PORTLAND — Thornton Academy players said they knew they were facing a team that can get hot shooting in a hurry in the third-ranked Bonny Eagle Scots. But the Trojans couldn’t stop the Scots from beyond the arc, early or Dustin Cole from getting to the free-throw line throughout the game, as No. 7 Thornton was bounced from the Class A West playoffs with a 54-38 loss in a boys basketball semifinal at the Cumberland County Civic Center on Wednesday.
It didn’t take long for the Scots to warm up from the 3-point line, as they made four such shots in the first quarter, including two from CJ Autry. Dustin Cole also made four free throws for the Scots, as they led 16-11 after one quarter.
“Their whole lineup can shoot, so it’s always tough. We knew that coming in,” said Thornton senior forward Jeff Gelinas. “We tried to defend as well as we could contesting 3’s, open jump shots. I don’t think they got too many wide-open ones, but they did hit a lot of shots.”
The Trojans quickly took the lead by making two 3-pointers on their first two possessions of the second quarter. Gelinas hit his second 3-pointer of the game on Thornton’s first possession of the quarter, giving him 10 of the Trojans’ first 14 points. Reuben Moses then made a 3-pointer on Thornton’s next possession to give the Trojans a 17-16 lead. They didn’t lead again after that, as Bonny Eagle countered with a 10-0 run.
Autry made two more 3-pointers, and Cole made four more free throws, and closed the first half with a layup with three seconds left. It was Cole’s only field goal of the first half, but it gave the Scots a 33-22 lead at the intermission.
“We gave up some open 3’s in the first half. Against a good team like that, you can’t get yourself behind that far,” said Thornton head coach Bob Davies. “Because then you’re playing catch-up.”
Gelinas finished the half with 13 points, but he and the Trojans found points tougher to come by in the third quarter.
Cole forced his way to the foul line early and often in the third, as he went eight-for-eight in the quarter.
On the other end, the Scots stopped everything the Trojans tried to do on offense. Thornton was held to just three points the entire quarter, ending any hope of a comeback.
“We struggled,” Davies said. “They played well, and they had the momentum. They took advantage of it.”
Cole tallied 12 of the Scots’ 16 points in the quarter, showing why he’s one of the brightest stars in the SMAA.
“It’s awesome,” Bonny Eagle head coach Phil Bourassa said of getting to coach Cole. “He shows up in big moments.”
The Trojans brought the deficit to under 20 points in the fourth quarter, as they tried to end their season going down swinging. Malcolm Dopwell scored two baskets down low to utilize a size advantage that was non-existent for three quarters. Dopwell, a senior, scored all five of his points in the second half to finish out his Thornton career.
Gelinas led the Trojans with 15 points, as he closes out a career that included an upset of defending state champion Deering in the quarterfinals.
“We almost had a good run here, but we ran into a good team while they’re hot,” said Gelinas.
Davies said after the game that he was “very proud” of his team, despite a tough ending to the season.
“These kids worked hard all year, and they got better all year. To make it to the semifinals, that means you’re one of the top four (teams) left standing.”
— Contact Wil Kramlich at 282-1535, Ext. 323 or follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.
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