Wells’ Tyler Bridge goes up for a shot during Saturday’s quarterfinal game against Freeport at the Portland Expo. BOB CONN/Times Record
The Warriors improved to 13-6 and will face fifth-seeded Gray-New Gloucester on Thursday at Cross Insurance Arena in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Freeport ended its season with an 11-9 record.
Wells used strong inside play to win this game, receiving 16 points from Tyler Bridge and 14 from Cameron Cousins in the paint. The Warrior duo combined for 15 rebounds as well.
Holding a slim 20-16 lead at the half, Bridge took over in the third quarter. He scored 10 points (four field goals, two free throws) as Wells extended its lead to 34-28.
But, it was a key sequence in the fourth quarter that helped the Warriors stave off the Falcons.
Freeport turned a 36-30 deficit into a 38-36 lead, using its speed to find openings in the Wells defense. This strategy worked for the Falcons when they defeated the Warriors late in the regular season, 52-37.
“We are able to use our speed, and as long as we can do that with some kind of control, we are good,” said Freeport coach Bill Ridge.
“We noticed that they were getting tired and we just pushed the ball, played patient offense and worked the fast-break,” said Freeport sophomore Gabe Wagner.
This time around, Wells came out of a timeout and put together two key possessions. Cousins scored inside while being fouled and made his free throw for a 39-38 Wells lead. Moments later, Cousins scored off a pinpoint pass from Matt Tufts to put the Warriors ahead to stay as Wells reeled off a game-closing 13-5 run to advance.
“The big thing for us was coming out of that timeout and having those two good possessions,” said Wells coach Troy Brown. “My stomach turned all week. It wasn’t like we were playing a team that we rolled over by 40 during the season. We played a team that is well-coached, disciplined, just a good basketball team. They have come 10-fold. They whipped us at home, and we knew what we were up against coming into this game. We knew this would be a war.”
Foul trouble
Fouls hurt Freeport throughout the first half. After playing to a 9-9 tie in the opening quarter, Wells began making frequent trips to the charity stripe. Freeport was whistled for 16 fouls in the first half, with Kaleb Barrett picking up three, with several Falcons strapped with two.
Fortunately for the No. 8 seed, Wells had difficulties making its free throws. The Warriors were 7-of-18 in the first half, allowing the Falcons to stay close, trailing by just four at halftime.
“We focused this weak defensively, and we didn’t do a good job executing offensively, just no rhythm,” said Ridge.
“During the season we were 74 percent, a very good free-throw shooting team. Today, the shots just weren’t falling,” said Brown.
Wells found its offensive rhythm out of the gates in the second half, reeling off an 8-0 run, with Bridge scoring all eight for a 28-16 Warriors lead.
“They did that down at Wells the first time, where they get the ball down low. They work well together setting screens for each other,” said Ridge of Bridge and Cousins.
The Falcons used their speed to draw closer, with Wagner striking for seven third-quarter points, including two 3-pointers to get Freeport to 34-28 after three.
A steal and a layup by Toby Holt to open fourth drew the Falcons to 34-30, and Holt, who scored all 14 of his team-leading points in the second half, answered a Bridge bucket with one of his own. Hoops by Eriksen Shea and Nate Thomas tied the game, followed by Holt finishing off a pass from Shea for a 38-36 edge.
Freeport’s final lead (40-39) came after a short jumper by Wagner, but Wells finally made its free throws down the stretch (10-of-14 in the fourth quarter) to put the Falcons away.
For Ridge, he talked about his four seniors, players that turned the Freeport boys basketball program around.
“Those seniors are the pulse of this team, bringing the program from their freshman year to this positive direction,” the Freeport coach said.
“It was 10 years, so just making this year was great for this program,” said Wagner, who picked up 13 points, six rebounds and two assists. Shea added nine points for the Falcons.
Matt Sherburne chipped in 14 points and three steals in the win. The Warriors shot 44 percent (16-of-36) from the field and made 19-of-36 from the foul line.
Freeport shot 39 percent (18-of-46).
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