RICHMOND

It was a game destined to come down to the final horn.

On Friday in a battle of early-season Mountain Valley Conference unbeaten newcomers, the Richmond and Spruce Mountain high school boys basketball teams battled for 32 minutes, neither giving an inch in a physical, but clean affair.

Unfortunately for the host Bobcats, it was the Phoenix who came away with a 49-48 victory, handing Richmond its first loss (3-1) in the MVC, while Spruce Mountain, formerly of the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference, improved to 4-0.

Spruce Mountain forward Andrew Shaw was the man on the spot for the Phoenix. After missing a layup with 20 seconds left, teammate Tate Walton hustled to the floor to secure an offensive rebound, with Spruce Mountain coach Scott Bessey calling a timeout. On the ensuing inbound play, Shaw took the pass, faked a pass to the outside and darted down the lane, scoring with 15 seconds left for the win.

“I was hoping for another chance. I was able to go in and the shot went in,” said Shaw, who had nine points, 11 rebounds and three steals. “We expected a battle. We fought hard and coach prepared us well in practice.”

“We didn’t want to leave him, but he just beat us to the basket,” said Richmond coach Phil Houdlette, whose Bobcats head to Winthrop on Tuesday at 7 p.m. “He was open all game, but they were jacking threes (nine 3-pointers for the Phoenix). You just never know.”

It was a big rally by Richmond that set up the end of the game. Down 40-33 after three quarters, the Bobcats reeled off a 7-0 run for a stunning 40-40 deadlock.

“We were jelling there for a long time, finding the open man and setting good screens,” said Richmond guard Zach Small, who was often double- and triple-teamed by the Phoenix. “It was difficult. I have to rely on my teammates to get open. I saw two or three guys a lot tonight.”

“I saw a lot of heart and character. We were down seven, against a good team and a good coach, and it says a lot about our kids that we were right in the game. I am proud of the kids,” added Houdlette.

Matt Rines, who sat out a large portion of the first half after picking up two quick fouls, led Richmond back in the fourth. After Kayle Stewart hit a trey to stop Richmond’s run for a 43-40 Phoenix lead, Rines answered with a 3-pointer to tie the game again. Moments later, Rines found a small gap in the Spruce Mountain defense and quickly drove the lane for a 45-43 advantage with 4:38 remaining.

Dan Stewart, who led Richmond with 17 rebounds, hit one of two from the freethrow line to put Richmond up 46-43.

Mason Shink swished a short jumper for the visitors, with Small answering on the other end, making for a 48-45 contest.

After a Richmond timeout, Phoenix senior guard Brett Frey beat the Richmond defense to the hole for two points and a 48-47 game with 51 ticks left. Spruce forced a turnover, setting up the ending sequence, the key being the loose ball scramble for a rebound won by Walton that kept the Phoenix alive.

Richmond had time to go for the win, but Shink forced a turnover and ran out the clock.

“This was our biggest game so far. We have a lot of big games left. We are moving forward and will hope for the best,” said Shaw.

Back and forth

Neither team gave an inch in a well-played opening quarter. Rines and Small hit a shot each for a quick 5-0 Richmond edge, but Shink and Kayle Stewart swished a 3-pointer each to get the Phoenix into the game. Tied 7-7, Spruce ended the quarter on a 10-5 run for a 17-12 lead heading to the second.

A key loss for Richmond was Rines, who went to the bench with two fouls early in the second quarter. Still, the Bobcats hung in, getting four points from Casey Gorman and two from Nick Adams to stay within five, 27-22, at the intermission.

“When Matt got into foul trouble, we had kids come in that did a good job,” said Houdlette. “We compete to the final buzzer. The MVC is more of a grind. There are no days off.”

Kayle Stewart and Shink had 14 points each for the Phoenix. Rines paced Richmond with 14 points, while Gorman chipped in nine, and Nate Kendrick and Dan Stewart five each. Gorman had eight rebounds as the Bobcats outrebounded the Phoenix, 38-26.

“We are playing a Class B school and we gave up just 49 points,” Houdlette said.

Richmond was 18-of-52 from the floor (34 percent), while Spruce Mountain finished 16-of-51 (31 percent). At the free-throw line, the Phoenix were a solid 8-of-9, while Richmond made 8-of- 14.

Spruce Mountain 49,
Richmond 48

Friday at Richmond
Spruce — 17 10 13 9 — 49
Richmond — 12 10 11 15 — 48
Spruce — Kayle Stewart 5-1-14,
Andrew Shaw 3-3-9, Jordan Daigle 1-
2-5, Mason Shink 4-2-14, Brett Frey
2-0-4, Nick Lombardi 0-0-0, Shane
Pelletier 0-0-0, Tate Walton 0-0-0,
Jack Bryant 1-0-3. Totals — 16-8-49.
Richmond — Matt Rines 5-2-14,
Nate Kendrick 2-0-5, Casey Gorman
4-1-9, Zach Small 4-3-12, Dan Stewart 2-1-5, Nick Adams 1-0-2, Nick
Ridenour 0-1-1. Totals — 18-8-48.
3-point field goals — (SM) Shink 4,
K. Stewart 3, Daigle, Bryant; (R)
Rines 2, Kendrick, Small.
Records — Spruce Mountain 4-0,
Richmond 3-1.
Up next for the Bobcats — Tuesday
at Winthrop, 7 p.m.