Fourth-quarter surge propels Panthers
Sports Reporter
BANGOR — After a quick start, the Central Aroostook Panthers still needed a strong finish to pull out a win Thursday evening.
Although the No. 5 seed Machias Bulldogs outscored top-ranked CA in the second and third quarters, 37-28, the Panthers ruled the first and fourth periods en route to the 62-45 victory in the Eastern Maine Class D semifinals.
Central Aroostook’s dominance in the fourth quarter was evident as the defense held Machias without a point until just seven seconds remained. With the score tied at 43 entering the period, CA reeled off 19 consecutive points behind the inside play of Mike McClung (six points) and Brenden York (seven points).
When the lead was built to 12 points (55-43) with 2:06 left, Bulldogs’ coach James Getchell conceded the game by pulling his starting group and playing substitutes the rest of the way.
The Panthers started the game much like they finished it, with senior forward Caleb Kelly the difference maker with several strong drives to the basket. He scored 11 points over the first eight minutes and the CA defense harrassed Machias into committing seven turnovers as the Panther quickness was too much early on in building a 15-6 lead.
The margin grew to 13 points on a fast-break layup by Steven Decker with 2:28 left in the second quarter, but that was when the Bulldogs started their comeback. Machias scored seven unanswered points, including two inside hoops by talented 6-4 senior center Brian Getchell, to enter intermission down by nine.
Machias, who had upended defending state champion Schenck in the quarterfinals, also controlled play in the third with offensive contributions from six different players. Getchell led the way with six points, whie Dustin Getchell, Jacob Scoville, Brandon Raye and Phillip Morse also got into the act before Chris Grant’s putback beat the buzzer to tie the score entering the final quarter.
The Panthers were outscored 18-9 in the third as they were unable to get going against the Machias defense.
McClung had hoops on consecutive possessions early in the fourth to point the momentum back in CA’s direction and the Bulldogs were stymied by Central Aroostook’s aggressive man-to-man defense throughout the period.
Kelly finished the game with 21 points to lead the Panthers’ attack, while McClung totaled 14 and York, Logan McLaughlin and Dan Brewer all had seven as CA kept its unbeaten season intact.
Brian Getchell hit 10 of 13 field goal attempts while at times dominating the interior and had a team-best 20 points for the Bulldogs, who finished the season at 16-4. Scoville and Dustin Getchell notched eight and seven points, respectively.
