Knapp, Hoogterp help Coyotes knock off John Bapst

Friday night at the Cross Center in Bangor, Niko Knapp and Ryan Hoogterp combined for 39 points as the Old Town Coyotes pulled out a 49-42 victory over the John Bapst Crusaders in a Class B North schoolboy game.

Old Town's Ryan Hoogterp gets up for a jump shot over John Bapst defenders JJ Higgins (14) and Noah Tonah during a game at the Cross Center Friday night. Old Town won the game 49-42. (Photo by Skip Hawkes)

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The two equally talented teams  played to a 19-19 tie by the half time break. Old Town took a 26-23 lead mid way through the third quarter, and stretched that lead to 32-23 with 1:51 remaining in the period on a Ryan Hoogterp 3-point basket. The Coyotes closed the quarter with a six point, 36-30, lead.

 John Bapst's Darren Hanscom puts up a shot in the first quarter. (Photo by Skip Hawkes)

John Bapst opened the fourth quarter on a 5-2 run to make it a three point game (38-35) with 4:01 left to play. The Crusaders pulled to within one point of the Old Town lead when JJ Higgins knocked down two foul shots with 1:42 left on the clock for a 40-39 Coyotes lead.

After a Travis Spell free throw, Niko Knapp pushed the Coyotes lead to 43-39 on a layup with 38 seconds remaining. Knapp added four free throws over the next 24 seconds to extend the Old Town lead to 47-40, and Hoogterp wrapped up the scoring with two free throws.

 Old Town's Niko Knapp (4) puts up a shot in the middle of three John Bapst defensers. (Photo by Skip Hawkes)

Knapp scored a game high 20 points and Hoogterp added 19 to pace the Coyotes in scoring. Ethan Hayes scored six points, Kyle Berube added three, and Spell had one point.

Old Town (3-7) had five 3-point baskets, three by Hoogterp and one each from Knapp and Berube, and they went 12-for-15 (80%) from the free throw line.

 Old Town's Ethan Hayes (34) takes a shot as John Bapst's Noah Tomah moves in to defend. (Photo by Skip Hawkes)

Noah Tomah scored 16 points and Alex Mooney had 11 to lead the Crusaders. Darren Hanscom added six points and Higgins scored five. Nick Lakeman and James Butler each chipped in with two points.

John Bapst (3-8) did not have any long range shots, and they went 16-for-20 (80%) from the charity stripe.

 John Bapst's Noah Tomah (50) gets up for a shot in the middle of four Old Town defenders. (Photo by Skip Hawkes)

John Bapst's Alex Mooney (rear) tries to get off a shot while Old Town's Travis Spell defends. (Photo by Skip Hawkes)