Wiscasset High School boys’ basketball team wrapped up their MVC season with a 58-47 win over Winthrop Friday night. The Redskins finished the regular season with a 17-1 record, with their only loss coming to Dirigo. Dirigo also finished the season with a 17-1 record, with their only loss coming to Mt.Valley. Wiscasset and Dirigo faced off Monday night for the Mt.Valley Conference title. Dirigo, led by a 27-point performance from MVC Player of the Year Thomas Knight, came from behind to beat Wiscasset 54-44.
Dirigo 54 – Wiscasset 44
Wiscasset kept Dirigo’s superstar Knight in check during the first half of the MVC championship game Monday night at the Augusta Civic Center, but the 6’9″ Cougar poured in 19 second-half points to lead Dirigo to the championship.
“We executed our game plan very well in the first half,” said Wiscasset coach Matt Cook. “We had a tough third quarter with turnovers and on the boards, and they started hitting their shots. Dennison in foul trouble didn’t help us either. I’m happy with how they executed the game plan. They played hard. We certainly had our chances to increase our lead in the first half. The first time we played them (62-38 loss) I think we were a little intimidated by Knight. Tonight we fell a little short. I’m proud of the boys. The good thing about this game is the season isn’t over with a loss.”
Wiscasset took an 11-8 lead after the first quarter, thanks to a 10-point run. Nick Hinkley scored back-to-back hoops, Sumner Averill and Hinkley scored off Jason Dennison feeds and Hinkley fired in a pair at the line.
Dirigo tied the scored midway through the second period on an Aaron Fensternmacher 3-pointer. Josh Sonia recaptured the Redskin lead with a three of his own, and Hinkley scored to put Wiscasset up by five. The two squads traded points the remainder of the half. Wiscasset went into the halftime break with a five-point lead, 26-21.
The Cougars opened the third quarter with an 11-2 run to take the lead for good. Fensternmacher hit another big three, and Knight scored seven points in the rally. Dennison posted up man to man on Knight over the first two quarters, but picked up his third and fourth foul less than a minute apart while defending the Cougar big man. Dennison rode the pine the final five minutes of the third period.
With Dennison out of the line-up, Knight scored four more times in the third, including a dunk and twice off the offensive glass. Dirigo led 38-33 at the end of three.
Dirigo extended their lead to 10 early in the fourth quarter, before Wiscasset scrambled back, pulling within two with 4:31 to play. Dennison scored on a Hinkley feed, Cody Griffin on a pass from Jimmy Davis and at the line for three-point play, and Hinkley connected for a three-point play in the rally.
Dirigo answered the threat with a 10-1 run, sparked by six points from Knight, including his second dunk of the ball game. With a minute to go, Wiscasset was forced to foul, with Dirigo making three of four to seal the deal.
Scoring for Wiscasset were Hinkley 24 (2R,3S), Sonia 6 (3R,1B), Dennison 6 (8R,2S,4A), Griffin 3 (5R,2S), Josh Hopkins 3 (6R) and Sumner Averill 2 (7R). Scoring for Dirigo were Knight 27 (19R,5S,2B), Tyler Chiasson 11 (5R,3S), Fensternmacher 6, Kyle Hutchinson 5, Eric Bolduc 2 (3S), Triston Franchetti 2 and Tyler Gates 1.
Both teams had 31 rebounds in the championship game. Wiscasset had 18 turnovers and Dirigo 13.
Wiscasset 58 – Winthrop 47
Wiscasset handled the Ramblers in their MVC season finale on Feb. 6. Winthrop led 14-12 at the quarter, Wiscasset 25-24 at the half, and 44-36 at the end of three.
Scoring for the Redskins were Dennison 14, Hopkins 11, Griffin 9, Hinkley 7, Sonia 7, Alex Slack 4, Jimmy Davis 3 and Averill 2. Scoring for Winthrop were Zack Farrington 22, Chad Morang 10, Andrew Smithgall 7, Skyler Whaley 4, David Ketchum 4, Tom Conley 2 and Billy Gordon 2.
West C playoffs
Wiscasset boys play in the West Class C quarterfinals at the Augusta Civic Center on Mon., Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. The Redskins are seeded 2nd in West C heal points.
