Gorham 43

Windham 34

The Gorham High boys basketball team recorded its first home win of the season Tuesday, defeating Windham, 43-34.

The Rams defense held the Eagles without a field goal for 12-plus minutes, a drought that stretched from the first quarter, all the way through the second and didn’t end until TJ Tandberg sank a 2-pointer with 4:30 remaining in the third.

“We have struggled all year from the perimeter,” Windham coach Kevin Millington said. “We knew going in that Gorham would pack it in and force us to take perimeter shots and make us one-and-done.

“The second half we got a lot of good looks and just didn’t make them.”

Windham shot 12 for 43 (27.9 percent) in the game; 5 for 16 (31.3 percent) from beyond the arc.

“When teams don’t shoot well, we’ll be in the game,” Gorham coach Kevin Jenkins said. “When they do, we’ll have to score and that’s very difficult for us.”

Furthering Windham’s woes was a 5-for-14 performance from the free throw line. Gorham shot 23 for 29 from the charity stripe, including 14 for 19 in the fourth quarter.

Gorham held a 19-8 lead at the half, but Windham went on an 8-2 run, culminating with a 3-pointer from Ryan MacQueston, to pull within six midway through the third quarter.

“After halftime Windham came out fired up with a lot of energy,” Jenkins said. “They had us back on our heels.”

However, Gorham scored four unanswered to close out the quarter.

“I think it was a key point in the game,’ Jenkins said. “We got out and had a couple of really nice possessions and weathered that storm.”

Windham had one burst left in it in the fourth quarter. MacQueston sank another 3-pointer with 6:20 remaining. Ben Floyd came up with a steal on the ensuing inbound and fed Tandberg for a layup, cutting the Rams lead back to six, 29-23.

MacQueston, a sophomore guard, led Windham with 14 points. Tandberg added 10.

“(Gorham) did a very good job on Tandberg who has been averaging 20 a game,” Millington said. “He struggled when he did get open. He hasn’t struggled like that all year.”

The Rams turned the ball over again on the next inbound, but the Eagles were unable to convert on offense and would get no closer as Gorham began knocking down free throw after free throw.

Andrew Dean led all scores with 20 points, making 13 of 14 from the free-throw line.

“Andrew Dean is the one kid that has some experience,” Jenkins said. “We try and draw on that a lot, probably too much at times.”

Gorham was led in the paint by the big bodies of Mike Foustoukos (6-foot-5, 185 pounds), Dan Hager (6-1, 240) and Spencer Seiferth (6-6, 245). The trio combined for 17 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks.

“They pack it in down in the paint,” Millington said. “They are big and strong and very well coached.”

“They are pretty big kids and make it hard to score around the basket,” Jenkins said.

Gorham was able to slow Windham’s tempo, especially in the first half, limiting the Eagles to only three shots in the second quarter.

“We are missing our point guard (Travis Guerrette),” Millington said. “In terms of tempo he is very fast and very quick. Without him we have a tough time getting the tempo we want. We got in a situation where we were down and that hurt us a little bit.”

They controlled the tempo and that was the difference in the game.”

Guerrette has been missing time with an ankle injury.

“Missing him wasn’t the difference in the game but it certainly changed the pace of the game,” Millington said.

Gorham (3-5) faces Bonny Eagle (6-3) tonight at home. Windham (3-5) was home against Westbrook (2-6) on Thursday and will host Noble (1-6) Monday.