GORHAM – In a physical battle that went down to the final seconds Tuesday night, the Windham boys basketball team (8-9) outlasted a 3-14 Gorham team that wanted desperately to please the hometown crowd on senior night.

The Rams trailed by as many 13 early in the third period before staging an incredible rally, at one point leading by as much as 56-47 in the final minutes. Given the brutal nature of the slugfest the game evolved into, both teams went to the line frequently, but Gorham failed to make good on its chances, going only 15-for-30 on free throw attempts.

That, coupled with the loss of three starters – Kyle Nealy and Blake Speed to foul trouble, Dan Holmes to injury – robbed the Rams of much of their offensive clout in the last five minutes of action, and gave the Eagles just the edge they needed to come back and steal a close one, 75-72.

“Actually, believe it or not, given the way we play, we have been in about six of these games,” said Windham Head Coach Kevin Millington. “We beat Deering like 86-83. It’s fun, it’s exciting, it’s up and down, it’s entertaining, and it’s a good bang for your buck if you paid admission to get in.”

The Eagles flirted with breaking away all night, but never really shook Gorham.

Windham took a 9-5 lead midway through the first, but led just 16-14 at the end of one, as junior guard Jed Merrill tipped in a missed 3 right before the buzzer. In the second, things remained close until five minutes left, when junior guard Nolan Allen hit a jumper to extend the Eagles’ lead to 27-23, made a steal, steamrolled Gorham senior guard Jeremy Earl, drew the foul and completed the three-point play.

“Nolen Allen has a unique ability to draw contact,” Millington said. “He has shot about 100 free throws more than the person with the second most shots in our league, which is really just an incredible number. So when people play us, they tend to get into foul trouble because of him.”

The Eagles led 43-32 at the break after Joe Francoeur hit a half-court buzzer beater to close things out.

The third period, however, belonged to the Rams, who began their long rally almost immediately, outscoring the Eagles 8-2 in the first three minutes, and closing things to 45-40. At that point, Gorham junior forward Carter Bowers (team high 24 points, 11 rebounds in the first half) appeared to accept a personal quest to somehow will the Rams to victory, hitting two 3s in under a minute, which – coupled with a basket by Nealy – allowed Gorham to take a 48-45 lead. The Eagles seemed to gain a bit more life after falling behind, but still trailed 56-52 entering the fourth.

And that’s when the wheels started to come off for the Rams, who lost Nealy to fouls with just under five minutes left, Holmes to injury on the next possession, and Speed to fouls a minute later. All the while, the Eagles chipped away, taking the lead permanently at 68-67 with 3:15 left when sophomore guard Tom McGowan landed a 3, and burying the dagger a minute later when senior guard Ben Noble drained another to make it 73-68.

“I believe (losing those players) was probably the difference,” said Gorham Head Coach Ryan Chicoine. “You rely on your senior leadership kids. This is their last home game, and you ride that emotion. The difference tonight, though, was at the free throw line. We were at 50 percent, and (Windham) wasn’t. I don’t know what they shot, but it was better than 50 percent. Every time you foul, you put them at the line. It gives them a chance to add points, and it takes one of our kids out. Carter tried to be the spark plug for us tonight, and he played lights out for us at times. He really wanted this for those seniors.”

Gorham junior forward Carter Bowers – who put up a team-high 24 points against the Eagles – is seen here guarding Windham junior forward Matt McLean during the third period of the Rams’ 75-72 heartbreaker at the hands of the Eagles.
Staff photo by Emory Rounds

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