CAHS goes on to win EM final
Staff Writer
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson Ryan Noyes looks to his Central Aroostook defender before driving in for a layup during the Class D semifinal at the Bangor Auditorium last Thursday.
Panther co-captain Cameron York opened the first quarter laying in two points, but the Tigers’ Josh Booth had a quick answer on the opposite side. Red and blue continued to crank up the shots back and forth, while the CA press maintained a slim Panther lead. However, the Tigers proved they wouldn’t be written off when Travis Noyes drained a last-second three-pointer to bring Tiger fans to their feet.
Still wound up from the first quarter finale, Booth cranked in another three for FFHS. T. Noyes and Austin Dufour plowed up four more to put the Tigers ahead.
“We just limited our turnovers and stopped them from going down the court with the ball out in front,” said Tiger head coach Todd Alley about the FFHS advance.
The Panthers responded by stepping up the heat in their full-court press and fought back past the Tigers under York’s shooting finesse for a halftime score of 37-28 Panthers.
Fort Fairfield pounced on the ball with their own style of full-court defensive pressure. “We knew we had to shut down Manny and Cameron, but their defense was really tough,” said Fort Fairfield point guard Cody Closson.
Central Aroostook’s offensive double-threat on the inside and outside extended the home team’s lead despite the continued Fort effort. The third quarter finished 58-43 CAHS.
“We knew they were going to want it and we had to want it more,” explained CAHS co-captain Manny Martinez.
The Tigers leapt hard into the fourth quarter, determined to battle to the final buzzer. Matt Cresenzo fouled out early, followed by Austin Dufour after sinking two for the Tigers. Closson and Ryan Noyes both sank free throw shots bringing FFHS closer. However, York’s aim wouldn’t miss and Martinez sank key shots for Central Aroostook to put the Panthers into the Eastern Maine final against Woodland.
High-scorers for the Tigers were R. Noyes with 14 points, Closson with 12 and T. Noyes with 10. Martinez contributed 10 Panther points. York tallied up the game-high of 40 points.
“My gramps and my dad were telling me before the game to take it to the hole and just shoot with confidence,” said York.
Coach Alley believed his squad has played their best game of the year, and put all they could into the game. “They just shot the lights out,” said Alley about their opponents.
The Tigers ended their season with a 15-6 record. Their five seniors, Beau Everett, Otis Edgecomb, Closson, Josh Ramos and R. Noyes, ended their high school basketball career as the first team in over a generation to reach the final four of the tournament championship for FFHS.
