BANGOR, Maine- Freshman guard Ethan Foss got into first quarter foul trouble, but returned in the second half and led his Machias Bulldogs to a come from behind 53-42 win over the Easton Bears in a Maine Principals’ Association Class D boys regional final game played at the Cross Insurance Center Saturday.
Machias led the entire first quarter scoring the first four points and holding a 12-7 advantage after the opening eight minutes. Foss though had to take a seat on the bench late in the first with three fouls, and Easton took advantage in the second quarter as the freshman sat out the rest of the half. After the Bulldogs had taken their biggest lead of seven, the Bears struck back to take their first lead when Matt Pangburn hit a shot to make it 19-18. Easton finished the second on a 10-0 run and lead 24-18 at the break.
Then Foss returned to start the second half and propelled his team back. He had seven in the third quarter as Machias didn’t overtake the lead but did tie it several times, and trailed only by two 34-32 headed to the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs went ahead on a Kashman Feeney jumper, before Shane Feeney added one moments later and Machias led 40-37 midway through the final period. Troy Chasse answered for Easton but couldn’t complete a three point play, and then S. Fenney buried a three-pointer next time down to make it 43-39 and that is as close as the Bears would be in the last few minutes. The Bulldogs shot 8-10 from the foul line down the stretch to ice the victory, including 5-6 from Foss.
Foss led all scorers with a game high 17 points in the Machias win. S. Feeney finished with 14 points, while K. Feeney had 13 and five rebounds. Also chipping in was Jayden Rhodes with five points, and Kyle Anderson with four points, four rebounds, and three blocks. The Bears outrebounded the Bulldogs 23-19, and Machias shot 12-14 from the foul line.
Austin Carver had 11 points and six rebounds in the loss for Easton. Pangburn added nine points and six rebounds, and Chasse finished with eight points. Also contributing was Camden Michaud with five points, Kooper Kinney with four, Owen Nicholson with three, and Kyle Flewelling with two points. The Bears shot 3-9 from the line, and end their season with a record of 14-7.
Machias is now 13-8 and will face the winner of Forest Hills and Greenville for the Boys Class D state title at the Augusta Civic Center next Saturday afternoon at 2:45 p.m. The Bulldogs last won a regional in 2017, where they also captured the state title over Greenville.
