STANDISH – Both teams standing 10-2, the Bonny Eagle boys met their South Portland counterparts on the court Monday afternoon in an aggressive, skillful matchup. The two squads jostled for supremacy all game long, but Tanner Hyland sunk a 3-pointer at the end of regulation to send it to overtime and the Red Riots made the last run, winning 82-77 in double overtime.
It was a back-and-forth game from the start. South Portland’s 6-foot-5 senior Ben Burkey won the opening tip-off and put his team on the board first. Bonny Eagle immediately matched, with sophomore Nick Bubay draining a two-pointer. The teams alternated baskets for the next two minutes, Bubay propelling the Scots’ offense and 6-foot-7 senior Jack Tolan keeping the Red Riots even with their opponents. Soon, however, Bubay hit a pair of threes in succession and Bonny Eagle inched ahead. They added another three before South Portland scored its next basket, a 2-pointer. Red Riots senior Tanner Hyland then nailed a three, narrowing the Scots’ lead, but Bubay answered with another three of his own. By the end of the first quarter, Bonny Eagle was up 21-16. They looked poised to pull away.
But it wasn’t to be.
Bonny Eagle sophomore Ben Malloy tacked on one from the line to open the second quarter, but South Portland stormed back. Hyland tallied five in 18 seconds, and 6-foot-5 sophomore Jaren Muller dropped in a two less than a minute later, giving the Red Riots their first lead since the start of the game, 23-22. Then it was Bonny Eagle’s turn, as they scored six in a row, including a pair of 2-pointers and one from the line by junior captain Dustin Cole. South Portland met the challenge, Tolan leading with four. Cole sank another two, simultaneously drawing a foul, giving the Scots one more. But the final moment before halftime belonged to Hyland, who drained a three from way downtown at the buzzer, giving South Portland a 36-32 advantage heading to the locker room.
“We’ve got to figure something out inside, because they killed us, they got too many easy baskets.” Bonny Eagle head coach Phil Bourassa said after the game. “And that’s on me. I’ve got to make better adjustments. We’ve got to get back to the drawing board. Tape will tell.”
The two teams battled through the third quarter, as well. Bonny Eagle put up five to start, stealing the lead, which Red Riots senior Conner MacVane promptly snatched back. The third quarter would ultimately belong to the Scots, however, with Malloy and 6-foot-4 senior Kyle Wright both contributing. After three, Bonny Eagle had overtaken South Portland, and held a narrow, 46-45 lead.
Cole added one to that margin from the line to start the fourth, but Burkey tied things with a two. Bonny Eagle managed to build a 54-49 lead in the next two minutes, before a Red Riots’ string of three 2-pointers put them back on top, 56-55. Cole retook the lead on two free throws, then padded it with two more. The final minute approaching, he danced outside the South Portland 3-point line, deftly managing the clock. He drew the foul, going 1 for 2 before senior CJ Autry also stepped to the line, sinking both shots.
Bonny Eagle had a two-possession lead with 15.6 seconds left to play. South Portland wasn’t about to quit. Hyland tried for three and missed, but senior teammate Calvin Carr hauled in the rebound and hurled it back to Hyland, who this time knocked down the bomb. The Red Riots were within one. Cole went back to the line, making both shots and putting Bonny Eagle back up by three with just six seconds left on the clock. Victory seemed assured. But Hyland romanced the buzzer a second time, swishing another three from miles out and sending the game to overtime.
South Portland won the tip-off. Muller secured a rebound 1:20 in and turned it into two for South Portland. Burkey pushed the Riots further ahead with just over a minute to play, but Bubay drained yet another three for the Scots, pulling them within one. MacVane drew a foul for South Portland, but couldn’t sink either shot. MacVane went back to the line 13 seconds later, going 1 for 2 this time, before Malloy stepped up for Bonny Eagle. His two free throws were separated by timeouts, but he made both baskets, tying the game at 69-69.
South Portland won the second overtime tip-off also, and quickly hashed two free throws into their column. Bubay dropped in another three, giving Bonny Eagle the lead temporarily. Muller regained it from the line for the Red Riots, though it changed hands twice more before either team could get a run going. It was only a run of four South Portland points, but it would prove insurmountable. Bonny Eagle’s Autry sent home a three to march the Scots within two, but time was short and their need to stop the clock was desperate, causing them to purposely foul the Riots twice. South Portland sank three of those four free throws, and with a mere 3.4 seconds to go, the game was sealed.
“They’re great kids,” Bourassa said of his squad. “If anything, it’ll make them work a little bit harder. We go into every game expecting to win, and that’ll be no different come Friday.”
South Portland head coach Phil Conley emphasized defense in winning a duel so evenly matched. “I’m very pleased with the way we played defensively. They’re a great team, and I thought we held Cole and Malloy pretty much in check. They’re two very, very, very good players.”
South Portland next plays at home against Cheverus on Friday, Jan. 25. Bonny Eagle plays at Gorham (4-8) that same night.
Bonny Eagle junior Dustin Cole ducks around South Portland’s Conner MacVane. Staff photos by Adam Birt
South Portland’s Trevor Borelli lets fly a three over defender Nick Bubay.
South Portland’s Jaren Muller lays up for a two.
Opening tip-off at the Bonny Eagle versus South Portland boys basketball game Monday afternoon.
Scots sophomore Nick Bubay throws up a three against South Portland Monday.
Dustin Cole scopes out his path of attack.
Bonny Eagle sophomore Ben Malloy charges past the Red Riots’ Trevor Borelli.
Scots’ junior Dustin Cole leaps through a crowd of defenders.
Ben Malloy arcs a shot over South Portland defender Tanner Hyland.
Bonny Eagle sophomore Nick Bubay shoves a pass before heading up court.
Scots’ junior Dustin Cole elevates in search of two.
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