BANGOR- The Ellsworth Eagles took a comfortable third quarter lead but then fell behind late but some late heroics in overtime allowed them pull off a thrilling 42-40 overtime win over Caribou in a Maine Principals’ Association Class B boys semifinal game played Wednesday night at the Cross Insurance Center.
A very tightly contested first half saw neither team have more than a four point advantage. Caribou scored the first six points of the game until Nicholas Bagley got Ellsworth on the board over five minutes into the first period. Bagley also nailed a buzzer beating three pointer to end the first with Caribou still up 6-5.
Ellsworth would continue to add to that run as they opened the second period with five straight points to take a 10-6 lead. The Vikings responded with a 6-0 run of their own to retake the lead at 12-10. Ellsworth scored seven of the next 11 points though to take a slim 17-16 lead into halftime.
Ellsworth built their lead to 27-19 in the third period thanks to two more three pointers from Bagley. Eagles took a 27-21 advantage into the final quarter.
Caribou would rally though as the fourth period began. A 13-5 spurt finished off with a Donovan Savage jumper gave the Vikings their first lead since the second period. A couple of free throws from Ellsworth senior guard Kyle Golding made it 34-34. Gabe Massey made a nice slicing cut into the paint for a Caribou bucket to regain the lead. 1 for 2 at the line for Ellsworth center Bruce St Peter made it 36-35 before a Caribou turnover and foul allowed Golding to hit two from the line to give the Eagles back the lead at 37-36 with 1:18 left. Ricky Sheldon took a beautiful feed from Savage and his short three foot shot made it 38-37 Caribou with 17 seconds remaining. Ellsworth junior guard Bryce Harmon then had a chance to win the game in regulation time as he drove to the basket but his shot was missed, Nicholas Allen got the rebound and gave it up to Savage who was fouled with just 3.8 seconds on the clock. Savage made both free throws to make it 40-37. St Peter inbounded the ball to Harmon who went length of the floor for one more chance. Harmon let go an off balance three pointer that banked in as time expired to tie the game at 40 and force overtime sending the fans from Ellsworth into hysterics.
In the overtime period both teams had some chances to take the lead but couldn’t get anything to fall. Caribou had the ball with just under a minute left but St Peter stole the ball and Ellsworth would hold to take a last shot. After a timeout with 7.2 seconds left, Eagles senior forward Cooper Henderson inbounded the ball to St Peter who looked as if he wanted to pass but instead spun into the lane and let go a turnaround jumper from just inside the foul line that found the bottom of the basket as the last second ticked off once again sending the Eagles fans into delirium and giving Ellsworth the two point win.
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For Caribou, who finished the season at 12-9, Savage had a game high 18 points including nine in the fourth quarter. Allen and Sheldon both had 6 points a piece. It was the third loss this season for Caribou against Ellsworth as the Eagles had won the two regular season meetings.
For Ellsworth, now 16-4, Bagley had 14 points and 5 rebounds while St Peter had 10 points and 7 rebounds. Harmon and Golding chipped in with eight points a piece. Ellsworth now advances to play Orono in the regional final Saturday afternoon at 3:45 p.m. at the Cross Insurance Center.
