PORTLAND — Joey Doane is known more for defense than offense, but it was his 3-point shooting in the first half that sparked Cape Elizabeth to its third Western Class B title in four seasons Saturday at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
Doane scored 20 points and Theo Bowe, named the tourney MVP, added 19 as the second-seeded Capers beat fourth-seeded Yarmouth, 61-47.
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Cape Elizabeth (17-4) will play for the state title at 8 p.m. Friday at the Civic Center.
Cape hit five 3-pointers in the first half, three by Doane, while taking early command.
The Capers never trailed, leading 11-2 early, then 17-7 after one quarter and 30-24 at halftime.
Yarmouth pulled within 31-28 in the third quarter but got no closer.
Doane, whose previous high was 17 points, saved his best for the right moment.
“I’m kind of shocked that I hit those early shots,” said Doane. “I’m known more for my steals and deflections. I had a tough time against Yarmouth during the regular season; they play tough defense. But I was patient and when I got off to a good start shooting, my confidence grew.”
Cam Brown opened the game with a 3-pointer for Cape. Bowe followed with a basket to make it 5-0 before Matt Murphy scored for the Clippers.
Moments later, Doane hit his first 3-pointer to make it 11-2, which brought a Yarmouth timeout.
Josh Britten made a 3-pointer for the Clippers coming out of the timeout. Bowe and Luke Pierce of Yarmouth swapped baskets before Cape closed the first quarter with baskets by Brown and Doane.
The Capers opened the second quarter with 3s by Doane and Bowe. After Britten hit a 3, Doane countered with his third of the game to make it 26-12.
The Clippers ran off seven straight late in the quarter, their best sequence of the game, to close the gap at the half.
Though it was still anyone’s game early in the fourth, Yarmouth couldn’t find enough to overtake the Capers.
“When it was 31-28, I thought we rushed our possessions,” said Yarmouth Coach Adam Smith. “We took quick shots. We didn’t shoot well against Greely in the semifinals. We had some inside shots that didn’t drop. We got behind early and we tended to rush.”
Even though Bowe is the only Caper who experienced the tournament run two years ago, the program is accustomed to playing in regional finals.
That familiarity helped against the Clippers.
With Yarmouth, playing in its first final since winning Western Class C in 1973, looking to contain Bowe and Brown, Doane stepped up and had a career game.
“Joey’s a little streaky from the perimeter,” said Coach Jim Ray. “When he gets in a rhythm, he can shoot. Hitting those 3-pointers was huge. As the season went along, Joey has become our third scorer.”
Leading by nine late in the game and looking to run time off the clock, the Capers passed to sophomore Chris Robicheaw in the corner. He drilled a 3-pointer to make it a 12-point game.
“I told my assistant coach that we don’t need any more 3-pointers, but what a great shot that was,” said Ray.
After scoring 11 in the first half, Doane got the rest of his points from the line, hitting 9 of 10.
Murphy led the Clippers with 14 points, while Britten added 11.
Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:
tchard@pressherald.com
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