TOPSHAM

The Mt. Ararat High School boys basketball team has suffered several tough losses this year. Figure, there has been a one-point loss, a pair of two-point setbacks and another three-point loss, with the Eagles entering Saturday’s “Battle of the Bridge” rival game against Brunswick with a 3-7 Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference mark.

So, when the Dragons had possession with a chance to get within three points late in the game, the Mt. Ararat faithful worried that another tough loss might be on the horizon.

Think again, as several standouts stepped up in Mt. Ararat’s 58- 51 win.

Start with those who have led in the past, like Shy Ulrickson, who went scoreless and had three fouls in the first half, but still finished with a team-high 15 points. And, post player Mason Griffin, who played like a shooting guard and nailed, count ’em, four 3-pointers on his way to 13 points.

How about Alex LaFountain, who earlier this season was riding the pine, but started on Saturday and contributed 11 points and two huge steals. Add in Avery Desjardins seven first-half points and six from guard Mike Crawford, this win was truly a team effort for the Eagles.

“The guys are getting a little bit of confidence,” said Mt. Ararat (4- 7) coach Steve Cox, whose Eagles visit Edward Little on Tuesday at 7 p.m. “I had a talk with every player, just to gauge the pulse of the season and that everyone was still having a blast. I tip my hat to them because people are buying into the system, and when they get their opportunities they get the job done.”

“We stepped up real good, and I am just so happy that we were able to get this win after so many tough losses,” said LaFountain.

The Dragons have fallen onto hard times. After a fourth straight loss, Brunswick (4-7) needs to right the ship soon.

“We have been close, and we need to just figure out how to get over that hump late,” said Brunswick coach Todd Hanson, who hopes to find a win on Tuesday at Mt. Blue (7 p.m.). “Mt. Ararat played very well. I told my guys they are one of the most dangerous teams in our league, and their record is not indicative of the way they are. We knew it was going to be hard.”

Tough calls

Early on, the Dragons seemed to be fighting the hostile crowd and the officials. Brunswick was whistled for six straight fouls, nine in all in the opening quarter as the Dragons fell behind 16-3.

“We put ourselves in too big of a hole, and it took us a while to adjust to the officiating, and by the time we did it was too late,” said Hanson.

“They were on their heels, and we knew that we had to put the pedal to the metal there,” said Griffin, who had two 3-pointers in the opening quarter.

Ulrickson picked up his third foul early in the second quarter, sending the standout to the bench with zero points.

Brunswick found its footing and composure, using a 9-0 run to get to 16-12 with five minutes left until the half. Pearson Cost hit a pair of treys during the run, with Taran Payne’s 3- pointer completing the spurt.

The Eagles went back to work. LaFountain scored from inside and Zach Garvey came off the bench and scored while being fouled for a threepoint play and a 23-13 Mt. Ararat lead. LaFountain and Desjardins each had seven points in the first half as the Eagles carried a 29-18 advantage to the break.

Mt. Ararat started the second half hot. Ulrickson scored on the Eagles’ first possession for his first points and finished with 10 in the frame. Brunswick’s Thomas Hanson found his stroke, scoring seven of his team-high 15 points as the teams combined for 39 points in the third quarter.

Late in the quarter, a Mt. Ararat technicalfoulresultedinaapairof Brunswick free throws (Alex Bandouveres made 1-of-2) and gave the Dragons possession. But, LaFountain made a key steal and scored at the other end to give the Eagles a 50-36 lead.

“I was just doing what coach told me to, and I was able to get my hand in there and get those points,” said LaFountain.

Brunswick began its comeback early in the fourth. Down 52-39, Payne scored, and Thomas Hanson picked up five quick points to get the Dragons to 52-46 with 3:57 remaining.

After a Mt. Ararat timeout, LaFountain made a pair of free throws, but Bandouveres answered at the other end to make for a 54-48 contest. Moments later, Payne fouled out and Ulrickson made a pair of freebies, allowing the Eagles to close out the win.

“All the contributions tonight from everybody were huge,” said Griffin. “Everyone stepped up, and Shy did his thing in the second.”

Crawford contributed six points, seven rebounds and three assists in the win, while LaFountain pulled down five boards and picked up three steals. The Eagles were 19-of-48 from the field (39 percent) and 14-of-19 from the foul line.

Brunswick also hit 19 field goals on 51 attempts (37 percent), but struggled to a 6-of-13 showing at the charity stripe. Payne had 13 points, while Thomas Hanson picked up three steals and dished out three assists. Bandouveres pulled down 10 boards.

Mt. Ararat 58,
Brunswick 51

Saturday at Topsham
Brunswick — 3 15 18 15 — 51
Mt. Ararat — 16 13 21 8 — 58

Brunswick — Taran Payne 5-0-13, Corbin Teel
2-0-4, Pearson Cost 2-0-6, Thomas Hanson 6-
1-15, Alex Bandouveres 1-3-5, Owen Rudalevige 0-0-0, Josh Dorr 2-1-5, Caleb Cost 0-1-1,
Fynn Arthur 0-0-0, Alan Molnar 0-0-0, JD
Souza 1-0-2. Totals — 19-6-51.
Mt. Ararat — Mike Crawford 3-0-6, Alex
LaFountain 4-3-11, Shy Ulrickson 5-4-15,
Kevin Carter 0-3-3, Mason Griffin 4-1-13, Avery
Desjardins 2-2-7, Cam Cox 0-0-0, Zach Garvey
1-1-3, Harper Moutal 0-0-0. Totals — 19-14-
58.
3-point field goals — (B) Payne 3, Cost 2,
Hanson 2; (MtA) Griffin 4, Ulrickson, Desjardins. Records — Mt. Ararat 4-7, Brunswick 4-7.
Up next for the Dragons — Tuesday at Mt.
Blue, 7 p.m.
Up next for the Eagles — Tuesday at Edward
Little, 7 p.m.