BANGOR, Maine- Jaroslov Ruta scored 15 of his game high 22 points, in the second half and overtime combined to lead the MCI Huskies to a 58-52 come from behind overtime win over the Oceanside Mariners in a Maine Principals’ Association Class B boys quarterfinal on Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center.
Oceanside (13-6) held the lead for most of the first half, 8-7 after the opening quarter and when MCI took their first lead 9-8 early in the second quarter, the Mariners answered with a 8-0 run and led 25-17 at the half.
Oceanside matched their biggest lead of nine in the third quarter 31-22, before the Huskies crawled back within four at 33-29 with a 7-2 run. The Mariners led by six with just over 4:30 to play in regulation, before the Huskies made their final push. Ruta converted an unconventional three point play to make it 39-36 with just over four minutes left. Daniel Garamvolgyi cut it to a single point for the Huskies with a basket, before the Mariners Cooper Wirkala made it 41-38 Oceanside. Ruta made 1-2 from the line to cut it to just two again, and Wirkala missed a jumper in the lane on the other end leading to a Gavin McArthur rebound and fast break layup by Hayden Caldwell to tie it 41-41 with 1:20 left.
Joseph Cloutier jumper gave MCI their first lead since 9-8 with 45 seconds left, but Wirkala tied it on the other end in the lane with 28 seconds showing on the clock. Garamvolgyi had a chance to win in it at the end of regulation but missed a fadeaway jumper in the lane as time expired. MCI scored the first six points of overtime which was the biggest lead for them on the day at 49-43, and Oceanside only got as close as three the rest of the way. Caldwell, Ruta, and McArthur had four points a piece in overtime for the Huskies to account for 12 of their 15 points, while Wirkala scored all nine in the extra session for the Mariners.
Ruta added eight rebounds and a block for the 15-4 Huskies. Cloutier added 10 points and five rebounds. McArthur had eight points and six rebounds, while Caldwell also chipped in eight points. Wirkala had 18 points for four rebounds for the Mariners. Jack Lombardo had 11 points. Amos Anderson had eight points, eight rebounds, and two blocked shots. Jaden Martin also added eight points.
MCI awaits the winner of a Saturday afternoon quarterfinal between Hermon and Presque Isle, whom they will face in the semifinals on Wednesday afternoon at 3:35 pm.
Jaroslav Ruta grabs a rebound for MCI over Oceanside defender Amos Anderson during action in a Class B boys quarterfinal on Saturday, February 16, 2019 in Bangor. Photo courtesy of Lisa Prescott (click to enlarge)
MCI 7 10 12 14 15- 58
OCH 8 17 8 10 9- 52
Rebounds- MCI 25 Oceanside 31
Free throws- MCI 12-21 Oceanside 11-14
Turnovers- MCI 13 Oceanside 15
