Levi Leverdiere had a game-high 33 points on Saturday evening, as Monmouth Academy held off Machias 51-41 in the Class D boys basketball state championship game at the Augusta Civic Center.
The Mustangs built a 28-14 halftime lead led by 17 points (five 3-pointers) by Leverdiere. The Bulldogs came roaring back and would cut it all the way down to 38-36 with 3:50 left in the game on two free throws by Liam O’Connor. Monmouth was too tough though as Leverdiere put in nine more points in the final period, and as a team they would make 11-12 from the free throw line in the final eight minutes. Leverdiere made seven 3-pointers, just one shy of tying a Class D tournament game record. With a three-point field goal in the third quarter he would reach 1,000 career points as a junior. Tyler Day would add eight points as the Mustangs win their second state championship in the last three years and finished with a record of 17-5. Mickey Fitzsimmons had 15 points and nine rebounds for Machias, while Landon Barrett put in nine points and grabbed six rebounds. The Bulldogs were seeking their fourth state title and their first since 2017, as they finish as runner-up with a record of 20-2.
