BANGOR- Orono led from start to finish in a rematch of last years North Regional Championship game on Wednesday, as Pierce Walston made 10 fourth quarter free throws in helping to defeat Ellsworth 53-38 in a Maine Principals’ Association Class B boys basketball semifinal at the Cross Insurance Center.
Orono led 11-5 after one quarter led by five points from Bergen Soderberg and four from Will Francis. Ellsworth was trying to hold for the final shot of the opening eight minutes, but turned it over and Pierce Walston set up Will Francis for a dunk on the other end just before the buzzer for a six point edge.
The Red Riots extended their advantage to 23-12 at halftime, and held Eagles senior guard Chance Mercier to just one field goal and three points in the first half. Ellsworth did cut it to seven on a Mercier three-pointer in the third quarter, but that is as close as they’d get. Walston would hit 10-12 from the free throw line in the fourth to ice it for the defending state champions.
Walston led the way in the Orono win with 16 points (14-18 free throws), eight rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Will Francis added 12 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. Ben Francis also got into double figures with 10 points and five rebounds. Soderberg chipped in eight points. Mercier finished with eight points and five rebounds in the loss for Ellsworth. Brayden King and Kyle Kenny had six points a piece. The Eagles finish the season at 16-4. The Red Riots (17-3) play for a regional championship for a third straight season when they battle neighboring Old Town Friday night at approximately 7:45 p.m.
