Staff Writer
In what may be the biggest upset of the season, the Fort Fairfield Tigers took a last-minute heart-wrenching loss to the Bangor Christian Patriots Monday night in Bangor. The previously undefeated Tigers fell 53-51 in the final 30 seconds of the fourth quarter, after struggling to obtain a significant lead over the Patriots, who started off the scoring in the first quarter.
Staff photo/Abigail Hunt
Getting a chance to have it out on the Bangor Auditorium floor this week and coming out victorious were the Lady Tigers of Fort Fairfield, who defeated Katahdin 53-49 Saturday to advance to the semifinals. Above, Kaitlyn McLaughlin and Courtney Churchill grapple with a Katahdin player for a loose ball.
But Tiger John McNamee responded to Bangor’s shots with his own offensive abilities, putting in eight points in the first alone. Fort Fairfield headed into the second quarter with a 17-13 lead on Bangor Christian, but the Patriots took advantage of the Tigers’ fouls, stepping up to the line nearly four times and putting in ten points to Fort Fairfield’s 11 before the half was over. Still ahead 28-23, the Tigers anticipated an even bigger distance in the second half.
But Patriot Brett Bradford made it difficult at best for the Tigers to catch the break they so desperately needed. Bradford netted 14 points alone in the first half, three of which were 3-point goals, and brought the game to a one-point difference in the third quarter with another 3-pointer. For Fort, Travis Noyes and McNamee led offensively in the third, putting in a combined nine points and maintaining the Tigers’ lead, 41-39, heading into the final eight minutes.
But once again Bradford forced his way through Fort Fairfield’s defense, leading off the fourth quarter with a basket to tie the game at 41. Bangor forward Aaron Guimond put in another basket to take the first significant lead of the game, putting the Patriots ahead 43-41.
With 6:25 left in the game, Noyes responded to Bangor with four consecutive points, pulling the Tigers ahead by two again.
In a game of back-and-forth, the two teams continued to score one after the other and with four minutes to go Fort Fairfield led by a mere point, 50-49. Bradford continued to dominate for the Patriots, while the Tigers foul trouble increased, sending the Patriots to the line and giving them ample opportunity to score. It seemed for every basket Bradford made, another foul was called on Fort Fairfield, specifically McNamee, who reached four personal fouls early in the fourth quarter.
With McNamee on the bench, the Tigers struggled to defend consistently, though Josh Booth, Doug Sharpe and Austin Dufour all played their best. With 30 seconds left in the game, Sharpe fouled Patriot Brandon Wilcox, sending him to the line to tie the game at 51 all.
Bangor regained possession and held the ball, watching the clock tick down while waiting for ample opportunity to score. With seconds to go, Noyes was called on a foul against Bradford, who sank both free throws without a hitch giving Bangor a 53-51 lead with two seconds left on the clock and handing the Tigers their first and last loss of the season.
Coach Alley recognized Bradford’s skill level as a huge advantage for the Patriots. “That kid is a lights out player,” said Alley, “And Bangor Christian is one of the best teams on top in Class D.” Alley noted that the Patriots went into the game with experience against some of the more difficult teams in Class C, an advantage that Fort Fairfield didn’t have in the regular season.
“I told the boys, ‘we need to make someone else beat us’ and [Bangor Christian] did. I think my boys played well and I wouldn’t have changed the way they played tonight at all,” remarked Alley after the game.
Alley commented briefly on having to sit McNamee for a time and the four fouls which led him to that decision. “[The officials] called the game how they saw it,” conceded Alley, “and I felt they tightened things up on [McNamee] in the second half.” Despite the narrow loss, Fort Fairfield played a strong and consistent game, refusing to give up even in the final seconds. Though the Tigers will return to Aroostook County earlier than anticipated, their undefeated regular season is one worth remembering.
For Fairfield’s championship dreams are still alive as the Lady Tigers will be returning to Bangor on Thursday to face Southern Aroostook after a 53-49 victory over Katahdin Saturday night in Bangor.
Fort Fairfield struggled in the first, falling behind twice but recovering to tie the game at seven and then again at 15 before the half. Their significant lead came in the middle of the second half, as the Lady Tigers jumped to a 20-18 lead in the third. Katahdin’s man-to-man defense was relentless throughout the night and Fort Fairfield had no choice but to answer the call and step up their intensity, which consequently put both teams into foul trouble as the fourth quarter loomed.
Fort Fairfield seemed to have maintained a significant enough lead, putting 14 points between them and the Cougars in the third. But Katahdin crept up in the fourth, holding Fort Fairfield back offensively.
With 45 seconds left, Fort Fairfield was only ahead 49-46 and coach Larry Gardner called a much needed timeout before Tiger Courtney Churchill went up to the foul line. “You’re going to make both of these shots,” said Gardner, “and then keep an eye on McNally.” Churchill did, in fact, put both shots away, but Olivia McNally had led the Lady Cougars throughout the night and managed to put three more points in before the game’s end.
Still, Lady Tigers held on until the end, maintaining the composure that Gardner has passed on to his girls throughout the season.
Tiger Amanda Hotham put in 19 points and had 19 rebounds before the final buzzer, and remains a strong lead for Fort as they head into the semifinals, playing Southern Aroostook Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m.
Photo courtesy/Jane Mavor Small
In the photo on the right, Viking Philip St. Peter goes up for a shot against a Foxcroft opponent in last week’s preliminary game at Caribou, while Cameron Anderson goes in for the rebound. Unfortunately the 2008-09 season ended at home Feb. 11 as the Caribou boys fell to the Dover-Foxcroft based team, 46-45.
