David Seavey scored 22 points Tuesday to lead South Portland past visiting Massabesic, 64-57. The win is the Riots (4-10) third in a row and keeps alive the team’s post-season hopes.
The game was marked by strong defense and three lead changes in the first half. The Mustangs (3-11) held tough, but faded late in the face of their hosts pressure.
“We’re gelling as a team,” Seavey, a senior. “We’re starting to bond, and we’re becoming a better team.”
How well the Riots are working together was evident in the first half of the game as they staged a comeback from an eight-point deficit. Massabesic jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first quarter as both teams were using the zone defense effectively.
Each squad settled down and began trading baskets, but defense was still the story of the game. After the first quarter, the Mustangs held the advantage to the tune of 18-12.
South Portland began the second quarter with purpose, and quickly racked up eight unanswered points to take the lead.
“We had a few lapses and that allowed them to get some runs,” said Massabesic senior Ken Paul. “It got us out of our rhythm.”
The aggressiveness of the Riots defense allowed them to claw their way back into the game. They began challenging not just every shot, but every pass as well.
“Our defense is really picking it up,” said Seavey.
As time was winding down in the second quarter, Kyle Gilson grabbed a rebound with a second left and fired a jumper as he fell to the floor to bring the Mustangs back to within one.
The second half looked like a different game altogether. Both sides cranked up their efforts on the defensive side and managed many steals. Not surprisingly, the third quarter was the lowest scoring period for both teams.
“All the turnovers let them get big runs,” said Mustangs coach T.J. Hesler. “We just kept losing concentration.”
Those turnovers would prove to be costly in the final quarter as well.
Any hopes Massabesic had of winning were dashed as the Riots began the final frame with a 13-2 run that all but sealed it. As the visitors saw their chances of victory slipping away they began to take more chances on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately, that left South Portland players open for easy shots on more than one occasion.
“It was a lack of concentration that got us,” said Hesler. “It certainly wasn’t lack of effort – we had plenty of that.”
If effort alone could win basketball games, this game would probably still be tied, as both teams showed plenty of heart. Neither was going to roll over or give anything to the other.
“They wanted to beat us just as bad as we wanted to beat them,” said Seavey.
All the boys from Massabesic can do now is put this one behind them as they drop to 3-11. They look ahead to their remaining games with their playoff hopes on life support, but still alive.
“We’ve got some big games coming up,” said Paul. “A few wins could put us into the tournament.”
With four games remaining including two against Marshwood, the Mustangs still like their chances.
“We’ll just keep plugging away like I know these guys can,” said Hesler. “Maybe we’ll get a few upset wins and get into the tournament.
As for the Riots, their chances of squeezing into that last playoff spot improved with this win, which put their record at 4-10. A win in one of the remaining games would help, but it’s an uphill battle as match-ups against Portland, Deering and Cheverus – the top three teams in Class A west – still remain.
“This win puts us closer to the Civic Center,” said Seavey. “We’re still in the chase.”
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