Richmond High School freshman guard Cam Emmons stepped outside and hit a 3-pointer to give the eighth-seeded Bobcats an early 3-2 lead over Forest Hills on Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.
Unfortunately, that was the high point of the first half for Richmond, as the Tigers used two 11-0 runs to take full control for a 74-41 Western Maine Class D quarterfinal win.
“They move the ball very well and put pressure on us, and every time we tried to go over the top, they stole the ball and went down to the other end for a lay-up,” said Richmond coach Jon Spear after his Bobcats closed the season with an 8-12 record. “We had to focus on Evan Worster, and that just opened everybody else up and they stepped right up and put the ball in the hole.”
Worster, after scoring two points while helping his team in other ways in claiming a 26-7 first-quarter advantage, finished with a game-high 18 points, pulled down seven rebounds, dished out six assists and had four steals.
Petrin chipped in 15 points, eight boards and five steals, Derick Ouellette dished out five assists and added 11 points, while Brandon Ouellette knocked down three 3- pointers for nine points and led the Tigers with seven assists. Daigle came off the bench to add 10 points.
“They are all bigger than us and just put the pressure on us,” said Richmond guard Sean Bernier, who had four points, five rebounds and three assists. “They are just a better team than us. They rebound the ball, something we are not as good at.”
First run
Down 3-2, Pepin scored four quick points, Derick Ouellette finished a pass from Worster and Brandon Ouellette nailed his first trey for a 13-3 Forest Hills lead. Petrin led the Tigers with eight first-quarter points, while Matthew Turner added five points, including a 3-pointer.
Worster took over in the second frame, netting eight points, while Derick Ouellette chipped in seven as the Forest Hills lead ballooned to 51-17 at the break.
Richmond shot just 16 percent (four of 24) from the floor, with Forest Hills hitting on 64 percent (20 of 31) and causing 18 turnovers.
With the game in hand, Spear wanted his team to finish strong.
“We went in and talked about playing for pride, and I thought they came out and played much better in the second half,” said Spear, whose team held a 24-23 scoring advantage after halftime. “We have a lot of young people on this team who now have a lot of court experience here. Our ultimate goal was to make it here and they did.”
“This gives us some experience for next year. Our goal next year will be to be a higher seed and do better,” said Bernier.
Emmons and Eddie Stewart paced Richmond with seven points each. Mike Stewart added six points off the bench. Eddie Stewart had a team-high seven rebounds, three steals and three assists.
Richmond seniors Randy Moody, Eddie Stewart, Xavier Trask and Joe McClusky depart.
“Randy and Eddie played huge roles, starting five, captains for me, and Xavier stepped in and played some good minutes for us, while Joey McClusky is like another coach on the bench,” said Spear of his seniors. “I love them all and I am sad to see them go.”
Forest Hills finished 27 of 48 (56 percent) from the floor and made 15 of 30 at the foul line. The Tigers face fourthseeded A.R. Gould on Wednesday in the Western D semifinals. A.R. Gould defeated North Haven 64-49 on Saturday.
Forest Hills 74,
Richmond 41
Western Maine Class D quarterfinals At the Augusta Civic Center
Richmond — 7 10 10 14 — 41
Forest Hills — 26 25 15 8 — 74
No. 8 Richmond — Jason Patterson
1-2-4, Randy Moody 0-2-2, Eddie
Stewart 3-1-7, Cam Emmons 2-2-7,
Sean Bernier 2-0-4, Mike Stewart 2-
2-6, Tyler Soucy 1-0-3, Xavier Trask
1-0-2, Marcus Blake 0-0-0, Bailey
Johansen 0-0-0, Joe McClusky 1-0-
3, Nate Vintinner 0-0-0, Jon Simmons 1-0-3. Totals — 14-9-41.
No. 1 Forest Hills — Ryan Petrin 5-
5-15, Evan Worster 7-3-18, Brandon
Ouellette 3-0-9, Matthew Turner 2-0-
5, Derick Ouellette 5-1-11, Tanner
Daigle 4-2-10, Nate Jalbert 0-3-3,
Quintin West 0-1-1, Brant Worster
1-0-2. Totals — 27-15-74.
3-pointers — (R) Emmons, Soucy,
McCluskey, Simmons; (FH) E.
Worster, B. Ouellette 3, Turner.
Records — Forest Hills 17-2, Richmond 8-12.
Next — The Tigers face A.R. Gould
in the Western D semifinals on
Wednesday, while the Bobcats’ season is completed.
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