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John Ewing/Staff Photographer
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John Ewing/Staff Photographer
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John Ewing/Staff PhotographerPORTLAND — Camden Hills, trailing by four points at halftime,, turned the game around in the second half with its defense and strong inside game Friday night to capture the Class B boys' basketball state championship with a 62-49 victory against Cape Elizabeth at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
The Windjammers (22-0), leading by one point through three quarters, outscored Cape Elizabeth 23-11 in the fourth. Gordon Fischer, a 6-foot-5 senior, scored 22 points for Camden Hills, 16 in the second half.
The Windjammers' suffocating press and depth wore down the smaller Capers, but not easily.
Fischer had waited two seasons to get another crack at a state title. He played for the Windjammers when they lost to Mountain Valley in the 2007 final, also at the Civic Center.
"This is what I've dreamed about," said Fischer. "I feel our pressure defense wore them down. We wanted to attack on the offensive end. That was the plan. Cape played their hearts out and gave a heck of a game."
Cape Elizabeth carried the play in the first half and took a 25-21 lead that could have been a lot bigger: The Capers missed four layups.
Camden Hills' press caused four quick turnovers to open the second half, producing an 8-2 spurt for the lead. Cape standouts Alex Bowe and Andrew Dickey were on the bench at the start of the second half with three fouls each.
Once they grabbed the lead the Windjammers never relinquished it, although Cape hung tough. Bowe scored the last two baskets of the third quarter to cut Camden Hills' lead to 39-38.
Fischer then scored his team's first eight points of the fourth, and the Windjammers' relentless pressure paid off.
Johnny Messina scored for Cape on a drive to make it a one-point game with 5:47 left, but Fischer, Kiefer Lammi and sophomore standout Tyler McFarland kept getting open inside for baskets. The Windjammers outscored Cape 19-7 the rest of the way.
"I've seen Cape play before and I knew they wouldn't lay down," said Camden Hills Coach Jeff Hart, who won his fifth state title. "Cape put us on our heels in the first half and I thought we put them on their heels in the second half.
Cape came out aggressively and took the game to favored Camden Hills in the first half. Early in the second quarter, Cape led 13-9 before the Windjammers went on a 6-0 run. But Cape responded with 10 unanswered points. It started with a sweet bank shot by Cam Brown. Dickey, Bowe, Conor Lawler and Messina followed with baskets as Cape grabbed a 23-15 lead and quieted the Camden Hills crowd.
"I think we surprised them at the start and for the entire first half," said Bowe. "We had a set play off the opening tap, which we didn't jump on. We triple-teamed the ball and got a turnover, which Andrew Dickey scored on.
"We knew we couldn't just hang around and let them take the game to us. We had to attack. We had a great first half but their defense wore us down in the second half. I feel we gained some respect around the state with our performance."
Bowe finished with a team- high 19 points.
"I couldn't be prouder of my kids," said Cape Coach Jim Ray.
"We played a heck of a game. The kids came to play, but Camden Hills has so much depth. They come in waves and wear you down. They have the size and if you miss one blockout, they're over you for the basket."
McFarland added 15 points for Camden Hills.
It was the second straight state title game defeat for Cape Elizabeth, which lost to Maranacook last year at the Bangor Auditorium.
Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:
tchard@pressherald.com
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