifinal game on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Portland Expo. Yarmouth moves on to the regional championship with the win.
The Clippers jumped out to a 16-9 first quarter lead. The Eagles clawed their way back to trail by four, 23-19, at the half. Evan Hamm had two first half dunks to rally the Clipper fans.
Lincoln tied the game early in the third quarter on back-to-back hoops from Jack Duncan and Jake Masters. Yarmouth built an eight-point lead, led by 10 points from Stevie Walsh, including two big 3-pointers. Lincoln cut the lead to four on a Gabe Hagar foul shot and 3-pointer. Yarmouth added a foul shot to lead 37-32 at the end of three.
Masters hit a three to open the final period and sank a foul shot to pull the Eagles within one with 6:23 to go. Yarmouth went back up by six with under two minutes to play. Tucker Stiles scored to pull Lincoln within four with 1:47 to play. Walsh scored with 18 seconds to play for a six-point Clipper lead. Gabe Hagar was fouled on a 3-point attempt and went to the line and sank all three shots to make it a three-point ball game with 14 seconds left.
Walsh was fouled and netted two shots for a five-point lead. Masters scored with five seconds left to make it a three-point game. The Eagles fouled Walsh, and he scored one foul shot with two seconds remaining to seal the win.
Scoring for Lincoln were Hagar with 20 (4R); Masters, 11; Stiles, 10; Duncan, 6; E.J. Hunt, 2 (3R, 3A); and Casey Duncan, 1.
Scoring for Yarmouth were Walsh with 23 points (6R); Evan Hamm, 18 (10R, 3B, 3A); Matt Gautreau, 7 (3A); Justin Dawes, 4 (6R); and Liam Wickey, 2.
Yarmouth held a 33-23 edge on the boards. The Clippers made 12 of 21 foul shots, led by Walsh, who went eight for 10 at the line. Lincoln made eight of 13 foul shots, led by Hagar, who made six of nine shots.
Casey Duncan drives inside for the Eagles. (Lydia Simmons photo)
