BREWER – The score could have been much higher. There were chances galore and loose pucks everywhere.

A tremendous goaltending duel between juniors Nick Simon of Stearns and Garrett Macgowan of Hampden Academy was finally decided by the Brooks brothers.

Senior right wing Mike Brooks converted a pass from freshman brother Kevin with 2:23 left in overtime to give Hampden Academy’s Broncos their fourth win in five games, 2-1 over the Minutemen from Millinocket at the T.J. Ryan Center Wednesday night.

Hampden Academy is now 8-6 while Stearns fell to 5-7. Hampden avenged a 4-2 loss on Dec. 26.

The game-winner came with five seconds left on a hooking penalty to Stearns standout defenseman Josh Moore, whose hook prevented a Greg Taylor breakaway opportunity.

“I saw a loose puck and sprinted to get it,” said Kevin Brooks. “I saw my brother looping and I thought he could pick it up.”

Mike Brooks said there was one Stearns defenseman back and teammate Chris Bearor occupied the defenseman and created a screen and a lane for him.

“I cut in on the backhand and saw the goalie go down. I knew I had to get the puck up,” said Brooks, who cut right to left across the low slot and beat Simon with a 12-footer back to his glove side.

“When he cut behind them, I momentarily lost sight of the puck,” said Simon. “I got a piece of my glove on it but it went in. It was a helluva shot.”

Simon finished with 45 saves, including several gems.

“He played a great game. He really made us work,” said Mike Brooks.

Macgowan wound up with 38 stops including a game-saver in overtime at the expense of Stearns 26-goal scorer Matt Michaud, who went in alone on him only to have his wrister turned aside by Magowan’s blocker.

“Earlier in the game, he had a breakaway and went to my blocker side. I’m weak on that side. I figured he’d go there again so I knew I had to get over,” said Macgowan.

“I didn’t lift it high enough,” said the speedy and creative Michaud who had a staggering 19 shots on goal only to have Macgowan reject all of them.

“It just wasn’t my night,” said Michaud.

“Garrett kept us in the game,” said Mike Brooks.

Hampden Academy sophomore defenseman Chris Standley and Stearns freshman center George Surrette swapped first-period goals.

After Simon had rejected an in-close attempt by Kevin Brooks, Standley skated down the slot from the point and snapped a 25-footer over Simon’s shoulder as the goalie tried to scramble back into position.

Surrette answered 1:28 later after Michaud and fellow speedster Drew Somers created some havoc around the net.

Michaud weaved to the top of the crease and got off a quick shot that Macgowan kicked out. Surrette gathered in the rebound, pulled it around Macgowan and tucked it home.

Simon credited his teammates with making his job easier.

“This was our best defensive effort of the season,” said Simon.

Macgowan said he felt “real good all night” and it showed in his performance.

Hampden had the better of the play territorially but the Stearns line of Michaud between Somers and Sean Jamieson was a constant threat.

BRONCOS 2, MINUTEMEN 1 (OT)

Stearns (5-7) 1 0 0 0 ? 1

Hampden (8-6) 1 0 0 1 ? 2

First period ? 1. HA, C. Standley 1 (Huntley, K. Brooks), 5:44; 2. Stearns, Surrette 3 (M. Michaud, Somers), 7:12. Penalties: HA, Perkins, interference, :35; Stearns, Moore, delay of game, 9:26; HA, Perkins, hooking, 11:41.

Second period ? No scoring. Penalties: HA, Taylor, high-sticking, 3:15; HA, Taylor, tripping, 8:40; Stearns, M. Michaud, hooking, 9:26.

Third period ? No scoring. Penalties: HA, Bearor, slashing, 14:33.

Overtime ? 3. HA, M. Brooks 7 (K. Brooks), 5:37 (pp). Penalties: Stearns, Moore, hooking, 3:42.

Shots on goal: Stearns 13-12-11-3?39; Hampden 14-16-15-2?47

Goaltenders: Stearns, Simon (47-45); Hampden, Macgowan (39-38)

Power-play opportunities: Stearns 0 of 5; Hampden 1 of 3

Attendance: 75 (est.)