Staggering defeat

SACO — 12-0.

It’s a run that, to quote a phrase from a former president, will live in infamy amongst Thornton Academy boys basketball fans.

That’s the run that Cheverus pulled out on the Golden Trojans, like a Kentucky Derby winner sprinting down the track for the last quarter-mile, in their 52-37 win over Thornton in front of a packed house on Tuesday night.

The win continues a perfect season thus far for the defending Class A champions (7-0), while the Trojans, undefeated before their game on Jan. 7, have dropped their last two contests, making their record 5-2 on the season.

“We played team basketball for three-and-a-half quarters,” Thornton basketball coach Bob Davies said. “We haven’t been in that position where we’ve played against a No. 1 team yet this year, we had the chance to play them, and tried catching up with a couple shots, when you can’t catch up with just one shot. But I’m proud of the kids, the way they played, and they put one heck of a defensive effort for three-and-a-half quarters. That’s something we’ll build on.”

With Thornton trailing 40-32, early in the fourth quarter, Stags guard Peter Gwilym made two consecutive layups. Teammate Matt Cimino would add a layup before another Gwilym layup, before Connor O’Neil made four free throws to give Cheverus a 50-32 lead, before Thornton guard Justin Pollard nailed a three-pointer, ending the run.

Though the Stags led throughout the entire contest, the Trojans did well to match Cheverus with a slowed-down offensive tempo, to counter-act the Stags offense, consisting of perimeter passing around the three-point line before finding the open man.

“You’ve got to take care of the basketball against a quality program like them,” Davies said. “If you take quick shots and they’re not going, then you’re in a real big hole in a hurry. So you’ve got to take care of the basketball and they’re long and athletic, so it’s a good learning experience for our young kids.”

Cheverus jumped out to an early 14-9 lead in the first quarter, which included an intimidating dunk by Stags forward Shawn Grover near the end of the period.

The Trojans were able to keep within four points of the Stags in the second quarter, thanks to a three-pointer from Pollard and two three-pointers from forward Andrew Shaw, who finished the night with a game-high 15 points. Going into the locker room at halftime, Cheverus had a 22-18 lead.

A layup by Thornton guard Adam Ek at the opening of the third quarter brought the Trojans to within two points of the Stags, the closest they would get for the entire evening. Cheverus would follow the Ek layup with a 7-0 run, and outscored the Trojans 14-10 in the quarter for a 36-28 lead heading into the fourth, where the Stags made their impressive finishing kick.

Aside from Shaw’s 15 points, Pollard chipped in with eight points, and Josh Woodward added six points. Cameron Olson led the Stags with 10 points, while Gwilym and Grover each scored nine points.

Cheverus head coach Bob Brown praised the Trojans, and said depth was the key in the Stags win.

“I just think we’re deep [depth-wise],” Brown said. “We had fresh legs, and in the end, those fresh legs made plays. I think Thornton Academy is as good as they get. They have two of the best players in the league [in Shaw and guard James Ek], they’ve got some perimeter help. [Pollard], you’ve got to watch him or he’ll beat you. They’re a nice team.”

Life does not get easier for the Trojans. They still have three more games against top Cumberland County opponents – Scarborough, South Portland and Westbrook – within the next week. Thornton hosts the Red Storm on Thursday night at 7 o’clock.

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