BANGOR, Me- The Hermon Hawks put three players in double figures Saturday afternoon, and held on late to defeat the MDI Trojans 51-38 in the Class B boys North regional title game played at the Cross Insurance Center.
Hermon (21-0) takes home their first regional title since 2000, by taking down last years regional and state champion MDI, who finishes up 17-4.
A slow moving first quarter offensively had the Hawks up 6-4 after the first eight minutes, and MDI didn’t break onto the scoreboard for the first 5:30. Hermon turned it on in the second quarter, as they scored 18 points and used a 10-2 run to finish the first half to take a 24-14 halftime lead.
Hermon was able to break the game open in the third quarter, by outscoring the Trojans 16-4 to take a 40-18 advantage into the final quarter. Garrett Trask, Cody Hawes, and Isaac Varney scored 15 of the 16 points to help build the lead.
MDI though had one more run left in them in the games final eight minutes. A 15-2 surge cut the Hawks lead to 42-33 with just over two minutes remaining. Hermon sewed it up though by hitting 9-13 from the line. “We play MDI alot, and they always make a strong run, they got us with that double press”, said Hawks guard Keenan Marseille. Marseille added, “That’s something they do really well, they are a strong team. Luckily we were good enough to withstand that, played tough throughout and happy we got the win.”
Hermon was led by Hawes, who finished with 16 points. Trask added 11, and Varney finished with 10 and five rebounds. Coach Mark Reed said after the game, “I thought our kids worked so hard defensively throughout the game. Didn’t always look good on the offensive end against that press, but our kids worked tirelessly. They have done that all year, they have been great. We got one more left in us I hope, this group of kids have been really focused. I don’t think coming to practice Monday will be difficult for them”.
Andrew Phelps led MDI with 10 points. James McConomy added nine, and Andrew chipped in with eight.
Hermon will face South champion Wells (15-6) next Friday night in Bangor at the Cross Insurance Center at 8:45 p.m. for the state title.
MDI 4 10 4 20- 38
HER 6 18 16 11- 51
Three point goals: MDI- Phelps 2, McConomy 2, Collin Hermon- Hawes 3, Trask 3, Bergeron
Free throws: MDI 7-8 Hermon 10-15
Turnovers: MDI- 15 Hermon 9
