LINCOLN – They are the team no one wanted to face in the preliminary round of the Class C boys basketball tournament.

Aaron Waite showed why – hitting a 3-pointer as time expired in overtime to lift 11th-seeded Schenck of East Millinocket past Mattanawcook Academy 62-59.

Sixth seed Mattanawcook had tied the game on a step-back 3-pointer by sophomore center Adam L’Italien with 10 seconds left in the extra period.

Schenck’s Jordan Pelkey inbounded the ball to Waite with 6.8 seconds left, and the senior guard dribbled up the court, maneuvered against two defenders along the left sideline and lofted a shot from beyond the arc that went threw the net as the game ended.

“We set it up to hopefully get Aaron the ball,” said Schenck coach Steve Levasseur. “We’ve had some success during the year where we know people think we’re going to get it to him, because when he gets the ball up the court he can usually find someone open under the basket.

“But in this case [Nick] Bishop stepped out and almost ran into Aaron, so Aaron made a reverse turn and the defenders went by him and he had an open shot.”

The win advances the 8-11 Wolverines into the regional quarterfinals for the second straight year. Schenck will play No. 3 Washington Academy of East Machias at 2:05 p.m. Tuesday. Mattanawcook ends its season at 12-7.

Waite struggled early in the contest, missing his first seven shots while going scoreless for the first three quarters. But he struck for nine points in the fourth quarter and overtime, making all four shots he took.

“I struggled real bad tonight with my shot, but the other guys stepped up,” said Waite. “I’ve had the opportunity to take big shots before. I just had to put all those misses out of my head and stick it.”

Waite’s final shot was one of two buzzer-beaters for Schenck, which forced overtime when sophomore Chris Byron hit a shot while straddling the 3-point line as time expired in the fourth quarter to forge a 53-53 tie.

That shot came five seconds after Dylan Hanscom gave Mattanawcook a 53-51 lead by beating his defender off the dribble for a pull-up jumper from the lane.

Schenck earned this victory at the free-throw line, making 22 of 24 attempts compared to 8 of 17 for Mattanawcook. Ironically, when Mattanawcook defeated Schenck here during the regular season – the teams split two earlier meetings – it was the Lynx that made 22 of 24 from the line.

“This was better than we’ve shot all year,” said Bishop, a junior who made 8 of 8 from the line and finished with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

Byron added 15 points and six rebounds for the Wolverines, while Pelkey had 14 points.

L’Italien led Mattanawcook with 13 points, while Isaac Young scored 11 and Shey Gardner added 10. Hanscom had seven assists.

Schenck nearly broke the game open early in the second half, as Byron made a 3-pointer and two free throws and Pelkey scored twice for a 9-0 run good for a 39-30 lead with 2:56 left in the third quarter.

But MA scored seven straight to end the period, a 3-pointer by Luke Emery and two lane baskets by L’Italien, to draw within 39-37.

A 3-pointer by Gardner gave the Lynx a 44-43 lead with 4:48 left in regulation, and L’Italien scored from the post to give MA a three-point edge.

But Waite scored back-to-back baskets – his first points of the night – to give Schenck the lead, and Kerry Thompson added two free throws for a 49-46 cushion.

Gardner tied the game by banking in a straight-on 3-pointer from the top of the key. Bishop went inside to give Schenck a 51-49 lead, but a post-up move by Young retied the game with 1:04 left.

WOLVERINES 62, LYNX 59 (OT)

Schenck (8-11) Mattanawcook (12-7)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Bishop 4 7 8 8 16 Gardner 3 5 10

Hamlin 1 1 0 0 2 Libbey 3 6 7

Waite 4 11 0 0 9 D.Hanscom 2 6

K.Thompson 1 3 4 4 6 Andrews 2 7 6

Byron 4 10 6 6 15 Emery 1 5 6

Pelkey 5 8 4 6 14 Young 5 7 11

Slike 0 2 0 0

L’Italien 5 10 13

Totals 19 40 22 24 62 Totals 21 47 17 59

Schenck 14 28 39 53 62

Mattanawcook 16 26 37 53 59

3-pt. goals – Schenck (2-7): Byron 1-1, Waite 1-5, Pelkey 0-1; Mattanawcook (9-13): Gardner 3-3, Andrews 2-5, Libbey 1-1, Emery 1-1, D. Hanscom 1-2, L’Italien 1-1

Attendance: 650 (est.)