BANGOR, Maine- Colby McLean scored a layup in the paint with just one second left Tuesday night, as the #8 Sumner Tigers upset the top seeded Central Aroostook Panthers 54-53 in a thrilling Maine Principals’ Association Class C boys quarterfinal game at the Cross Insurance Center.
Central Aroostook (15-4) started out quickly as Ben Thomas knocked down a pair of early three pointers and the Panthers took a 16-2 lead. They held a 21-13 lead at the end of first quarter, and still led by 10 at 28-18 in the second quarter when Sumner rallied back. Ethan Young gave the Tigers their first lead at 30-29 on a three pointer with 45 seconds left before the break, and Sumner led 31-30 at the half.
Central Aroostook scored the first six points of the third quarter on back to back three pointers by Brayden Bradbury and Josh Thomas. With the Panthers leading by seven later in the quarter, the Tigers made another push. Dylan Bernier hit a three pointer to cap an 8-0 run to make it 45-44 Sumner, before B. Thomas hit another three late in the third to put Central Aroostook back into the lead 47-45 headed for the final quarter.
The Panthers had a four point lead twice in the final quarter, the second time on a three pointer by B. Thomas (who had 6 three pointers in the game) at 52-48. A basket by Simon Torrey and a 1-2 effort from the foul line by McLean for the Tigers cut it to 52-51. Both teams then exchanged 1-2 from the line, Ethan Pryor for Central Aroostook and Kyle Brooks for Sumner to make it 53-52 with just 55 seconds left. Bradbury missed on the front end of a 1 and 1 at the line with 39 seconds left, but the Panthers came up with a steal on the other end when the Tigers tried to take the lead. Bradbury had a chance again as he was fouled with just 17 seconds left, but missed both setting the stage for McLean after a timeout with nine seconds left. McLean, who only had five points in the game, scored over Jacob Corvall after faking right and going left and banking it off the glass with just one second left. B. Thomas had one final attempt after a Panthers timeout taking the inbounds pass and heaving it from three quarters of the court that was released just in time before the buzzer, but hit off the side of the rim and bounced out sending the Tigers to a Friday semifinal.
Sumner was led by Brooks who finished with a team high 17 points. Torrey had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Young also chipped in eight points. Central Aroostook was led by B. Thomas who had a game high 24 points. Pryor added 12 points, while Bradbury finished with nine points and 13 rebounds.
Sumner now 13-7, will face Houlton on Friday night in an 8:35 pm semifinal.
Kyle Brooks from Sumner goes up for a shot over Central Aroostook defender Hunter Wardwell during action in a Class C boys quarterfinal on February 19, 2019 at the Cross Insurance Center. Sumner won in thrilling fashion 54-53. Photo courtesy of Lisa Prescott (click to enlarge)
SUM 13 18 14 9- 54
CTL 21 9 17 6- 53
Rebounds- Sumner 17 Central Aroostook 27
Free throws- Sumner 10-16 Central Aroostook 11-18
Turnovers- Sumner 15 Central Aroostook 17
