CAPE ELIZABETH — Trevor LaBonte’s big night sparked York to a 50-36 win over Cape Elizabeth in a Class A boys’ basketball game Monday night.
LaBonte had a double-double, scoring 23 points and grabbing 15 rebounds.
“We moved the ball real well. I was just the beneficiary of good ball movement,” said LaBonte, who also blocked three shots.
Cape Elizabeth had to play without its leading scorer, Finn Bowe, who is out indefinitely with a broken leg.
“We wish (Bowe) were out there with us, he’s a heck of a player,” LaBonte said. “That’s a big loss for them.”
Bowe suffered the injury in the Capers’ 54-45 win over Lake Region on Saturday.
“You’re taking 20-plus points out of the lineup and we have to (replace that) by committee,” Cape Elizabeth Coach Jim Ray said. “We have to figure out how that committee is going to function.”
LaBonte’s frontcourt mate Jackson McCarty also had a double-double for York, scoring 14 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
“(LaBonte and McCarty) move well, almost like two guards down there moving with each other,” said York Coach Randy Small.
York (7-5) dominated in the post, especially on the offensive end. The Wildcats scored 15 second-chance points and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds.
“(LaBonte and McCarty) complement each other so well,” said Ray.
Added LaBonte, “Jackson and I have great chemistry. This is our second year playing together and we just know where the other is. I find him, he finds me, it’s great.”
Cape Elizabeth (8-3) fell behind quickly as York scored the game’s first six points. The Capers trailed 15-5 at the end of the first quarter.
Both teams scored nine points in the second, giving the Wildcats at 24-14 lead at halftime.
“We played extremely well on the boards,” Small said. “We were aggressive and never really let (Cape Elizabeth) in the game. Because if they’re in the game, they’re going to make it close.”
The Wildcats came out strong in the second half, outscoring the Capers 17-10 in the third quarter to go up 17.
Quinn Hewitt led Cape Elizabeth with 12 points and Nat Spicer had eight points off the bench.
“I’m confident (in replacing Bowe’s production). I have good kids, they’re coachable and they will work hard,” said Ray.
The Capers’ bench outscored the Wildcats’ bench 12-0.
Reid Hogan added 10 points for York.
“We’ll take the win,” said Small. “We’ll be happy on the bus ride but being around so long, I’m going to have my nose in the book tomorrow morning getting ready for Greely. So it will be fun.”
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