BRUNSWICK — Friday night’s Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference boys high school basketball game was a matchup of two teams in similar, but at the same time, different positions.

Medomak Valley entered with a 9-4 record, while Brunswick sat at 7-5. The home-standing Dragons are trying to avoid slipping down into a preliminary round game, entering in seventh place in the Class A South Heal Point Standings (top nine get in).

On the other side were the visiting Panthers. Despite nine wins, Medomak Valley sat one spot outside of a postseason spot in Class A North, one season removed from playing in a regional final.

In the end, it was the seemingly more desperate Panthers that found a way, tying the game late in regulation then holding on in overtime for a 77-73 victory over the Dragons in front of a boisterous crowd.

A Brunswick win seemed to be a sure thing in the fourth quarter. The Dragons held a 62-55 lead with 2:47 remaining after Finn Mitchell hit an open 3-pointer off a Tony Cilea feed, followed by a running floater by Evan Kilfoil.

But, Medomak Valley used a regulation-closing 7-0 run, including a layup by Trevor Brown with 33 seconds left, to send the game into overtime.

“We let one get away. We got in a rut where we missed our opportunities, whether it was timely turnovers, missed free throws, bad decisions, it was self-inflicted wounds, and once the dam broke it was hard to plug it back in,” said Brunswick (7-6) coach Todd Hanson.

In overtime, the Panthers scored the first seven points to complete a 14-0 run. Medomak guard Ryan Creamer was a man on a mission. He scored 22 points in the second half and overtime, including four key free throws late in the extra four-minute period to keep the Dragons from rallying all the way back.

“Coach (Nick DePatsy) pulled me aside in the halftime locker room, and it just worked. We starting setting ball screens and I was able to hit shots,” said Creamer, who led all scorers with 26 points.

“They went to the northern Maine final and have all their kids back except for two seniors. That is a good team,” said Hanson of the Panthers.

The game began with a lot of offense, with the visitors claiming a 17-16 lead after a quarter. Noah Cox paced the Dragons with eight first-quarter points, while Medomak Valley, despite making just 7-of-21 shots, received six points each from Brown and Gabe Allaire.

Brunswick took over in the second quarter. The Panthers went cold, both from the field (3-of-15) and the free-throw line (4-of-9), while Mitchell heated up with seven points to finish with 11 in the first half, matching Cox’s total as Brunswick held a 34-27 halftime edge. Aidan Mitchell came off the Dragon bench for six big second-quarter points along with four rebounds and two steals.

More scoring 

Like the first quarter, both teams had the score operator busy, as Medomak and Brunswick combined for 35 points. Creamer heated up with eight points in the frame, with Cox picking up seven more as Brunswick held a 51-45 advantage through 24 minutes.

Medomak began its first run behind Allaire, who made a pair of free throws and a tough jump shot to bring the Panthers to 55-53. Kilfoil and Creamer traded baskets to keep the game tight before the Dragons used a 5-0 spurt for a 62-55 lead.

The momentum changed as Creamer scored five quick points, including a long 3-pointer, and when Finn Mitchell was whistled for his fifth foul, the Dragons lost the game-long standout, who finished with 17 points, six rebounds and two assists.

“It is a bang-bang game, and if the calls go the other way I think we get the win,” said Hanson after his team showed some frustration with the officiating.

Brunswick missed a key free throw with under a minute remaining, and Brown tied the game moments later. The Dragons had the last possession, but Cox’s fade-away jumper hit the back iron to end regulation.

With Medomak leading 69-62, Creamer stole the ball and had an open layup for a nine-point lead, but was whistled for a travel.

“I didn’t think I traveled, but we all think that,” said Creamer.

Brunswick didn’t quit, getting three-point plays from Sam Sharpe and Aidan Mitchell to claw within two, 74-72, with 19 seconds on the clock.

But, Medomak Valley closed it out at the line, with Patrick McKenney making 3-of-6 as the Panthers held on for the 77-73 victory.

“This is big and will probably take us off the bubble. This was our biggest one,” said Creamer.

Cox paced Brunswick with 22 points, with Kilfoil adding 12, and Sharpe and Aidan Mitchell nine each. Cilea dished out five assists.

Allaire finished with 15 points for the Panthers, while Brown chipped in 14 and McKenney nine. Brown also had five rebounds.

At the free-throw line, Medomak was 25-of-37, while Dragons were 12-of-21.

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