Bapst tips Narraguagus in double OT

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Greg Nichols swished a 10-footer from the baseline with five seconds left in the second overtime to lift John Bapst of Bangor to a 53-51 double-overtime Class C quarterfinal victory over Narraguagus of Harrington Monday night at the Bangor Auditorium.

The victory sends the No. 2 Crusaders, 17-2, into Thursday’s 8:35 p.m. semifinal against No. 3 Calais, a 75-72 winner over Limestone earlier Monday.

In the nightcap, Coach Bob Cimbollek’s Crusaders played their familiar style, but the 10-10 Knights of Larry Worcester were equal to the task. The game wasn’t decided until Chad Fenton’s desperation shot from beyond halfcourt bounded off the rim at the final buzzer.

Rod Buswell powered John Bapst with 25 points, including 15 after intermission, and 12 rebounds. Mike Miragliuolo tossed in 17 points, 12 in the first half, and Nichols had 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists.

Junior point guard John Cornett (7 assists) adeptly handled the Knights’ relentless trapping pressure to keep Bapst in sync. Chris Haas pestered Fenton with a tough defensive effort.

Fenton was superb for ‘Guagus, connecting for 23 points, including 16 after the break. His 15-foot runner with one second left had forced a second overtime and Fenton’s 12 fourth-quarter points kept the Knights close.

Scott Fernald had 12 points and Mark Leighton 8 for ‘Guagus.

Bapst exhibited tremendous patience, holding for the last shot in regulation only to miss. The Crusaders held the ball for 2:33 in the first OT before Buswell canned a 10-foot turnaround to make it 49-47. Yet, Fenton responded with his clutch hoop.

‘Guagus had overcome a 45-41 deficit in the fourth when Fenton sank a three-pointer, then converted on a traditional three-point play 30 seconds later to put the Knights on top 47-45. Buswell’s reverse layup with 1:52 left was the last scoring in regulation.

In the afternoon game, trailing 66-58 with 7:17 to play, Calais needed somebody to take charge. Senior center David Pike answered the call.

The 6-foot-5 Pike crashed the offensive boards, scoring 6 of his 8 fourth-quarter points off rebounds to fuel a 12-3 spurt that helped Calais earn the victory.

Pike’s strong inside play enabled No. 3 Calais, 17-2, to turn an eight-point deficit into a one-point lead during a span of 3:27. His 6-foot turnaround from the lane put the Devils ahead 70-69 with 3:38 to play.

Calais made five of seven from the foul line the rest of the way to hold Limestone at bay.

“We weren’t rebounding the ball that well, so we figured box out, play position defense, sag to the middle,” Pike said. “We just worked hard.”

“David’s the one who won it for us as far as I’m concerned,” Clark said. “We decided at halftime that we were just going to pound the ball inside and, hopefully, we could get some good baskets and get some fouls called.”

Sixth-seeded Limestone, 13-6, bothered Calais with its exceptional quickness, led by senior guard Robert Carroll and sophomore guard Tony Tobin. Kirk Moran’s Eagles burned the Devils for 61 percent floor shooting (28-for-46).

However, Limestone turned the ball over 24 times against Calais’ man-to-man defense and could not achieve as much offensive continuity after the Devils went into a 2-3 zone in the last three minutes. A Pike rebound hoop ignited Calais’ big run. Robert Yates hit a free throw for the Eagles, but jumpers by Matt Cassidy and Derek Clark and another rebound basket by Pike cut it to 67-66 with 4:42 left.

Tobin canned a jumper from the paint, but Pike converted off a rebound, then scored again from the lane 23 seconds later to put Calais ahead for keeps. The Eagles trailed 74-72 with 39 seconds left, but a key turnover kept Calais in control.

Clark hit three of four from the line to help Calais hold on.

Cassidy sparked Calais with a game-high 23 points, while Pike contributed 18 points and 13 rebounds. Clark had 16 points for the Devils, who grabbed 23 offensive rebounds among 35 total.

Yates paced Limestone with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists. Tobin scored 18 points, Craig O’Neal 16, and Carroll 10.

Limestone had forged out to a 27-19 lead with an 11-0 flurry that began in the final minute of the first quarter. Tobin made two free throws and scored on a fast-break layup, before Yates scored a baseline layup off a feed from Carroll to make it 22-19 after one.

O’Neal buried a three-pointer 18 seconds into the second quarter and Yates scored from the paint to put the Eagles ahead 27-19. Calais battled back to take the lead as Cassidy scored 8 points during a 12-3 spurt.

But Tobin’s heady play helped Limestone go on an 11-4 binge that put the Eagles ahead again.

Crusaders 53, Knights 51, 2OT

John Bapst boys Narraguagus

Name AG G AF F TP Name AG G AF F TP

Miragliuolo 14 7 0 0 17 Chipman 3 1 0 0 2

Cornett 1 0 2 1 1 Noyes 1 1 0 0 2

Buswell 15 9 8 7 25 Fenton 29 9 5 3 23

Mullins 0 0 0 0 0 Fernald 11 4 2 2 12

C. Haas 1 0 0 0 0 Marston 4 2 0 0 4

Baxter 2 0 2 1 1 Leighton 3 3 3 2 8

Nichols 9 3 3 3 9 S. Robbins 0 0 0 0 0

Burnett 0 0 0 0 0

Fletcher 0 0 0 0 0

Totals 42 19 15 12 53 Totals 51 20 10 7 51

John Bapst 12 22 32 47 49 53

Narraguagus 11 23 31 47 49 51

3-pt. goals: John Bapst (3-8): Miragliuolo 3-7, Baxter 0-1; Narraguagus (4-7): Fenton 2-3, Fernald 2-4

Blue Devils 75, Eagles 72

Calais boys Limestone

Name AG G AF F TP Name AG G AF F TP

Doten 7 4 0 0 8 McDougal 1 1 2 1 3

Hinton 6 2 1 0 4 Tobin 10 8 3 2 18

McPhee 1 0 0 0 0 Carroll 10 4 3 2 10

Clark 20 5 6 5 16 Tr. Leighton 1 1 2 1 3

Cassidy 21 9 6 3 23 O’Neal 12 6 2 1 16

Tapley 8 3 0 0 6 Yates 9 6 8 6 18

Pike 14 6 10 6 18 Robben 3 2 2 0 4

McLellan 1 0 0 0 0 Ty. Leighton 0 0 0 0 0

Totals 77 29 23 14 75 Totals 46 28 22 13 72

Calais 19 41 58 75

Limestone 22 47 64 72

3-pt. goals: Calais (3-13): Clark 1-7, Cassidy 2-6; Limestone (3-8): Tobin 0-1, O’Neal 3-7