Aaron Watson’s Mt. Ararat High School boys basketball team entered Wednesday’s Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference contest against Lewiston on a two-game losing skid.
The Blue Devils jumped all over the court, twice taking six-point leads in the first half, holding a 61-41 shots advantage and a 36-26 rebounding edge, including 18 caroms on the offensive boards.
Still, the Eagles persisted, getting 10 key points off the bench from Tyler Roberts and a solid all-around game from freshman Shyheim Ulrickson for a 43-35 victory.
The win gives Mt. Ararat, which visits Messalonskee on Friday, a 4-3 mark, while the Blue Devils have dropped three straight to fall to 3-4.
Ulrickson played like a veteran, darting through the Lewiston defense for 15 points, five rebounds, four steals and four assists.
“We shared the ball really well and did not play selfish,” said Ulrickson. “We hustled and did what we had to do to win.”
Roberts leads the way
Mt. Ararat trailed for nearly three quarters. Lewiston led 6-0 out of the gate and 15-9 early in the second quarter. The Blue Devils’ full-court defense forced 12 first-half turnovers and Lewiston held an 18- 12 advantage on the boards at the break.
But, the Eagles only trailed 19-18, mostly due to Lewiston’s shooting woes (eight of 28).
“ We talked about confidence at halftime, knowing we were losing the rebounding battle, but we told the kids to hang in,” said Watson.
Lewiston held the Eagles without a point over the first four minutes in the third quarter, but only mustered four points during the same stretch for a 23-18 advantage.
Mt. Ararat plugged away from there, closing to within one point on several occasions. Roberts scored six third-quarter points, while Jordan Castonguay converted a pinpoint feed from Ulrickson for two big points as the Eagles claimed a 32-31 edge after 24 minutes.
“ We call him the ‘ Dirty Dog,’” said Watson of Roberts. “He knows he is not a 3- pointer shooter, and played like a 6-foot-10 player rather than the 5- foot- 10 player that he is.”
Steven Patrie, who paced Lewiston with 10 points and 13 rebounds, gave the Blue Devils the lead twice in the fourth quarter. But, Mt. Ararat refused to fold, with Lewiston missing its final 10 field goal attempts and turning the ball over three times.
Roberts’ short jumper from the end line gave the Eagles the lead for good, 36- 35, and Mt. Ararat closed the game on a 9-0 run, including four straight clutch free throws from Ulrickson.
“We just focused and did everything that we had to do, just staying with it,” said Roberts after scoring all 10 of his points in the second half to lead the Mt. Ararat comeback. “On the bench, you have to cheer on your teammates, and when you get the chance to get in there, you have to come in and help the team.”
“I am so proud of them. They have been so mature, and understand the concepts that we are trying to sell, including taking care of the basketball late in the game,” said Watson. “ We caught them on a bad shooting night, and we know Lewiston is a much better team than that.”
“We have to look at ourselves in the mirror,” said Lewiston coach Tim Farrar, whose squad visits undefeated Hampden Academy on Friday. “Mt. Ararat played well against us and Brunswick played well against us (a 57-45 Blue Devils loss), but we have to start controlling what we can control. When frustration occurs, it is about us as a team and not about ‘you’ as an individual.
“What Aaron has done with that program is amazing, and I know what he stands for and the basketball tradition at Mt. Ararat is amazing,” continued Farrar. “Tonight, Mt. Ararat played with a purpose and as a team, and they were tremendous.”
Jake Demosthenes added seven points for Mt. Ararat, while Jason Tome and Mason Griffin pulled down five rebounds each. The Eagles were nine of 14 at the charity stripe.
Donne Agossou finished with seven points for Lewiston, with Josh Thomas adding five points and three assists. The Blue Devils shot just 22 percent (14 of 68) from the floor and made five of nine at the charity stripe.
Mt. Ararat 43, Lewiston 35
At Lewiston High School
Mt. Ararat — 7 11 14 11 — 43
Lewiston — 10 9 12 4 — 35
Mt. Ararat — Alex Lapierre 0-1-1, Jake
Demosthenes 3-1-7, Shyheim Ulrickson
5-5-15, Jason Tome 1-0-2, Mason Griffin
2-1-5, Gabe Pelletier 0-0-0, Tyler Roberts
5-0-10, Kevin Carter 0-1-1, Zach Green 0-
0-0, Jordan Castonguay 1-0-2. Totals —
17-9-45.
Lewiston — Josh Thomas 2-0-5, Adam
Poliquin 1-0-2, Donne Agossou 3-1-7,
Abdi Hussein 1-2-5, Steven Patrie 4-2-10,
Isaiah Harris 2-0-4, Quintarian Brown 0-0-
0, Ben Howell 1-0-2, Chris Suazo 0-0-0,
Mohamed Mohamud 0-0-0. Totals — 14-
5-35.
3-point goals — (L) Thomas, Hussein.
Records — Mt. Ararat 4-3, Lewiston 3-4.
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