PORTLAND – Portland twice hit buzzer-beating baskets to keep its hopes alive Wednesday night, then took command in the third overtime and beat South Portland 80-71 in an SMAA boys’ basketball game at the Portland Expo.
Mike Herrick scored 15 of his game-high 32 points in the overtimes to lead the Bulldogs (5-4) to a much-needed win.
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South Portland (8-2) was ranked second in Western Class A. The Bulldogs were 13th with the top eight reaching the postseason.
It was the second straight overtime game for the Riots, who beat Thornton Academy in double overtime Saturday.
The Red Riots rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half before being outscored 10-1 in the third overtime.
“I’ve never been in a game like this,” said Herrick, a 6-foot forward. “I didn’t expect anything like this when the game started. It just shows you that hard work goes a long way. We needed a game like this for Heal points. We have a lot of confidence going into the Cheverus game.”
The Bulldogs will play at Cheverus (9-0) on Friday night.
Portland had to go the length of the court to score both tying baskets. First Peter Donato scored on a drive across the key to beat the clock in regulation, making it 57-57.
Then Herrick hit a jumper at the buzzer in the second overtime to make it 70-70.
The Bulldogs took a five-point lead in the third overtime. Donato scored inside. Herrick made 1 of 2 from the line and freshman Justin Zukowski scored on a drive.
The Riots, who avoided mistakes in the first two overtimes, were called for an intentional foul, an offensive foul and lost possession when Herrick forced a jump ball in the third OT.
The only point for South Portland was a foul shot by Jordan Muller with 2:11 left that made it 75-71. The Bulldogs put the game away when Herrick scored four of the final five points.
Donato finished with 19 points and Nick Volger added 10, seven in the second quarter when the Bulldogs outscored the Riots, 20-10.
Each team had three starters foul out.
“We had to use everybody on the bench,” said Portland Coach Joe Russo. “The young guys really stepped up.”
Both teams scored 11 points in the second overtime, but at the start it looked like the Riots would take charge. Steve Hodge opened by scoring on a baseline drive, then scored moments later on a similar play while being fouled.
He hit the free throw to give his team a 64-59 lead.
The Riots had a four-point lead with 15 seconds left, but Herrick hit back-to-back 3-pointers around two Riot free throws.
Muller, a reserve, led the Riots with 17 points, seven in the overtimes. Matt Russell and Vukasin Vignjevic, who both fouled out, added 14 and 13 repectively for South Portland.
Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:
tchard@pressherald.com
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