BANGOR, Maine- Caden Mattson scored a game high 25 points, including 20 combined in the second and third quarter as the #4 seeded George Stevens Academy Eagles pulled away from #5 seed Fort Fairfield 67-39 in a Maine Principals’ Association Class C boys quarterfinal at the Cross Insurance Center.
It was a tight back and forth first quarter with GSA (18-2) holding the largest lead of five at 9-4. The Tigers of Fort Fairfield fought back to tie it 11-11 on a three point play by Kadin Barnes, but the Eagles held a slight 12-11 advantage after the opening eight minutes. Fort Fairfield took their first lead when Dawson Watson knocked down a three-pointer early in the second. The Tigers biggest lead was 17-14, but that is when Mattson took over. He scored nine second quarter points to lead a 12-1 run and GSA took a 26-18 lead into halftime that they never relinquished.
Mattson added another 11 points in the third quarter as George Stevens outscored Fort Fairfield 17-9 and took a 43-27 advantage into the fourth quarter. David Gadsby had eight points in the final period and Michael Moon added six as the Eagles would score 24 points to the Tigers 12. GSA led by as many as 29 to secure the quarterfinal win and move on to face Central Aroostook in a Friday semifinal.
Mattson had eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals in addition to his game high point total in the George Stevens win. Gatsby pumped in 16 points. Milos Sujica had nine points and four rebounds. Moon had six and Teague Smallidge had five points. Smallidge also had five rebounds. Austin Snow contributed three points, Dexter Brown two, and Ryan Mullen a free throw for one point. GSA outrebounded Fort Fairfield 29-23, and shot 15-26 from the foul line. The Eagles meet the Panthers of Central Aroostook in that semifinal round Friday evening at 7 p.m.
Watson led Fort Fairfield with 10 points in the loss. Barnes and Chase Griffeth each chipped in nine points. Barnes also had six rebounds. Colby Langner also contributed eight points and six rebounds, Chase Coiley had two, and Wyatt Keegan added a free throw for one point. The Tigers shot 10-21 from the line, and finish their season at 13-7.
