PORTLAND – Mike Herrick has been hampered by a bone chip on his ankle this season, but it’s getting better. That’s a good sign for Portland.

Herrick, Portland’s leading scorer last season, flashed his form of a year ago late in the fourth quarter Friday night, hitting a 3-pointer with the game tied, then scoring on a breakaway layup to spark the visiting Bulldogs to a 39-35 win over Deering in an SMAA boys’ basketball game.

The win completed a hectic week for Portland (10-4). The Bulldogs beat then-No. 2 Cheverus on Monday, lost to No. 11 Westbrook on Tuesday and now added No. 1 Deering to their conquests.

Further evidence that the Western Class A tournament in three weeks looks to be wide open.

“If you can figure out this team for me, please tell me,” said Portland Coach Joe Russo. “This week has been quite the roller coaster but it’s not a bad ride. We don’t have any superstars but we have kids who work hard. Herrick got us going. I just hope we keep getting better.”

By virture of its win over Chev-erus, Portland moved to No. 2 in the Heal point standings for this first meeting with its cross-town rival.

The game didn’t live up to a 1 vs. 2 matchup. There were a lot of missed shots and both teams struggled mightily from the foul line. But at least the ending was exciting.

“This means a lot,” said Jayvon Pitts-Young of Portland. “We worked hard. I’m really excited about the win.”

Herrick, who sustained his injury early in football season, said it was the first game he played without his ankle being taped.

“We played with a lot of spirit tonight,” said Herrick, who led the Bulldogs with 12 points.

Asked how he felt after hitting the big shot in light of his struggles this season, he said: “It was unimaginable. I knew it was in as soon as I let it go.”

With the score 32-32, Herrick’s shot came from deep on the right side with 3:13 left. Two minutes later he scored on a layup while being fouled. Justin Zukowski set Herrick up with a long pass. Herrick missed the free throw but Portland led, 37-32.

Moments later, Jon Amabile of Deering hit a long 3-pointer from right of the top of the key with 47 seconds to make it a two-point game. Those were Deering’s last points.

Still down by two, the Rams missed two 1-and-1 chances.

After Herrick’s 3-pointer, Thiwat Thiwat of Deering had a jumper rim out. Zukowski then made two from the line with 1.6 seconds remaining.

“The disappointing thing is that we had multiple chances to win at the end,” said Deering Coach Dan LeGage. “Portland is a good team. I thought Herrick’s basket was the turning point. He hit a great shot.”

Portland was 5 of 14 from the line. Deering was 13 of 26.

Labson Abwoch, Deering’s 6-foot-6 center, fouled out with 31 seconds left. He got into foul trouble early, spent time on the bench and finished with two points.

Deering’s other big man, the 6-foot-4 Thiwat, had nine points. Portland rotated two men each on Abwoch and Thiwat.

“I thought Peter (Donato) and Matt (Talbot) did a nice job on Abwoch, and Nate (Smart) and Mike (Herrick) did the same on Thiwat. After a slow first half, both teams loosened up in the second half. I thought we played with a lot of heart,” said Russo.

Amabile led Deering (12-2) with 15 points.

Deering gets a chance for revenge in two weeks when the teams meet at the Portland Expo in a regular-season finale.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH