FREEPORT — North Yarmouth Academy took advantage of a horrendous start by Pine Tree Academy and rolled to a 42-33 victory in a Western Class D boys’ basketball game Wednesday.

The Panthers (7-6), who built a 15-0 lead in the first 10 minutes, snapped a three-game losing streak and tightened their grip on a tournament berth.

“We told the boys in the locker room a win by even one point is still a win,” NYA Coach Jason Knight said. “But we’ve got to find ways to be more efficient at the offensive end. That’s an ugly win there.”

Jake Malcolm led NYA with 16 points. J.P. Tshamala led the Breakers with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Pine Tree (5-7) missed all 11 shots and committed 10 turnovers in the first quarter as the Panthers took a 12-0 lead.

Eoin Anderson, who scored 11 points, hit a 3-pointer less than two minutes into the second quarter to make it 15-0.

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Pine Tree’s first points came when Tshamala turned a feed from Chris Wilday into a layup with 5:15 left in the half.

“This was our fourth game in five nights so (the players) were tired getting started,” Wilday said. “We got down 15-0 and we fought back. We just couldn’t get there.”

Tuesday night, unbeaten Forest Hills, the top-ranked team in Western Class D, rolled to a 71-40 win over the Breakers at Freeport. Monday night, Seacoast Christian, the region’s third-ranked team, beat Pine Tree 56-42 in Eliot. On Saturday night, Pine Tree rolled to a 42-11 win over Highview Christian Academy in Bangor.

“Our shots weren’t falling and we’re better shooting team than we were in that first quarter and a half,” Wilday said.

While Knight expressed displeasure with his team’s offense, he was extremely pleased with its defense.

“We played a real good game and that’s sort of on par for what we do,” he said. “A little bit of pressure. A lot of aggressiveness, but offensively (it was) not the smoothest of games.”

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After making just 2 of 9 shots in the second quarter, NYA led 18-7 at the half.

“We had a great start, and then we sort of sat back and got comfortable in the second (quarter), and that’s been our M.O. all year,” Knight said. “We have a great first quarter and then we sort of lax into it. We’re still trying to work through (how) to maintain consistent basketball for 32 minutes.”

With 1:45 left in the third quarter, the Breakers pulled within 23-18 when Zach Owen converted a feed from Tshamala.

But NYA scored the next 12 points to make it 35-18 with 5:45 left in the game.

Pine Tree ended with a 7-0 run over the final two minutes.


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