Panther boys also exit in semifinals
By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
BANGOR — When a team gets hot at the right time, upsets tend to follow. Just ask the Central Aroostook and Washburn boys basketball teams.
No. 2 Central Aroostook (17-3 overall) was bounced from the Eastern Class D tournament Thursday following a 67-55 semifinal loss to No. 6 Deer Isle-Stonington (14-7). The Mariners also upset No. 3 Washburn 67-57 in the quarterfinals last Saturday.
For the Panthers, senior Mike McClung led the way with 21 points, while Brendan York added 12 and Dan Brewer 11. Sam Grindle paced DI-S with 23 points, while Tim Cormier added 17.
Staff Photo/Joseph Cyr
UP THE COURT — 
Central Aroostook’s Dan Brewer advances the ball against Deer Isle-Stonington in the Class D semifinals.
The key in the Panther loss, according to coach Tim Brewer, was a lack of intensity from his squad.
“We came out flat in the third quarter and didn’t play with the intensity we needed to win the game,” Brewer said. “You can’t not play hard for five minute stretches and expect to win games. I was happy with the intensity we showed to end the game, but it was too little, too late.”
A back-and-forth contest for much of the first half, DI-S broke a 30-30 halftime tie by outscoring Central Aroostook 17-6 in the third quarter to take a 57-36 lead into the final frame. In that third period, the Panthers were ice cold from the floor and unable to get more than one attempt on each possession as the smaller DI-S squad out rebounded CAHS.
In the fourth quarter, the Panthers expended a tremendous amount of energy trying to get back in the game, but foul troubles arose and the team’s short bench came into play.
CAHS cut the Mariners’ lead to 55-50 with 2:34 to play, as York sank a pair of free throws. But by that time both Dan Brewer and Chandler Brewer had fouled out of the game, forcing coach Brewer to go much deeper into his bench than he normally would.
York cut the lead to 56-52 with 1:58 to play with a slashing shot between two Mariner defenders. DI-S then made one of two foul shots to go up 57-52 with 1:40 to go. A turnover on the Panthers’ next possession proved costly.
“We made that turnover and it just wasn’t a smart play,” coach Brewer said. “That pretty much sealed it for us.”
York, who scored 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter, gave Panther fans hope with a 3-pointer with 47 seconds to play, cutting the lead to 59-55. The Panthers didn’t score again as DI-S scored two open layups and went 4-for-4 from the foul line in the game’s waning seconds to seal the victory.
DEER ISLE-STONINGTON (67)
Cormier 7 0-0 17, Grindle 3 16-20 23, Morey 4 0-0 10, Davis 2 1-2 6, Melanio 0 2-4 2, Oliver, Bray, Ciomei 4 1-2 9. Totals: 20 20-28 67. 3-pointers — Cormier 3, Morey 2, Grindle, Davis.
CENTRAL AROOSTOOK (55)
Grass, D. Brewer, 4 3-3 11, Folsom, Stiles 1 0-1 2, C. Brewer 2 1-2 7, Decker 1 0-0 2, York 4 2-3 12, McClung 10 1-3 21. Totals: 21 7-12 55. 3-pointers — C. Brewer 2, York 2.
Mariners 15-15-17- 20 — 67
Panthers 15-15-6-19 — 55
