Sports Editor
BANGOR —At least for one half of Monday’s Eastern Class D quarterfinal, the Washburn boys basketball team showed how they became known as “The Young Guns of Washburn.”
No. 5 Washburn (12-7) shot its way to an 11-2 first-quarter lead over No. 4 Jonesport-Beals (16-3), but unfortunately, that shooting touch disappeared in the second half. The Beavers ended up falling 64-41 to the Royals as Jonesport-Beals used its significant size advantage in the win.
Washburn’s Mitch Worcester tallied 17 points, while Jordan McLaughlin added 12. Garrett Beal had 16 for the Royals.
“That [shooting] is our game,” Washburn coach Randy Norsworthy said. “When we’re shooting the ball, we’re a lot of fun to watch. But when we don’t shoot well, it creates some issues because we just don’t have the size that Jonesport-Beals does.”
The Beavers played undersized all season. Against Jonesport-Beals, the young Beavers were often looking up at 6-6 center Justin Alley and 6-5 forward Zachary Smith.
In comparison, the tallest players on the Washburn roster are Chase Chandler and Zach Davis, who both stand at 6-1.
“We’re used to being the smaller squad,” Norsworthy said. “Usually, our half-court trap helps us out.”
Washburn got off to the hot start as McLaughlin notched seven of his 12 points in the first quarter. Worcester added a pair of 3-pointers and Washburn led 17-14 at the end of the quarter.
The Royals answered to start the second period, scoring two straight baskets for its first lead 18-17 with 5:42 to play in the half. Washburn battled back on the strength of its shooters as Worcester put the Beavers back up 23-22 with a trey with 4:02 to go. Jonesport-Beals regained the lead with just under a minute to play in the half when Justin Alley converted on offensive rebound. The Beavers never led again.
“We never quit and we haven’t all year,” coach Norsworthy said. “With the exception of one game in the regular season, this was the only other time we have lost by this big of a margin. I think the kids will hold their heads high. We play one senior and the rest of the kids are sophomores and juniors, so we’ll be back.”
