Final: Maranacook 56, Cape Elizabeth 46
Clutch 3-pointers and foul shots in the final period makes the difference as Maranacook completes an undefeated season with a tense victory. Ryan Martin scored 26 points for Maranacook, including a key late 3-pointer, and Alex Bowe led Cape Elizabeth with 17.
Maranacook 54, Cape Elizabeth 46, 30 seconds left
It's down to fouls and foul shots
Maranacook 51, Cape Elizabeth 46, 1:07 left
Maranacook ball after a Cape travel.
Maranacook 51, Cape Elizabeth 46, 1:51 left
Maranacook has gone into a slowdown but loses the ball. Capers' ball after a timeout.
Maranacook 51, Cape Elizabeth 46, 3:03 left
Maranacook has used 3-pointers in the final quarter to open distance, including a Ryan Martin shot from the top of the key to force a Cape timeout with 3:03 left.
Maranacook 40, Cape Elizabeth 38, end of the third
Ben Johnson of Maranacook puts in an offensive rebound as the period ends.
Cape Elizabeth 36, Maranacook 36, 2:48 left in the third
Alex Bowe has nine of Cape Elizabeth's 11 points in the third quarter.
Cape Elizabeth 34, Maranacook 32, 4:28 left in the third
The Capers have used offensive rebounding and a pressure-breaking offense to move into the lead.
Maranacook 27, Cape Elizabeth 25, halftime
Maranacook threatened to take command midway through the second period, opening a 25-16 lead with 3:45 remaining. But the Capers came back with a 9-2 run to end the fast-paced, entertaining first half.
A big reason for the comeback has been the defense of Shaine Burks of Cape Elizabeth, who has been guarding Ryan Martin in a man-to-man defense. Martin has 15 points at the half, but was frustrated in the second period when Burks failed to bite for moves and when that happened, Maranacook's offense stalled.
Cape Elizabeth was hurt by turnovers in the first period and Maranacook in the second. Neither team has shown a dominant inside game, although Ian Place of the Capers bulled his way inside several times. Burks and Place have six points each at the half for Cape Elizabeth.
And lest it be forgotten, Fort Kent and Presque Isle won Eastern Maine sportsmanship banners. Hope their players are enjoying the game after that drive.
Maranacook 15, Cape Elizabeth 10, end of the first quarter
Ryan Martin has been the difference in an up-and-down first quarter, scoring 11 points, including three 3-pointers. The third came on a 1-against-3 break that left Cape Coach Jim Ray wincing.
During warm-ups, all of the Marancook players were a yellow sweatshirt except Ryan Martin, who averages 23.5 points per game and has scored more than 50 this season. He wears a white sweatshirt.
The teams are warming up and the game is expected to start at about 9:15 at the Bangor Auditorium.
Starting lineups:
Cape Elizabeth: Tom Ray, Alex Bowe, John Messina, Andrew Dickey and Ian Place
Maranacook: Mike Poulin, Ryan Martin, Will Bardaglio, Devin Gerrity and Conrad Gilman
Posted at 08:54 PM
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