AUGUSTA — Sometimes effort can only carry you so far.

After getting shut out 16-0 in the first quarter, the fifth-seeded Richmond boys’ basketball team drew within three points early in the fourth. Then fourth-ranked Seacoast Christian pulled away again for a 49-39 victory Saturday in a Western Class D boys’ basketball quarterfinal at the Augusta Civic Center.

“Coming into the game we were definitely a little surprised how it was like to play up here and it really translated into a poor first half. We got out to a really slow start,” Richmond senior captain Cameron Emmons said. “In the second half we finally woke up and I’m proud of my guys for putting up a big fight and making a comeback.”

After trailing by as many as 19 points in the first half, Richmond cut the deficit to 34-31 on a three-point play from freshman Zach Small with 6:15 remaining.

That would be as close as it would get. Tim Yeaton of Seacoast Christian (17-2) scored six unanswered and all eight in an 8-2 run that spanned 3:15 that followed Small’s basket.

Small finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Bobcats (11-8) and Emmons poured in 10 points. Bailey Johansen had just one basket but did finish with a game-high 12 rebounds.

Advertisement

Yeaton finished with a game-high 16 points for the Guardians, while Caleb Lacroix had 14 points and Isaac Lacroix 13.

“We lost our composure a little bit toward the end,” Richmond Coach Jonathan Spear said. “It doesn’t help to put yourself in a hole like that but we certainly fought back and I thought we put ourselves in a position to be in that game. We just let things get away at the end.”

Richmond struggled to solve Seacoast’s 2-3 zone defense throughout the first half. The Bobcats were 0 of 8 from the floor and turned the ball over seven times in the first quarter.

“We just weren’t making shots, we weren’t running anything and I think we were a little jammed up,” Johansen said. “We were just nervous.

“It was just one of those games where you just can’t shoot. It’s tough to shoot in here; you have to adjust to it quick.”

The Bobcats didn’t score until Johansen’s bucket in the paint with 5:40 left in the half that cut the Guardians’ lead to 18-2. Seacoast led 25-7 at the break.

“Credit to Seacoast Christian, their zone was a pretty active zone so it was getting in our face and not allowing us to get a lot of open shots,” Spear said. “The few shots that we did get open we weren’t making, so the nerves were a big thing.

“I’m super, super proud of (my players). When you only score seven points in the first half it’s not a good start, but I told these guys I believe in them.”


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.