PORTLAND – A slow start didn’t deter the Cheverus High boys’ basketball team. Instead it fueled the Stags.

The top-ranked Stags struggled to create momentum before pulling away to beat eighth-seeded Marshwood 52-40 in a Western Class A quarterfinal Friday night at the Portland Expo.

Additional Photos

Griffin Brady of Cheverus finds room for a shot Friday night between Addison Casey, left, and Jack Verrill of Marshwood during Cheverus’ 52-40 quarterfinal victory at the Expo. John Patriquin/Staff Photographer

Matthew Crosby of Marshwood looks for a way to get the ball to the basket Friday night while guarded by Cam Olson of Cheverus as Connor O’Neil moves in. Cheverus was challenged before pulling away to a 52-40 victory. John Patriquin/Staff Photographer

Joe Savino of top-ranked and undefeated Cheverus looks to drive against Tyler Hickey of eighth-seeded Marshwood in a quarterfinal at the Portland Expo. John Patriquin/Staff Photographer

“They just came out like wild dogs,” said Louie DiStasio, who led the Stags with 16 points. “That’s the only way I can explain it. They just came out real tough, and our defense came out tough as well.”

Even after the Stags (19-0) built an eight-point halftime lead, the Hawks (10-9) stayed within six points early in the second half, then made it 28-28. But DiStasio’s shot with 3:20 left in the third quarter started a 12-3 run.

The teams shot a combined 0 of 7 in the first three minutes and went a combined 2 of 8 from the foul line in a first quarter dotted by turnovers and fouls — 10 fouls, five against each team.

“Part of it is that we both play a defense that’s hard to attack,” Stags Coach Bob Brown said. “They played well. They’re very physical, they played well, they threw a number of defenses at us, and we were only up by three at the end of three.”

Marshwood took a 7-6 lead into the second quarter but the Stags quickly made it 10-10, creating chances off turnovers early in the period and finding its scoring touch as the half went on.

The Stags outscored the Hawks 15-7 in the last five minutes of the half. Shawn Grover’s basket in the final minute extended the lead to 25-17 at halftime.

“We needed to be more patient on offense at that point,” DiStasio said of the second quarter. “And we just started fouling guys and that killed us right there.”

The Hawks opened the third quarter with an 11-3 run, making it 28-28 on Matthew Crosby’s jump shot.

Crosby (12 points) was bumped as he took the shot from under the basket, but the shot went in to tie it and force the Stags to call a timeout. DiStasio’s bucket broke the tie.

“Louie made a huge shot, then hit another that got it back up to eight,” Brown said. “We just started to maintain at that point.”

The Stags led 33-30 going into the fourth and with the help of the 12-3 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters, stretched their lead to double digits with three minutes left.

“We found some holes and when they pressed us they tried to double,” DiStasio said. “That left some guys open under the basket so we got a quick couple points there. We stayed back on (defense) and got some turnovers, and that helped us.” 

Staff Writer Rachel Lenzi can be contacted at 791-6415 or at:

rlenzi@pressherald.com

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