PORTLAND—Greely’s boys’ basketball team has become known for being able to shoot lights-out.
Saturday evening in a Class A South quarterfinal at the James Banks Portland Exposition Building, the Rangers ran into a team that took it to another level.
And ended their season in swift fashion.
The fourth-ranked Westbrook Blue Blazes raced to a 12-0 lead before No. 5 Greely knew what hit it and stretched it to 21-7 after one quarter, as they seemingly couldn’t miss.
The Rangers weren’t able to recover, as by halftime, Westbrook was on top, 44-16.
The Blue Blazes opened the second half on an 11-0 run and never looked back en route to a stunningly decisive 72-31 triumph.
Westbrook knocked down 10 3-pointers and put a whopping dozen players in the scoring column as it improved to 14-5 advanced to take on top-ranked Falmouth (14-5) in the Class A South semifinals Wednesday at 7:45 p.m., at the Expo and in the process, ended Greely’s season at 10-9.
“They were the better team tonight,” said Rangers coach Travis Seaver. “They shot great. We wanted to take away the paint and when we did, they hit big shots from the perimeter.”
Early knockout
Greely got off to a slow start this winter, but certainly came alive late and was sparked by its unforgettable eight-overtime home win over Fryeburg Academy and won four of its last five games to move into the No. 5 spot (see sidebar for links to previous stories).
Westbrook, which went just 6-11 a year ago, was highly touted entering the season and didn’t disappoint, enjoying its best campaign since 2016-17 with a 13-5 mark.
The teams didn’t meet this season and had played just once before in the tournament (see sidebar).
Saturday, the Blue Blazes quickly took care of business and produced arguably the most impressive victory of the tournament so far.
Greely senior Seamus Raftice races up the floor as Westbrook senior Quincy Seavey defends during Saturday’s quarterfinal. Hoffer photos.
The game actually began inauspiciously for Westbrook, as senior captain Kolbyn Dunphe was called for a charge seven seconds in, but the contest turned 25 seconds later, as senior Kelson Custodio stole the ball, raced in and made a layup to put the Blue Blazes on top for good.
Dunphe then drove for a layup, senior Ben Eugley converted an old-fashioned three-point play (layup, foul and free throw) and after Custodio made two foul shots, Dunphe set up junior Jackson Young for a long 3 and a 12-0 lead.
The Rangers finally got on the board on a 3-pointer from senior Hayden MacArthur, but Young set up junior Aiden Taylor for a layup off an inbounds set, then Dunphe got a leaner to roll in for a 16-3 advantage.
“We had a game here last year, so the guys were comfortable,” said Westbrook coach Bryan Hoy. “They were ready tonight.”
Greely tried to rally, as sophomore Kade Ippolito made a free throw and senior Seamus Raftice hit a 3, but 16-7 was close as the Rangers would get.
Late in the first quarter, senior Quincy Seavey entered the game and immediately knocked down a 3-ball, then Dunphe hit a jumper to make it 21-7 after eight minutes.
If the first period was impressive, the second would be staggering as Westbrook completely put the game out of reach.
Senior Jason Shackley opened the frame with a 3, then senior Micah Lombardo made a layup and Seavey buried another long 3 for a 29-7 advantage.
The Rangers then scored on consecutive possessions, as Ippolito made a layup off a pass from Raftice and Raftice hit a pair of foul shots, but Dunphe countered with a floater.
After junior Jackson Leding got a contested leaner to drop for Greely, Custodio sank a 3, Seavey drove to the hoop and laid the ball in, then Dunphe and Lombardo made consecutive 3s for a staggering 42-13 advantage.
“We practiced hard all week and we had a good game plan ready and we just played really well,” Hoy said. “Everybody shot the basketball well. That just really opened up the offense.”
Late in the half, Leding hit a jumper, then made a free throw before Dunphe drove and produced a fitting punctuation mark with a layup just before the horn to make it 44-16.
Dunphe led the way with 13 points, while Seavey had eight off the bench.
“It all started with Quincy, our shooter,” Custodio said.
Greely sophomore Kade Ippolito lines up a free throw.
Westbrook didn’t relent when the second half started, as Custodio stole the ball and fed Young for a layup, Custodio made a layup, Dunphe scored on a putback, Custodio set up Young for a 3-pointer, then Eugley made a layup for a 55-16 advantage.
Raftice scored on a putback to end a 5 minute, 32 second scoring drought, but Custodio countered by driving for a layup.
After Raftice sank two foul shots, Seavey made another 3 and after Raftice hit two more free throws, Seavey countered with one to send the game to the final stanza with the Blue Blazes firmly in control, 61-22.
The Rangers started the fourth quarter with a putback from Raftice and a MacArthur free throw, but Shackley countered with a 3.
After Raftice converted a three-point play, freshman Dimitri Lubin scored on a putback for Westbrook and sophomore Excellent Uwizeye did the same for a 40-point advantage, 68-28.
Sophomore Andrew Padgett got a point back at the foul line for Greely, but a runner off the glass from sophomore Paddy Walsh gave the Blue Blazes their biggest lead.
Senior Mitchell Bickford then made a free throw for the Rangers, before sophomore David Mbuyamba scored Westbrook’s final points on a putback.
Greely sophomore Logan Vergara then hit a free throw in the waning seconds and that put the finishing touches on the Blue Blazes’ emphatic 72-31 victory.
“Coach made us get up super-early to get ready for the game,” Custodio said. “He had a great game plan for us and we executed it. We’ve worked on getting back to our old selves. We have great captains and that helped us. I think defense is a team effort. Everyone was rotating and communicating and hustling and going for the ball.”
“We’ve been one of the best defensive teams all year long,” Hoy said. “We hang our hats on that. If we get going on offense, we’ll be tough to beat because we don’t let up many points.”
Dunphe led a balanced Westbrook attack with 15 points and five rebounds. Seavey had 12 points off the bench and Custodio finished with 11 points, five steals, three assists and three rebounds.
“Kelton played great,” Hoy said. “He works really hard and defensively, he’s a nightmare for the opposing ball handler.”
Young added eight points, Shackley had six, Eugley five, Lombardo five (to go with five rebounds and four assists) and Lubin, Mbuyamba, Taylor, Uwizeye and Walsh two apiece.
Westbrook had a 39-24 edge on the glass, only turned the ball over 12 times and made 4-of-6 free throws.
The Blue Blazes lost both games to Falmouth this winter, 36-24 at home and 61-41 on the road. Westbrook has lost all three prior playoff encounters, including a 59-39 decision in last year’s quarterfinals.
The Navigators (who downed No. 8 Mt. Ararat in their quarterfinal Saturday) will be without junior big man Chris Simonds, who gave the Blue Blazes fits in the teams’ last meeting.
“We’re putting those games in the past and we’ll be confident,” Custodio said.
“The guys are focused,” Hoy said. “We lost to Falmouth twice, but it’s the third one that matters. We can open up a little bit more if we don’t have to worry about their big guy. He killed us at Falmouth. They’re still a really good team with excellent players.
“This team has lived up to expectations. These guys have been great. They come hard every day.”
Humbling
Greely was led by 16 points and six rebounds from Raftice. Leding had five points, MacArthur four (to go with four rebounds), Ippolito three (as well as six rebounds and two blocked shots) and Bickford, Vergara and Padgett all had one.
The Rangers made 15-of-23 foul shots, but turned the ball over 19 times and were never really in it.
“(Westbrook) did a good job taking what we like to do on offense and we didn’t have any answers,” Seaver lamented.
“Only one team is happy at the end of the year. It takes a lot of talent and some luck to get there. We accomplished some of our goals. Your season can’t always be measured by a Gold Ball. It’s nice when it is, but success is about getting better. We wanted to be a team no one wanted to play and I think we got there.
Greely will say goodbye to Bickford, MacArthur, Raftice, Tate Nadeau, Parker Sasseville and Tyler Pettengill, who was held scoreless Saturday.
“It’s a tough group to say goodbye to,” Seaver said. “These seniors have through a pandemic that changed their lives and basketball careers. I’m fortunate they belonged to the Greely basketball family.
“We have a good sophomore class and the juniors have experience. We want to get better.”
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.
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