It was certainly a big statement win on Thursday night for the Nokomis boys basketball team. The Warriors got a game high 30 points from freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, and cruised past the Brewer Witches 72-43 in a Class A North basketball clash at Nokomis Regional High School in Newport.
This was a rematch of a 57-46 Brewer win back on December 17 in Brewer, and was the only loss for #2 Nokomis entering play. The Witches, the top team and undefeated in Class A North coming in, got off to a decent start and an early 6-2 lead. The Warriors quickly took over though going on an impressive 18-0 run that extended into the second quarter making it 20-6, and would never trail again. The hosts led 16-6 after one and 34-17 at the halftime break sparked by 14 from Flagg in that first half. Brewer (9-1) had no answer for Flagg in the second half either, as the hosts continued to pull away leading by as many as 32 in the fourth in the first loss of the season for the Witches. The 6 foot 8 Warriors freshman had three or four monstrous dunks on the night, as Nokomis improves to 10-1.
Along with the game high from Cooper, his older brother Hunter and freshman twin brother Ace had 10 points a piece in the win. Connor Sides chipped in eight points, and Alex Grant had a pair of three-pointers for six points. Colby Smith had 13 points for Brewer, while Brock Flagg added 12. Brady Saunders and Aaron Newcomb also contributed six points a piece. Both teams return to action with home games on Saturday as Nokomis will play Erskine Academy, and Brewer welcomes in Messalonskee.
