Sports Reporter
LIMESTONE – Even though the host Eagles started quickly and later were able to whittle a 15-point deficit in the third quarter down to four early in the fourth, the Washburn Beavers proved to be too strong an opponent last Wednesday.
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
Mitchell Worcester, a freshman for the Washburn Beavers, drives past Limestone/MSSM freshman Nate Tucker and toward the basket during last Wednesday’s game in Limestone.Worcester scored 22 points and teammate Jordan McLaughlin had 30 in the 76-52 win.
A 26-6 scoring spree in the second quarter was ultimately the difference in Washburn’s 76-52 road victory.
After Aaron St. Pierre’s inside hoop gave Limestone/MSSM a 14-10 lead 45 seconds into the second quarter, the Beavers and their newly-installed “dribble drive” offense went to work. Freshman Mitchell Worcester scored on a conventional three-point play on a drive to the basket before Jordan McLaughlin’s long-range three-pointer 15 seconds later put Washburn on top to stay.
The Beavers kept up their scoring pace after the Eagles’ Josh Forsman nailed a short jumper to make it 20-16. McLaughlin hit on back-to-back shots, while Jake Theriault scored from inside and Connor Fitzpatrick put in two in a row to spread the Washburn lead to 30-18 with 3:20 left in the half. Worcester then scored his team’s final six points, three coming on foul shots, to head into intermission with a 36-20 advantage.
The Eagles fought back, however, on the strength of the inside play of Dylan Caldwell. Down 49-34 with 2:13 left in the third quarter, Caldwell fueled a charge with three buckets in the paint, while freshman Nate Tucker’s three-pointer 1:45 into the fourth quarter got Limestone/MSSM within four at 53-49.
However, three-point field goals 38 seconds apart by McLaughlin and Worcester put Washburn back in control.
“I think we let up a little on defense,” McLaughlin said, “but the fourth quarter has been our quarter, so even though I was getting a little nervous, I wasn’t too worried.”
The sophomore, who finished with a game-high 30 points, said the team’s offense, which is predicated on penetration and kickout passes on the perimeter, has been working well after an opening-season loss at Easton.
“I think it fits every player on our team,” McLaughlin said. “Coach (Randy Norsworthy) has told us this is our offense, and I think he picked the right one.”
Worcester scored 22 points and Fitzpatrick added 14 for the Beavers.
Caldwell had 18 points and St. Pierre netted 11 for the Eagles, who lost for the eighth consecutive time. The team broke that drought Friday with a 46-38 home win over Van Buren.
In that game, Michael Allen came through with a 17-point effort as Limestone/MSSM pulled away after halftime. Forsman scored 12 points and Caldwell chipped in with 11 more for the Eagles, who took a 2-9 record into last night’s game at Fort Fairfield.
Washburn improved to 6-3 Monday by beating Greater Houlton Christian Academy in a game played at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
The Beavers once again got off to a slow start, but battled back and took a double-digit lead in the third quarter. GHCA got it down to four, but Fitzpatrick and McLaughlin hit their foul shots in the final two minutes to lead to the 64-57 triumph.
Worcester scored 16 points before fouling out midway through the fourth quarter. Fitzpatrick and McLaughlin posted 13 points each.
Zach Straubel’s 18 points were tops for GHCA, now 8-2 on the season, while Chad Duff notched 14 more.
