Freeport’s Sarah Potter dribbles to the basket during Tuesday’s Unified basketball game with Brunswick at Freeport High School. The Falcons won, 61-44. (Eric Maxim / The Times Record)
Freeport’s Dustin Moon (40) defends against Brunswick’s Lila Solberg in Tuesday’s Unified basketball game at Freeport High School. The Falcons won, 61-44. (Eric Maxim / The Times Record)
FREEPORT — While the high school basketball state championships are set to be played this upcoming weekend, the Unified schedule is in full force, and on Tuesday, Freeport used a strong second half to pull away for a 61-44 victory over Brunswick on Senior Day at Freeport High School.
The teams hit the hardwood after a short hiatus during February break and the Maine Principal Association’s tournament.
The game featured a number of lead changes and strong defensive stands from both teams, but it was the play of Freeport’s Isaac Porter that helped propel the Falcons to victory. The senior center had 26 points and 12 rebounds.
“I like it when my teammates give me the ball,” Porter said as he prepared to pose for a photo with Brunswick’s Nate Hall.
The Falcons wasted no time putting points on the board, racing out to a 10-2 lead just minutes in, but the Dragons came roaring back behind baskets from Brycen Cardali and Paul Barnes to take a one-point lead, 19-18 with 7:30 on the clock.
A 3-point basket from a jubilant James Wyman and a pair of layups from Sarah Porter pushed Freeport back into the lead.
Despite Hall’s eight first-half points late for the visitors, Freeport held a 30-27 advantage heading into the halftime break.
Brunswick’s Paul Barnes is fouled by Freeport’s T.J. Farrington (13) during Tuesday’s Unified basketball game between the two high schools. The Falcons won, 61-44. (Eric Maxim / The Times Record)
Isaac Porter led all scores with 12 points in the first 20 minutes of play. Besides Wyman’s trey, Freeport received scoring from T.J. Farrington (five), Sarah Porter (six) and Selena Cummings (four).
Brunswick was led by Barnes’ nine points, followed by Hall’s eight, Cardali’s six, and Cayman Almodovar and Sophie Dostie splitting four down the middle.
Falcons fly away
Freeport’s James Wyman is all smiles after sinking a 3-point basket in Tuesday’s Unified basketball game with Brunswick at Freeport High School. The Falcons won, 61-44. (Eric Maxim / The Times Record)
After honoring their seniors (Rioux, Isaac Porter and Moon, along with helper Natalie Anderson. Senior Leo Li was not attendance) at the half, the Falcons took advantage of their height underneath the basket, with Porter and Dustin Moon controlling the boards on both ends of the court.
Isaac Porter continued to score, but it was the team work of Katelyn Rioux, Wyman and Sarah Porter alongside Farrington, as the latter took passes from the former, converting them into Freeport points with layups and the host team led, 42-31 six minutes into the half.
“It’s exciting to see their hard work come into play with positive results,” Freeport coach Deb Draper said. “They were very excited to be playing in their Senior Day game. They’ve been pretty hyped up about it. They are usually more up on it than I am, like what time it is and when, it’s very important to them.”
The Falcons further extended their lead when Wyman made a pass to Moon for a layup and Justin Lenz-Gaile added a hoop to push the lead over a dozen points.
Brunswick kept fighting, with Hall dishing out assists to Barnes and Cardali. Barnes scored six second-half points, while Cardali chipped in with four. Hall finished the half with seven points, including a 3-point basket at the final buzzer.
“It’s all about coming out here and having fun,” Brunswick junior Lukas Umbriaco said. “I love basketball and it’s not all about winning or losing.”
Isaac Porter felt the same.
“It’s great to come out here and play, it’s a lot of fun,” said the Freeport senior. “It was special to have my mom and Coach Ridge at my final home game, I love them.”
As always in a Unified contest, the game’s success strongly depends on the helpers, student-athletes that volunteer their time to assist on and off the court with the players.
“I think it’s important to those kids that it reminds them what sports does for them,” Draper said about her helpers. “They have been student-athletes most of their lives with opportunities that have presented to themselves and have been allowed to take part in that. Now they see someone else get those same opportunities. Our helpers (Gabe Wagner, Liam Holt, Lizzie Soule, Jesse Bennell and Anderson) are incredible.”
After Isaac Porter’s game-high 26 points, Farrington finished with 11 points, while Sarah Porter chipped in with seven points.
Brunswick was led by Hall’s 15 points, with Barnes registering 13 and Cardali netting 10 points.
The two teams will square off again in Brunswick on Friday, a make-up game from earlier this month.
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