Worcester saves Knights for win

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BANGOR – The Knights felt more like damsels in distress here at the Bangor Auditorium late Monday night.

But that was before Robbie Worcester came to their rescue.

Worcester scored a game-high 30 points, including the game-tying basket at the end of regulation, to lead the No. 2 Narraguagus Knights to a nerve-wracking 66-60 overtime win over George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill in Eastern Maine Class C quarterfinal action.

The win sends 14-3 Narraguagus into a 2:05 p.m. Friday semifinal against No. 3 Hodgdon.

Worcester’s basket with 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter broke a four-minute ‘Guagus scoring drought and gave the Knights new life in overtime.

Junior guard Eric Benge drove the lane, but at the last second dumped the ball off to Worcester, who had jumped into the lane from the right side before laying it in.

But he didn’t stop there, the 6-foot-4 forward sandwiched two baskets from the low post around senior guard Kameron Grant’s 20-foot, 3-pointer near the top of the key – his only one in the game – to help ‘Guagus seize the momentum and the lead for good over the relentless Eagles, who finish at 9-10.

“We split with them during the regular season so we knew it wouldn’t be easy,” said Narraguagus coach Michael Kelly.

The Knights’ hopes for a return to the Eastern finals looked perilous with 53 seconds left. The Eagles held a 56-54 lead and had possession of the ball.

But on the inbounds play, the Knights’ Eric Benge (14 points) grabbed the deflected pass and the ball got loose in a pile of players. A jump ball was called, and the possession arrow pointed at ‘Guagus.

“They’re a difficult team for us to play because they’re very quick and hit the boards hard,” Kelley said. “And when [Tim Pert] is on, he’s on… He was on tonight.”

Pert (13 points) opened up the inside for GSA’s slashing frontcourt with outside shots, including a 25-foot 3-pointer at the first period buzzer. John Murray got free inside for 18 points and 11 boards.

Knights 66, Eagles 60

Geo. Stevens (9-10) Narraguagus boys (14-3)

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

Torrey 2 8 0 0 5 Fraser 0 0 0 0 0

Marancik 0 0 0 0 0 Benge 5 12 3 3 14

Vogell 0 0 0 0 0 Grant 2 7 0 1 5

Pert 5 19 0 0 13 Pinkham 0 0 0 0 0

Pickering 6 11 2 5 14 Meyer 0 0 0 0 0

Wright 0 2 0 0 0 Fenton 0 0 0 0 0

Wiseman 0 0 0 0 0 Look 4 6 0 0 8

Merrill 0 3 0 0 0 Davis 0 0 0 0 0

Hutchins 2 4 0 0 4 R. Worcester 14 22 2 3 30

Murray 9 12 0 0 18 Lyford 1 1 0 1 2

B. Mattson 1 4 0 0 3 Haskell 0 0 0 0 0

Sattler 0 0 0 0 0 M.Worcester 0 0 0 0 0

C. Mattson 1 3 0 0 3 Dorr 3 6 1 1 7

Allen 0 0 0 0 0 Tabbutt 0 0 0 0 0

Totals 26 66 2 5 60 Totals 29 54 6 9 66

George Stevens 14 28 43 56 60

Narraguagus 14 26 46 56 66

3-pt. goals: GSA: (6-18): Torrey 1-3, Pert 3-11, B. Mattson 1-2, C. Mattson 1-2; Narraguagas (2-9): Benge 1-2, Grant 1-5, Worcester 0-1, Dorr 0-1