FALMOUTH — Young teams need new players to step forward and make a difference in tight games.
Nick Wissemann, a varsity newcomer, did his part Friday night, hitting two key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to lead Falmouth to a 52-43 win over York in a Western Maine Conference boys’ basketball opener.
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Falmouth center Jack Simonds had 23 points, including 8 of 10 from the foul line, and 17 rebounds.
First-game jitters were the norm through the first half, which ended with Falmouth in front, 17-15. The teams combined for 30 points to enter the fourth quarter tied at 31.
“A win’s a win,” Simonds said. “It’s the first game so everyone’s going to be nervous. We just went out in the second half and fixed the mistakes we made in the first half, and things worked out.”
Wissemann opened the scoring in the fourth with a 3-pointer to put Falmouth ahead, 34-31.
Kevin McKenna hit two free throws and a 3-pointer to pull York ahead, 36-34. Falmouth then went on a 7-2 run over a four-minute span to go ahead for good, 41-38. Gauthier hit a shot from down low to cut the lead to 41-40 with about four minutes to play, but Wissemann hit another 3 to make it 44-40 and the Wildcats got no closer.
“I was just wide open,” Wissemann said. “I just found a seam in the defense and (Simonds) did a good job of finding me.”
They were a bit more than that, Falmouth Coach Dave Halligan said.
“Both (of Wissemann’s 3s) were the result of being in position and wanting the ball,” he said. “Instead of deferring to the older guys, he became involved in the game. He did a nice job.”
Zachary Gauthier led the Wildcats with 11 points, six rebounds and four blocks. Justin Frecker, Kevin McKenna and Matthew Pratt each had seven points.
“I thought we played better in the second half than we did in the first, when we missed a ton of opportunities,” York Coach Randy Small said. “That’s going to happen when you have a team that’s inexperienced. We have a brand-new team so I had no idea what to expect. Falmouth’s a great team, so to come here and play that hard, I’m very happy.”
Halligan was similarly patient.
“In the first half, the new guys were sort of watching,” Halligan said. “They had to get involved in the game. (Wissemann) is a pure shooter. His man cheated off him, we found him open and he nailed a couple.”
With one starter returning from an 18-2 season and a first appearance in the Class A tournament, Falmouth’s task has been made more difficult when senior guard Thomas Coyne (averaging 18.2 points per game) broke a foot before the preseason. He’s out indefinitely.
“We’re a work in progress,” Halligan said. “(Coyne) had a lot of minutes we have to replace, and we’ll be working in a number of guys who will get more playing time as they get comfortable with the offense.”
And working with Simonds, who is the target of opposing defenders.
“Simonds is huge for us; you’ve got to ride that horse as hard as you can,” Halligan said. “Teams double- and triple-team him and when they do that, that’s when the other players have to step up.”
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