The Southern Aroostook boys basketball team used a big second half run Thursday afternoon to break open a close game, en route to a 57-33 win over Central Aroostook in a Class D schoolboy semifinal game at the Cross Insurance Center.
Tyler Batchelder had six first quarter points as the top seed from Southern Aroostook held a 14-10 lead after the first eight minutes.
Jackson Mathers helped to extend the lead with back to back layups on consecutive possessions, one on a steal and one on a rebound, to give the Warriors their biggest lead at 18-10. Southern Aroostook held that eight point advantage at halftime 25-17.
An early third quarter three-pointer by Clark Bradbury, and a bucket by Brayden Bradbury helped Central Aroostook climb back to within 25-22. But then the Warriors exploded. Southern Aroostook outscored the Panthers 18-0 the rest of the quarter, including 11 by Nolan Alvater.
Southern Aroostook would up that to a 20-0 run and a 45-22 early fourth quarter lead, before Brayden Bradbury ended the run with two foul shots with just over six minutes left. Central Aroostook would never get back closer than 18 points, and trailed by as many as 28, as their season ends with a record of 13-7.
Alvater led the way finishing with 19 points, seven rebounds, and a blocked shot for the Warriors. Mathers added 15 points, six rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Batchelder also added eight points.
For the Panthers, Ben Thomas had 11 points, while Brayden Bradbury had seven.
Southern Aroostook will now play for the Northern Maine Class D championship on Saturday at 10:35 a.m. when they battle Machias, who powered past Easton in Thursdays other semifinal.
