CAPE ELIZABETH — A big second half powered Cape Elizabeth to a fifth straight boys’ basketball win Tuesday night, 56-42 over Westbrook.
Junior Quinn Hewitt scored a game-high 25 points as the Capers pulled way, adding more confidence as they battle to stay among the elite in Class B South.
Hewitt scored 15 points in the second half and overall was an impressive 11 for 11 from the line.
After struggling to find their offense in the first half, the Capers worked several nice combinations that resulted in baskets in the last two quarters. They also played shut-down defense.
“We got into a rhythm on offense and we worked hard on defense,” said Hewitt.
“We starting hitting shots and were more together as a team.”
After trailing 23-21 at halftime, Cape Elizabeth (5-2) outscored Westbrook (1-4) 16-7 in the third quarter and then 19-12 in the fourth. Hewitt scored at the start of the third quarter to tie it. Anderson Kavutse scored for the Blue Blazes for their last lead.
Cape then ran off nine straight points. Hewitt started it with a 3-point play. Justin Guerette made 1 of 2 from the line. Marcus Donnelly hit a 3-pointer from the side and Guerette scored a basket.
Cape was getting stops at the other end. Westbrook, which had three 3-pointers in the first half (all by Curtis Knapton), went cold.
In the fourth quarter, Cape continued its strong offense and Westbrook stayed cold.
Finn Bowe hit a 3-pointer from the side that made it 42-30 with five minutes remaining.
With confidence abounding and its offense flowing, Cape Elizabeth scored on two straight plays on pretty assists. Both times James Bottomley was the recipient of nice passes from Bowe and then Donnelly.
“Those plays are always nice when they work,” said Cape Elizabeth Coach Jim Ray. “We hit some big shots in timely moments to give us a cushion. Finn Bowe can really stroke it. We’re looking for more consistency throughout. We’re going to need it as the season goes along. We’ll figure it out.”
Westbrook got off to a good start and led after one quarter, 12-9. Knapton scored all 13 of his points in the first half. Kavutse and Zac Manoogian, a sophomore, both scored 10 points.
Cape got a little careless with the ball late in the fourth quarter. The Blazes cut it to 48-41 and had a 3-pointer by Hamza Hanifi rim out.
“We didn’t execute in the third quarter and got away from what we were doing,” said Westbrook Coach Dan LeGage, in his first season with the Blazes after coaching Deering.
“Cape had a great third quarter. We’re a young team and learning how to put four good quarters together. I like the way they battle. That’s a good thing with a young team and something to build on. We just have to keep picking away at it.”
Bowe, a sophomore, scored 12 points and Bottomley added nine.
Cape lost its first two games to Greely and Falmouth, but hasn’t lost since.
“We had a rough two first games, but we’re beginning to find ourselves,” said Hewitt.
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