Waynflete’s bench erupts in celebration during the Flyers’ 71-43 home win over Freeport Tuesday night. Waynflete blew the game open with a 35-3 run.
Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald photos.
More photos below.
BOX SCORE
Waynflete 71 Freeport 43
F- 16 10 3 14- 43
W- 16 9 24 22- 71
F- Barrett 5-1-14, Holt 6-0-13, Cockburn 2-0-6, Shea 2-0-6, Helie 1-0-2, G. Wagner 1-0-2
W- Campbell 6-0-12, Houssein 5-0-11, Scott 4-2-11, Dahia 3-2-9, Johnson 4-0-8, A. Saade 3-2-8, Levy 2-2-6, Rhoads 1-0-3, C. Saade 1-1-3
3-pointers:
F (8) Barrett 3, Cockburn, Shea 2, Holt 1
W (4) Dahia, Houssein, Rhoads, Scott 1
Turnovers:
F- 23
W- 13
Free throws
F: 1-1
W: 9-12
PORTLAND—The run that Waynflete’s boys’ basketball team produced Tuesday evening had to be seen to be believed.
And even if you saw it, it was hard to comprehend.
Hosting Freeport, the Flyers had their hands full for a half, but after gaining some momentum just before the break, they dominated the second half and pulled away for a stunningly easy and decisive victory.
The Falcons, trying to bounce back from a two-game skid, looked strong in the first half, making six 3-pointers, as they opened up a 26-19 lead late in the second quarter, but the final six points of the half went to Waynflete and when the second half commenced, the Flyers excelled at both ends of the floor.
A tip-in from sophomore Dominick Campbell put Waynflete on top to stay and the Flyers scored the final 18 points of the third quarter to blow it open and lead, 49-29.
A jump shot from junior Askar Houssein and a 3-pointer from senior Burr Rhoads early in the fourth period capped an unconscionable 35-3 run and Waynflete never looked back en route to a 71-43 victory.
Campbell paced a balanced attack with 12 points, Houssein and senior Finn Scott each added 11 and the Flyers improved to 10-2 while dropping the Falcons to 8-5 in the process.
“Part of it is perhaps some youth with Freeport, but they’ve played very well, so I was surprised,” said Waynflete coach Rich Henry. “We got some momentum going and guys coming off the bench made contributions.”
Punching up in weight class
Waynflete is one of the favorites in Class C South this winter and as usual, the Flyers are playing a daunting schedule, one which includes several foes from Class B. So far, Waynflete has more than held its own.
After opening by downing defending Class B South champion Wells, 64-52, the Flyers defeated visiting Traip Academy, 77-38, and host Cape Elizabeth, another Class B foe (53-52). After falling at Class B contender Yarmouth (50-47), Waynflete defeated host St. Dom’s (78-26), visiting Class B foe Poland (66-47), visiting North Yarmouth Academy (76-40) and host Old Orchard Beach (82-28). After losing at Class B South contender Gray-New Gloucester, 61-50, the Flyers downed visiting Yarmouth (55-47) and held off host Traip Academy (74-69).
Freeport, meanwhile, has built on last year’s breakthrough season, but the Falcons are coming off a tough week.
Freeport started with wins at Sacopee Valley (65-27) and Yarmouth (45-41). After a 57-56 home loss to Gray-New Gloucester, the Falcons defeated visiting Traip Academy (62-51), host Morse (82-51), visiting Lincoln Academy (76-33), visiting Old Orchard Beach (95-50) and host Poland (67-49). After its win streak was snapped at Greely (75-61), Freeport rebounded with a hard-fought 49-44 home victory over Mt. Ararat, but last week, the Falcons let leads slip away in home losses to Cape Elizabeth, 46-43, and Yarmouth (50-43).
Last year, Waynflete won at Freeport, 65-47.
Tuesday, the Flyers beat the Falcons for the fifth straight time over the past four seasons and the way they did it left those on hand in awe.
The first quarter was a track meet, as Freeport was red-hot from the perimeter, while Waynflete controlled the paint.
Senior Eriksen Shea hit a 3-pointer to give the Falcons an early lead.
After senior Alex Saade made a reverse layup for the hosts, senior Kaleb Barrett this a 3 and after Campbell tipped home a miss for the Flyers, junior Heath Cockburn’s 3-ball put Freeport up, 9-4.
Senior Finn Scott pulled Waynflete back within a point with a tip-in and a jump shot and after senior Toby Holt made yet another 3 for the Falcons, a leaner from Campbell and a Campbell layup, off a pass from Scott, tied the score, 12-12.
Holt made a layup to put Freeport back on top, but the Flyers took their first lead when Campbell’s putback was followed up by a layup from sophomore Jared Johnson (off Houssein’s pass on an inbounds set).
A fastbreak layup from junior Gabe Wagner in the final minute allowed the Falcons to forge a 16-16 deadlock after eight exciting minutes.
The scoring pace slowed down in the second quarter, but the intensity and competitiveness didn’t wane.
Barrett opened the frame with a 3 and Holt added a layup, but Houssein made a layup after a steal and junior Solomon Levy made a free throw to pull Waynflete within two.
Back roared Freeport, as Shea, despite being smothered on the sideline near midcourt, managed to spot open sophomore Alex Helie for a layup and Cockburn added a 3 for the Falcons’ biggest lead, 26-19, with 3:15 on the first half clock.
Few could have imagined that Freeport would never again have it so good and by the half, the Flyers pulled within a single point.
A putback from Campbell, a runner after a steal by Houssein and a layup after a steal by Dahia allowed Waynflete to draw within a single point, 26-25, at the break.
In the first half, the Falcons hit six 3-pointers, but the Flyers hung tough thanks in large part to 10 points from Campbell.
Everyone in the capacity crowd expected things to remain taut in the third period, but within minutes, Waynflete had pulled away.
With 6:46 to go in the quarter, a Campbell tip-in put the Flyers ahead to stay.
Dahia added an old-fashioned three-point play, making a layup while being fouled and adding a free throw, and Levy hit a leaner.
With 5:50 remaining, after four successive Freeport turnovers, Barrett converted a three-point play to cut Waynflete’s lead to 31-29, but the next 23 points went to the Flyers, whose 1-3-1 zone defense gave the visitors fits.
Saade started the run in innocuous fashion with two free throws.
Levy scored on a putback while being fouled and added the and-one free throw, Saade made a layup after a steal and Johnson scored successive layups.
“I’m happy with my role,” Johnson said. “I’m just trying to contribute and help us win as much as possible.”
“I like to try and press and we have some different presses we use,” Henry said. “Today, the 1-3-1 worked. We made an adjustment and put Jared up top. He has a lot of length and it was effective.”
Saade then made a layup after a steal, Dahia knocked down a 3 and just before the horn, after a Houssein steal, Dahia’s reverse layup put Waynflete ahead, 49-29.
The Flyers won the quarter, 24-3, in large part to 11 Falcons’ turnovers.
Any remaining Freeport comeback hopes were dashed in the first minute of the final stanza, as Houssein hit a jump shot and Rhoads added a 3 to make it 54-29.
With 6:53 to go, Shea hit a 3 to end Waynflete’s mindboggling 35-3 surge and a 6-minute, 57-second drought.
Holt added a layup, but Scott countered with a 3. Johnson made a layup, Scott hit two free throws and a Scott floater which rattled in, extended the lead to 63-34 with 4:04 to play.
Barrett countered with a floater and Holt scored on a putback, but a leaner from Houssein made it 65-38.
Down the stretch, Barrett and Houssein traded 3s, sophomore Chris Saade converted a three-point play for the Flyers’ final points and a Holt layup in the final minute accounted for the 71-43 final score.
“The whole team contributed and got to spots,” said Johnson. “We made (Freeport) turn the ball over. Changing up the defense brought more intensity and brought the whole team up. It was fun. It’s a great win for us.”
“I think in the second half, everyone bought in,” said Houssein. “We weren’t really satisfied, but as the run got bigger, we were fine. We know we’re capable of this.”
“We had to settle down,” Henry added. “We gave up some open 3s at the beginning. Once we settled down and got out on their shooters, we played better. I just told the guys, when we lose games, the leaders on the team say to channel the feeling. I hope we can channel this feeling because I don’t think we played out of character. We played how we should play.”
As has been the case so often this winter, Waynflete featured a balanced attack.
Campbell led the way with 12 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots, but he had plenty of company.
Houssein (seven steals and six assists) and Scott (four steals) each finished with 11 points, Dahia had nine points, Johnson and Alex Saade (five rebounds, three steals, two assists) added eight apiece, Levy (five boards) had six and Rhoads and Chris Saade contributed three each.
The Flyers had a 39-31 rebounding edge, only committed 13 turnovers and made 9 of 12 free throws.
Freeport was paced by Barrett’s 14 points. Holt (six rebounds) had 13 points, Cockburn and Shea (three assists) added six points apiece and Helie and Gabe Wagner both scored two points.
The Falcons made their lone free throw attempt, but turned the ball over 23 times.
“Waynflete goes deep and a lot of guys can score for them,” said Freeport coach Bill Ridge. “It’s a tough matchup. Once again, we tightened up under pressure. We need guys to step up.”
Questions to answer
Each team hopes to peak going into the playoffs and will have multiple opportunities to do so.
Freeport (now ranked sixth in the Class B South Heal Points standings) hopes to end its skid Friday at home versus Fryeburg Academy. After hosting York next Tuesday, the Falcons close with games at Lake Region, at home versus Wells and at Gray-New Gloucester.
“We have some good opportunities coming up,” Ridge said. “Fryeburg is coming up Friday and it’s a big one for us. It would be a great one to get us going.”
Waynflete (which has moved into the top spot in Class C South) goes to Sacopee Valley next Tuesday, then hosts Old Orchard Beach, visits St. Dom’s and closes at NYA.
“We have to keep playing the way we did tonight,” Johnson said. “We have to show up and work hard and hopefully it carries into later months.”
“We know we have to keep working,” Houssein said. “I think we’re ready to take the leap. We’re really motivated by last year’s (quarterfinal round upset) loss (to Boothbay). Everyone on the team was here last year and I don’t think anyone wants that to happen again.”
“What I want to see now is consistency,” Henry added. “We know the feeling. We have to keep doing it.”
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.
Waynflete junior Askar Houssein soars and shoots over Freeport senior Charlie Ngoal.
Waynflete senior Finn Scott lunges for a loose ball in front of Freeport senior Toby Holt, left, and sophomore Alex Helie.
Waynflete sophomore Jared Johnson goes up for a shot and is defended by Freeport senior Charlie Ngoal, left, and senior Toby Holt.
Waynflete senior Alex Saade shoots over Freeport sophomore Alex Helie, left, and senior Charlie Ngoal.
Waynflete sophomore Dominick Campbell shoots over Freeport senior Toby Holt, left, and sophomore Elias Thomas.
Freeport senior Eriksen Shea goes up for a shot as Waynflete junior Solomon Levy defends.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Comments are no longer available on this story