Patriots rally by Royals in 4th Smith gives BC a scoring boost

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BANGOR – Bangor Christian boys basketball player Luke Smith is normally known for his contributions on the defensive end of the floor.

But Monday night at Husson College’s Newman Gymnasium, the 6-foot-5 senior connected on 9 of 12 shots from the floor and finished with 19 points in leading the Patriots to a 70-53 win over Jonesport-Beals.

Ask Smith and he’ll tell you he’s not sure where his sudden instinct for offense came from.

“I was just feeling it. I was a little unconscious, I guess. That’s what the ref told the coach,” Smith said.

The Patriots needed Smith’s contributions. Jonesport-Beals kept the game close through three periods, combining full-court pressure that created turnovers with the offense of Abraham Beal.

Beal, a 5-10 junior, nailed five 3-pointers, including three in the third quarter as the Royals stayed in touch with the Patriots, trailing just 48-45 at the end of three stanzas.

But the Patriots opened up the fourth quarter with nine straight points, four from Smith. Erik Balchen, who finished with 10 points for 3-1 Jonesport-Beals, finally put an end to the run with a basket with 5:32 remaining in the game but too much damage had been done.

Smith added two more baskets down the stretch and 6-1 junior Josh Madden scored six of his 18 points in the fourth quarter.

Senior David Chrisos chipped in with 12 points and senior Ben Sobey was also in double figures with 10.

“I told Mr. [J-B coach Ordie] Alley that I didn’t want to play him two weeks from now. That team’s going to get better and better,” Bangor Christian coach Gary Colson said. “Luke [Smith] played right out of his skull tonight.”

The Patriots were bigger that J-B, particularly at the guard spots where Madden and 6-4 Greg Patterson took turns trying to contain Beal. But the Royals made up for the lack of size with quickness.

They abandoned a 3-2 zone defense after the first quarter to pressure the ball all over the floor. The tactic worked, with the Patriots turning the ball over on six occasions, including two straight possessions in the second quarter.

It was the press that freed up Beal for open looks at the basket in the third quarter. But Patterson and Madden played him tough in the fourth.

“They’ve got a real tough lineup. Their guards are big. I mean it’s hard to shoot over them… We showed we can play with them for three quarters. That means we can play with them for four quarters. Hopefully, next time,” Beal said.

Derrick Beal contributed 10 points for the Royals.

PATRIOTS 70, ROYALS 53

Jonesport-Beals (3-1) Bangor Christian (3-0)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Lamson 0 0 0 0 0 Madden 6 14 18

Durkee 1 7 0 0 3 Phinney 0 0 0

A. Beal 6 13 1 3 18 Denbow 0 1 0

Dyer 1 1 2 4 4 Patterson 2 5 4

Berry 0 2 0 0 0 Frost 0 0 0

J. Alley 1 1 0 0 2 Chrisos 5 16 12

M. Alley 0 1 0 0 0 E. Sobey 0 3

Balchen 4 11 2 4 10 Smith 9 12 19

Chandler 2 6 2 2 6 B. Sobey 4 10

D. Beal 4 7 2 2 10 McLeary 1 3 4

Totals 19 49 9 15 53 Totals 27 56 13 21 70

Jonesport-Beals 21 30 45 53

Bangor Christian 21 33 48 70

3-pt. goals: Jonesport-Beals (6-11): M. Alley 0-1, Durkee 1-2, A. Beal 5-8; Bangor Christian (3-10): Madden 2-4, Patterson 0-1, Chrisos 1-4, E. Sobey 0-1

Attendance: 125 (est.)

Preliminary: Bangor Christian JVs 55-43