But you still need to activate your account.
Sign in or Subscribe to view this content.
AUGUSTA – Luke Hartwell knew what to do. After all, he’s been here before.
Valley of Bingham’s senior poured in a career-high 32 points, including his team’s last eight, as the Cavaliers topped Bangor Christian 67-66 in the Class D boys basketball state championship game Saturday afternoon at the Augusta Civic Center.
Valley captured its state record-tying fifth consecutive crown. The Jonesport-Beals boys won five straight from 1970-74.
“I wanted the ball. I didn’t want to lose my last game,” said Hartwell, who also had seven rebounds and five assists. “I remember watching [Valley win its first state title] in the stands when I was in eighth grade and thinking, wow, I could be part of this glorious [game]. … So once I was in my [last] state championship I just had to think – we’re not gonna lose this game.”
Valley coach Dwight Littlefield could only shake his head at the quality of the basketball played by both teams.
“It’s always tough. [Winning] never seems to be very easy,” said Littlefield.
Valley improved to 21-1 while Bangor Christian finished at 20-3.
The Cavaliers trailed by seven early in the fourth quarter but outscored the Patriots 21-15 in the period with clutch play from Hartwell and Brian Andre (21 points, nine rebounds) and an emotional boost from Jason Hartwell, Luke’s twin.
Jason Hartwell left the game in the first period when he reinjured his right knee, which he had surgery on over the summer to repair a bone chip.
Jason Hartwell returned with 7:15 remaining in the fourth. Two minutes later, he took a pass from his brother and nailed a 3-pointer, his only basket of the game, to slash the Bangor Christian lead to 55-51 and give the Cavaliers the momentum.
The 6-foot-9 Andre scored six of the Cavaliers’ next eight points, giving Valley a 59-57 lead when he nailed a turnaround jumper with 2:25 to go.
From there Luke Hartwell took over, scoring on a backdoor cut off a pass from Andre, converting a drive to the basket, and making 4 of 4 free throws.
Hartwell’s last two free throws, with 10.1 seconds remaining, gave the Cavaliers a 67-64 lead. Bangor Christian got the ball over half-court and called a timeout with 6.5 seconds to go.
The Patriots were able to get off a 3-pointer, but it rimmed out and Ben Sobey corralled the rebound and scored at the buzzer to make the final margin 67-66.
Luke Hartwell said the Cavaliers were wary of the Patriots because of the emotion they had displayed by winning the Eastern Maine title in honor of teammate David Chrisos, who was injured in a car accident before the start of the tournament and who remains in Eastern Maine Medical Center.
“It’s very tough when you play a team on a … ride like that. … Our thoughts go out to [Chrisos] and his team,” Luke Hartwell said.
Patriots coach Gary Colson said Chrisos is improving and is expected to be released from the hospital Tuesday.
Patriots 6-5 senior Pat McCleary poured in 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds while guards Kyle Bradford and Josh Madden tossed in 15 and 13, respectively.
McCleary more than held his own against Andre, driving fearlessly to the basket against the taller, bulkier big man.
Andre was surprised that McCleary kept coming at him.
Bangor Christian’s Eddie Carey (seven points) was hampered by foul trouble, picking up his fourth with 4:27 remaining in the third. He did not return until there was 5:42 to go in the fourth, and he fouled out with 10.1 seconds left.
Even so, Colson said Bangor Christian executed its plan well.
“I thought we did exactly what we wanted to do. We held the score down. The tempo was to our liking. … The kids played great. … But [Luke] Hartwell – we didn’t think he had 32 in him,” Colson said.
CAVALIERS 67, PATRIOTS 66
Bangor Christian (20-3) Valley (21-1)
Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP
Madden 5 12 0 0 13 Melcher 0 3 0
Conley 1 2 0 0 2 Robinson 1 3
Patterson 0 2 0 0 0 J. Hartwell 1 3
Bradford 5 8 3 6 15 L. Hartwell 11 20 6 8 32
McCleary 8 24 9 11 25 Andre 10 14 21
Sobey 2 3 0 0 4 Gaudet 2 10 6
Carey 3 7 1 1 7 Miller 1 2 2
Totals 24 58 13 18 66 Totals 26 59 15 67
Bangor Christian 17 29 51 66
Valley 14 25 46 67
3-pt. goals: Bangor Christian (5-15): Madden 3-9,Bradford 2-4, Patterson 0-2; Valley (7-24): Melcher 0-1, Robinson 1-1, J. Hartwell 1-6, L. Hartwell 4-10, Gaudet 1-6
Comments
comments for this post are closed