FREEPORT’S MITCH LOEMAN (21) looks to the basket while being defended by Lake Region’s Alex Hartford during a boys high school Western Maine Conference game on Saturday at Freeport. The Falcons fell to 1-9 with a 63-55 setback.

FREEPORT’S MITCH LOEMAN (21) looks to the basket while being defended by Lake Region’s Alex Hartford during a boys high school Western Maine Conference game on Saturday at Freeport. The Falcons fell to 1-9 with a 63-55 setback.

FREEPORT — Matt Cook is finding out that if it’s not one thing it’s another for his Freeport High School boys basketball team.

On Saturday against Lake Region, the Falcons took care of the ball (just seven turnovers), received six 3-pointers and a game-high 22 points from Chandler Birmingham and forced 22 Laker miscues.

But, a woeful nine-of-25 performance at the foul line and 11 offensive rebounds against cost Freeport in a 63-55 Western Maine Conference loss on Saturday, dropping the Falcons to 1-9.

“We handled the pressure in taking care of the ball, which is always a goal of ours, but you can’t allow second chances and shoot poorly at the foul line if you want to have success at this level,” said Cook, whose squad visits Wells this upcoming Friday. “Hand it to Lake Region (3-7) because they shot the ball very well. Again, though, you can’t give a team that many second chances.”

Mike Triglione lit up the Falcons for 18 first-half points, and Laker guards Sam Smith and Ben Chaine combined on 19 second half points after Freeport double-teamed Triglione, with the Lake Region forward scoring just two points in the final 16 minutes.

The game went in Lake Region’s favor in the third quarter, with the Lakers holding a 20- 12 scoring advantage for a 51-42 lead through 24 minutes.

Freeport battled back, getting a short jumper from Birmingham with 1:32 remaining to close to 57-54.

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“I was feeling it tonight, but my teammates made it easy by getting me the ball,” said Birmingham, referring to Landon Easler’s five assists and three helpers from Josh Weirich. “My job is to make the shots, and coach expects me to. Wins will come as long as we keep working hard and staying a family.”

“We know Chandler is a good shooter, and we expect that from him. He did a great job today,” said Cook.

Shooting gallery

Both teams lit it up in the first half, combining on nine 3- pointers and 61 points, with the Lakers holding a narrow 31-30 halftime lead. The largest lead was Freeport’s four-point edge, 25-21, after Chandler nailed his fifth trey of the half. But, Triglione answered on Lake Region’s next possession, and the forward grabbed his own miss and scored to give the Lakers a 26-25 lead. Triglione scored his team’s final 10 points the close the half.

Lake Region shot 48 percent (12 of 25) and continued to shoot well in the third quarter, making eight of 14 attempts (57 percent). Center Erik Christensen and Chaine each had six points in the frame, while Birmingham drained his sixth and final 3-point field goal for Freeport.

The Lakers closed out the Falcons at the foul line, making six of seven to finish off their 63-55 win. Lake Region was 22 of 50 (44 percent) from the floor and made 12 of 22 at the line. Christensen had 12 points, Smith 11 and Chaine 10, all in the second half. Alex Hartford pulled down 13 rebounds, Christensen eight and Chaine dished out five assists.

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Mitch Loeman added 15 points for Freeport, with Weirich finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Loeman also had six caroms and three steals, with the Falcons shooting 31 percent (20 of 63) from the floor.

Lake Region held a 39-24 edge in rebounds.

FREEPORT 56
GREELY 64

Weirich had 17 points and Loeman 13, but the Falcons failed to erase a 10-point halftime deficit in falling to the 6-4 Rangers at Cumberland on Friday.

Greely led 19-13 after a quarter, 31-21 at the half and 47-35 through three before Freeport rallied with 21 fourth-quarter points to make it interesting.

Michael McDevitt led four Greely scorers into double figures with 18 points, with Connor Hanley adding 12, and Bailey Train and Liam Maker chipping in 10 each. The Rangers were 18 of 21 at the line.

Birmingham added eight points for Freeport, with Easler pitching in seven. The Falcons were nine of 15 at the charity stripe.

Lake Region 63, Freeport 55

Lake Region – 14  17  20  12 — 63

Freeport – 13  17  12  13   — 55

Lake Region — Ben Chaine 2-4-10, Sam Smith 4-2-11, Erik Christensen 5-2-12, Mike Triglione 8-0-20, Alex Hartford 1-3- 5, Cody Gibbons 2-1-5, Mike Mageles 0-0-0, Alex Hall 0-0-0, Lewis Morton 0-0-0.
Totals – 22-12-63.

Freeport — Chandler Birmingham 7-2- 22, Landon Easler 1-1-3, Spencer Bernier 0-0-0, Josh Weirich 3-4-10, Mitch Loeman 7-1-15, Connor Dietrich 2-1-5, Jose Rosquete 0-0-0, Ramsey Dodge 0-0-0, Matt Schultheis 0-0-0. Totals – 20-9-55.

Records — Lake Region 3-7, Freeport 1- 9.

Next for the Falcons — Friday at Wells, 7 p.m.

sports@timesrecord.com

 


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