THE LISBON UNIFIED basketball team poses with their medals after finishing runner-up in the Maine Principals’ Association Unified Basketball State Championship game at Lisbon High School on Thursday. Hampden Academy won the game, 36-27.
Most basketball athletes will tell you that there are nights that the ball just won’t go into the basket. Open looks, hands in your face, lay-ups, the ball just won’t go down. It happens to the best of them.
JAKE PATENAUDE of Lisbon drives the baseline past Hapdem Academy’s Dakota Clement during the Maine Principal’s Association Unified Basketball State Championship Game at Lisbon High School on Thursday. Hampden Academy won the game, 36-27.
But, in a rematch of last year’s first Unified title game, Hampden Academy came away with a 36-27 victory and a second straight Gold Ball at the expense of the Greyhounds.
“I’ve had those nights, the next guy has had those nights, everybody has those nights, and today was bad timing, where the bunnies and easy shots just didn’t fall,” said Lisbon student coach
Jonah Sautter. “The gym was packed and the nerves got hold of them. But, they fought hard.”
“It means a lot to me, but it means the world to these kids to play a sport that they enjoy. We played the right way, just tonight we came up short,” said Ryley Austin, who had two points, five rebounds and three steals.
“The kids always want to win, but sometimes you just have to step back and realize what Unified sports are all about,” added Lisbon’s Tyler Halls. “It changed from last year and is just so competitive. It is awesome to watch and I am blessed to participate and learn with these kids every day.”
Nervous start
Neither team found a flow in the first quarter. Playing in front of a near capacity audience, the nerves seemed to win out.
Hampden’s (13-0) Kenny Brewer-Frazee had four points in the opening frame, while Lisbon’s Jake Patenaude had his team’s three points, including a lay-up to close the frame with the Greyhounds down, 4-3.
Patenaude, who finished with seven points, sparked the hosts, picking up two steals and diving to save a ball from going out of bounds.
“Jake’s buzzer-beater helped and they just kept playing,” said Sautter, who watched his team go on an 8- 2 run for a 9-6 advantage in the second quarter.
Broncos guard Isaiah Palmer sparked the visitors. He tied the game, then followed a 3-pointer by Brewer- Frazee with one of his own for a 17-11 lead. On Hampden’s next possession, Palmer finished off a key 10- 0 run with a lay-up for a 19- 11 edge.
Austin scored with 22 seconds remaining before intermission to get Lisbon to 19- 13 at the break. In the locker room, the Greyhounds strategized.
“We talked at halftime about trying to drive to the paint and get shots to fall,” said Austin, who praised the play of teammates Amanda Mason, Patenaude and Brandon Bartlett. “Amanda was clutch. You give her the ball and she makes it almost every time. Jake and Brandon go 110 miles an hour no matter what. They know no other way. I love it!”
But, Hampden opened the second half with a 7-2 run, with Tyler Hewey (eight points) going inside the paint for a pair of hoops and Brewer-Frazee swishing a corner trey for a 26-15 Broncos lead.
Baskets by Mason, Wesley Lucas, Halls and Dawson Martel helped keep Lisbon steady, trailing by 11, 32-21, after three quarters.
With the crowd behind them, the Greyhounds made a push to open the fourth quarter. Mason, who had a team- high eight points, and Patenaude scored to bring the hosts to 32-25 with 4:23 remaining.
But, Palmer followed his own miss to finish with 13 points for Hampden, while Brewer- Frazee calmly swished a pair of free throws to close out the 36-27 win.
As Lisbon received its runner- up plaque and awards, Sautter put things into perspective.
“I am very proud of these guys. In the hallways and in the locker room they were ready to go. They fought hard and played hard, and you can’t ask for any more than that.”
Halls finished with 13 rebounds as Lisbon held a 48- 33 edge on the glass. Nathan Havlicek added six boards and Tanton Mattson had five caroms.
Hampden’s Dakota Clement pulled in 10 rebounds, while Brewer- Frazee picked up four steals and three assists.
Note — The Unified Sportsmanship awards were presented at halftime. Messalonskee and Hall- Dale/Richmond were the co-winners in the North, while Leavitt took home the South’s award.
Hampden Academy 36, Lisbon 27
State Unified Basketball Championship At Lisbon High School
| Hampden | — 4 | 15 | 13 | 4 | — | 36 | |
| Lisbon | — | 3 | 10 | 8 | 6 | — | 27 |
Hampden — Kenny Brewer-Frazee 5- 3-15, Isaiah Palmer 4-4-13, Tyler Hewey 3-2-8, Kelsey Tripp 0-0-0, Sarah Southard 0-0-0, Kyle Townsend 0-0-0, Zach Ewing 0-0-0, Alex Ross 0-0-0, Tesse Dinardo 0-0- 0, Josephine Trojecki 0-0-0, Eliot Small 0-0-0, Robbie Martin 0-0-0, Dakota Clement 0-0-0, Andrew Gendreau 0-0-0, Luke Kelley 0-0-0, Chandler St. Clair 0-0-0. Totals — 12-9- 36. Lisbon — Amanda Mason 4-0-8, Jake Patenaude 3-1-7, Tyler Halls 2- 0-4, Brock Vachon 1-0-2, Ryley Austin 1-0-2, Wesley Lucas 1-0-2, Dawson Martel 1-0-2, Nathan Havlicek 0-0-0, Austin Smith 0-0-0, Alyssa Judd 0-0-0, Hannah Martel 0- 0-0, Austin Fournier 0-0-0, Brandon Bartlett 0-0-0, Devin Libby 0-0-0, Michael Farrington 0-0-0, Devin Marquis 0-0-0, Tanton Mattson 0-0-0. Totals — 13-1-27. 3-point field goals — (Hamp) Kenny Brewer-Frazee 2, Isaiah Palmer. Records — Hampden 13-0, Lisbon 12-1.
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