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BANGOR – Taylor McLaughlin didn’t get any sleep Wednesday night – such is the pressure Calvary Chapel of Orrington star Brock Bradford puts on a defender.
But sleepless or not, McLaughlin’s defense played a crucial role as Central Aroostook of Mars Hill wore down the defending Class D state champions 66-60 in an Eastern Maine boys basketball semifinal at the Bangor Auditorium on Thursday night.
The junior guard and his teammates limited Bradford to 18 hard-earned points – 12 below his season’s average – on 6 of 28 shooting from the field. Many of those shots were contested not only by McLaughlin, but other Central Aroostook defenders as the Panthers were determined to make other Sabers carry the offensive load.
On this night, they couldn’t.
“The game plan tonight was to wear down Bradford, because he’s a heck of a ball player,” said Central Aroostook coach Tim Brewer. “I think it worked, because he was still getting open looks but they weren’t falling because I think his legs got tired.
“But what a special player he is.”
McLaughlin had the primary defensive assignment, but once Bradford reached the top of the key there was plenty of help.
“My job was to come into this game and shut down Bradford and make the other players shoot it and dribble it,” McLaughlin said. “I fronted him most of the game and we had someone behind him, and once he got rid of it I tried not to let him get the ball back.”
“Taylor did a great job,” added Panthers’ forward Andrew York. “He was really focused on this for the last two days. He didn’t get any sleep last night, but he had a lot of energy out there.”
The win sends the No. 2 Panthers (20-1) to Saturday’s EM final against the winner of Thursday’s late semifinal between No. 1 Lee Academy and No. 4 Katahdin of Stacyville.
No. 3 Calvary Chapel finishes 18-3.
York, a 6-foot-1 junior, scored a game-high 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds. He shot 10 of 13 from the field, largely while being defended by Bradford.
“We tried to work Andrew in the post not only to wear Brock down but to get him into foul trouble if we could, too,” Brewer said.
Senior guard Jason Woodworth added 17 points and seven assists for the Panthers, while McLaughlin scored 14 and sophomore forward Tim Carlson had 10.
Calvary Chapel stayed close thanks to its 35-24 rebounding advantage. Senior forward Bryan Miller grabbed a game-high 13 boards for the Sabers and scored with 17 points. Senior guard Fernald Haverlock added 10 points.
“We didn’t do what it took to win tonight, but it’s been a good season, it’s been fun,” said Bradford. “[Central Aroostook] threw a lot of guys at us, a lot of pressure at us. We got tired, and we got away from what we wanted to do offensively.”
Central Aroostook led 31-30 at halftime, then took control with 10 straight points late in the third quarter and early in the fourth to build a 53-44 lead.
A Woodworth 3-pointer gave the Panthers the lead for good at 46-44 with 3:12 left in the third. McLaughlin then scored on a follow-up shot, and York went 1 of 2 from the line as CAHS built a 49-44 edge at the end of the period.
McLaughlin and Woodworth added baskets in the first 1:08 of the fourth to give the Panthers a nine-point lead.
Calvary Chapel got no closer than five the rest of the way as Central Aroostook avenged an overtime loss to Calvary Chapel in last year’s regional final.
“Redemption’s a sweet thing,” said Woodworth, “and we got it.”
PANTHERS 66, SABERS 60
Calvary Chapel (18-3) Cen. Aroostook (20-1)
Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP
Bradford 6 28 4 4 18 McLaughlin 7 14
Nelson 0 0 0 0 0 York 10 15 23
Haverlock 3 6 1 2 10 Carlson 5 12 12
Astle 3 9 0 1 7 Clockedile 0 0
Miller 7 10 3 7 17 Martinez 0 0
Seekins 4 6 0 0 8 Woodworth 6 11 3 4 17
Burtt 0 1 0 0
Shaw 0 0 0 0
Totals 23 59 8 14 60 Totals 28 50 12 66
Calvary Chapel 20 30 44 60
Central Aroostook 17 31 49 66
3-pt. goals – Calvary Chapel (6-23): Haverlock 3-5, Bradford 2-12, Astle 1-6; Central Aroostook (2-5): Woodworth 2-2, Carlson 0-3
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