BANGOR- Stevie Walsh hit a game tying three-pointer with seven seconds left in regulation, and the Yarmouth Clippers outscored the Ellsworth Eagles 15-8 in overtime led by a double double and a game high 27 points from Peter Psyhogeos Friday night to capture the Class B boys state championship with a 59-52 victory at the Cross Insurance Center.
Six points in the first quarter by Ellsworth senior guard Hunter Curtis had the Eagles up 16-13 after the opening eight minutes of action. After a Psyhogeos three-pointer cut it to 18-16 early in the second, Ellsworth would extend their lead with an 11-3 run helped by five straight points from Gage Hardy to make it 29-18. The Eagles would lead 29-21 at the halftime break.
A quick moving third quarter saw the scoring slow down, but another four points from Curtis allowed Ellsworth to maintain an eight point advantage 35-27 headed for the fourth quarter. After Psyhogeos sliced it to 35-30 with a free throw early in the fourth, the Eagles would push it back to a 10 point lead on one free throw by Chance Mercier and also baskets by Mercier and Hardy. There was no quit though in Yarmouth. The Clippers scored the next nine points, capped off by a three-pointer by Matt Waeldner with 1:30 left after a Curtis layup miss on the other end of the floor. It was a free throw shooting contest over the next 1:10, as Brett Bragdon sank 4-4 from the line for Ellsworth wedged around a 2-2 effort from Psyhogeos and it was 44-41 Eagles. With 10 seconds remaining, Yarmouth called a timeout to set up a play. On the ensuing inbounds pass, Walsh found an open spot in the corner and knocked it down from behind the arc to force the extra session.
Yarmouth (20-3) then never trailed in overtime after an opening basket by Waeldner. The Clippers got 10 points from Psyhogeos in the four minute period, including 8-8 from the foul line. As a team in the game they shot 12-14 from the stripe (9-10 in OT).
The senior forward Psyhogeos added 13 rebounds, two assists, and two steals to his game high point total for the Clippers. Waeldner finished with 16 points and four rebounds. Yarmouth wins their first state championship since a victory over Gardiner in 2012. Chance Mercier led Ellsworth in the loss with 17 points and six rebounds. Curtis also recorded a double double with 15 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and three steals. The Eagles end a terrific season as state runner-up with a final record of 22-1. Ellsworth was seeking their first state title in 56 years (1966).
YAR 13 8 6 17 15- 59
ELL 16 13 6 9 8- 52
