As the playoffs approach, the Morse High School Unified basketball team thinks they have a chance to compete.
Thursday they took a positive step towards the playoffs with an 86-77 victory over Leavitt at Woolwich Central School.
The Shipbuilders, in their first year of Unified competition, got 16 points from Keegan Companion and 14 from Ben Hinds as they finished the regular season 5-3 and await the final Heal Point Standings to be released to know their postseason fate.
Leavitt came roaring back, getting key baskets from Mattie Ouelette and Tanner Halverson, cutting the lead to 16-10.
Leavitt’s Nathan Longley and Morse’s Eli Ware traded baskets before Longley sank a long trey to bring the Hornets within three, 20-17 with under 10 minutes remaining in the half. A putback by Ouelette a minute later cut the lead to one, 20-19.
From there, Morse went on an 8-2 run to extend it’s lead back out to seven, 28-21.
Leavitt’s Nate Peterson came off the bench and provided a spark. The senior hit a couple of quick hoops to bring the Hornets back within three.
Morse came right back. After a Walker basket, Companion stole the ball at center court and took it to the hoop, converting a layup, giving the hosts a seven point lead with less than five minutes remaining in the half.
Kaylee Martin got in on the scoring act for Leavitt and traded baskets with Morse’s Hargett late in the half. But it was back-to-back baskets from Martin and Alex Morris that pulled Leavitt within three points at the break, 36-33.
Walker paced Morse with 10 first-half points while Companion tallied eight points and a dozen rebounds. Leavitt’s Ouelette led all scorers with 12 points in the opening frame, followed by Longley’s seven.
The home team came out scoring to open the half. The Shipbuilders opened on a 14- 2 run, getting points in transition, led by Hinds’ 10 points to climb to their biggest lead of the game, 50- 35.
“We run with the ball in transition to look for scoring opportunities,” said Hinds.
Leavitt chipped away, getting baskets from Crystal Beaucage and Kaleb Bays along with a 3-point basket from Morris to bring the Hornets within seven, 58-51.
Morse responded, getting baskets from Ware, Hargett, Courtney Boucher and Isaac Smith to extend its lead to double-digits, 80-67.
Longley kept the Hornets within striking distance, nailing consecutive 3-pointers, rattling off seven straight Leavitt points, but the Shipbuilders were too much, holding on for the victory.
As for Longley, playing in his last game as a senior, will miss shooting the ball from behind the arc.
“I like to shoot the ball,” said Longley. “I like shooting with my teammates out on the floor. I’ll miss this.”
Leavitt coach Jenn Sumner could not express the gratification she felt with her athletes.
“They’ve come so far this season. They have improved so much since day one,” said Sumner. “They don’t care what the score is, they’re just going out and having fun. Watching them out there on the court brings me so much joy.”
Behind Companion and Hinds, Hargett and Walker each contributed with 12 points, while Ware and Boucher each had eight points. Smith and Barone added six points apiece while Michael Laser registered a basket for two. Companion also hauled down 19 boards in the victory.
Leavitt was paced by Longley’s 19 points followed by Ouelette’s 18. Peterson chipped in with 10 points, while Martin and Halverson each had eight in the loss.
Morse 86, Leavitt 77
At Woolwich Central School
| Leavitt | — | 33 | 34 | — | 77 |
| Morse | — | 36 | 50 | — | 86 |
Leavitt – Crystal Beaucage 2-0-4,
Mattie Ouelette 9-0-18, Tanner
Halverson 4-0-8, Nathan Longley 8-0-
19, Nate Peterson 5-0-10, Kaylee
Martin 4-0-8, Alex Morris 3-0-6,
Kaleb Bays 2-0-4. Totals — 37-0-77.
Morse — Brandon Barone 3-0-6,
Alexus Hargett 6-0-12, Ben Hinds 7-
0-14, Zoe Walker 6-0-12, Keegan
Companion 8-0-16, Courtney Boucher 4-0-8, Eli Ware 5-0-10, Michael
Laser 1-0-2, Isaac Smith 3-0-6.
Totals – 43-0-86.
3-point baskets – (L) Longley 3.
Records — Morse 5-3, Leavitt 3-5
Up next for the Shipbuilders — Unified South regional tournament, TBD.
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