PORTLAND — They played a one-point game in the regular season, Bonny Eagle beating Marshwood when a buzzer-beater by the Hawks was ruled — accurately — a 2-pointer instead of a 3.
When they met again Saturday night in the Western Class A quarterfinals at the Portland Expo, the game was never that close.
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The third-ranked Scots pulled away early and never let up, routing No. 6 Marshwood 61-40 before a crowd of about 2,600. Dustin Cole and C.J. Autry each scored 15 points for Bonny Eagle — Cole getting his before fouling out just 14 seconds into the fourth quarter.
When asked the difference between the regular-season game and Saturday’s game, Cole had a simple answer: “We just hit our shots this time.”
And, added Bonny Eagle senior Cole Libby, “They didn’t.”
Indeed, the Hawks shot just 18 for 56, including 0 for 14 on 3-pointers. Bonny Eagle, meanwhile, was 21 for 45, including 7 of 19 3-pointers.
“It was just a bad time to have a bad shooting night,” said Marshwood Coach Mike Zamarchi.
Bonny Eagle (16-3) will play the Portland-South Portland winner in a regional semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
Marshwood finished 14-6.
“I think we were a little more prepared for what they were trying to do,” said Bonny Eagle Coach Phil Bourassa. “We switched one matchup (putting Libby on Marshwood’s Jack Verrill) and I think that helped. We made shots.
“We take a lot of pride on defense. We work a lot on it in practice. And I think the fact that the last few games we haven’t had the defensive intensity we’ve wanted, it was a focus in practice. It was nice to see them come and do that and see that.”
Bonny Eagle scored the first six points and, with Libby hitting two 3-pointers, opened an 11-2 lead. Marshwood regrouped in the second quarter with strong inside play to pull within 21-16.
But Autry hit a short jumper, and then, with Bonny Eagle inbounding the ball with 2 seconds left under its offensive basket, he was left open and hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to make it 26-16 at the half.
“That was a huge momentum swing,” said Zamarchi. “Instead of down seven, we’re down 10 and they have all the momentum. It was an open shot and they made every one of them.”
Bourassa said the Scots work on end-of-quarter and end-of-game situations every day in practice. They had another chance to show what they’ve learned at the end of the third, when Cole — playing with four fouls — hit an open 3-pointer from the left corner to beat the buzzer and give the Scots a 45-26 lead.
Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:
mlowe@pressherald.com
Twitter: MikeLowePPH
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