BANGOR- The Mount Desert Island Trojans pulled away late in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon, and won their first regional championship since 1995, with a 42-34 win over Orono in the Class B Northern Maine title game at the Cross Insurance Center.
MDI built an early 8-2 lead over the Red Riots in the opening eight minutes after Orono scored the opening basket of the game. Orono closed the lead to 10-6 after one quarter.
MDI once again built the lead to six late in the second quarter, before a late three-pointer by Oronos Nate Desisto made it 20-17 at the half.
The Trojans continued to maintain the lead in the third quarter to as many as six on several occasions, before once again Orono would close in on the lead making it 31-28 after three.
MDI took their largest lead of the game by scoring the first five points of the fourth quarter to make it 36-28, on a jumper by Graham Good and a three-pointer by Riley Swanson. A three point play by Desisto and a three-pointer by Jackson Coutts for the Riots made it 36-34. But a layup by Aaron Snurkowski made it 38-34 MDI. Swanson knocked down a pair from the line to make it 40-34, and after an unsuccessful offensive trip by the Riots, Orono forward Jake Koffman committed his fifth foul. Russell Kropff knocked down a pair from the line to finish off the scoring.
Orono, who finishes the season at 17-4, was led by Desisto who had eight points, four rebounds, two assists, and one blocked shot. Desisto finished with 998 points for his career, despite missing 13 games as a sophomore. Keenan Collett also had eight points. Coutts finished with seven points and three rebounds. Orono was 9-9 from the foul line, but committed 15 turnovers.
MDI, now 18-3, was led by Swanson who had 12 points. Good had seven points and three rebounds, while Snurkowski also had seven points. The Trojans went 7-8 from the line, and turned it over 14 times.
“Obviously it was a battle of tempos, and the score doesn’t illustrate the tempo of the game. I thought we did a good job of getting them to take quicker shots, then they are normally used to taking. Our full court defense, and the ability to wear them down a little bit was a big factor in the second half”, said MDI head coach Justin Norwood. “I have had these kids since the third grade. You know summer camps, travel basketball just helping out, this is a real special group”, added Norwood.
MDI will now face Wells in the Class B state title game next Friday night at the Augusta Civic Center.
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