Central has big third quarter to pull away for win over Crusaders

BANGOR - Tuesday night at the Cross Center in Bangor, Central High School of Corinth opened up a six point half time lead in the third quarter to pull out a 56-45 win after holding off a fourth period rally by the Crusaders of John Bapst Memorial High School in schoolboy action.

Central's Caleb Shaw (12) gets up over John Bapst defender Isaac Wardwell for a shot during the fourth quarter. (Photo by Skip Hawkes)

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Central opened the game with a 16-7 first quarter lead, but the Crusaders battled hard and trimmed three points off that lead as they out scored the Devils 12-9 in the second quarter to cut the Central lead to 25-19 at the half time break.

 Central's Ethan Mailman (left) gets a shot off over the outstretched arm of John Bapst's JJ Higins. (Photo by Skip Hawkes)

In the third quarter, Caleb Shaw, Micah Ward, and Ethan Mailman combined to score all 15 Central points and the defense held John Bapst to just two free throws in a 15-2 period good for a 40-21 lead heading into the final stanza.

 Central's Dylan Gray puts up a jump shot during the first half. (Photo by Skip Hawkes)

The Crusaders would not go down easily, as they out scored Central 24-16 in the fourth quarter coming up short at the buzzer. Darren Hanscom scored all 14 of his game points in the quarter to rally John Bapst.

 John Bapst's Alex Mooney (with ball) gets high off the floor to get a shot in the middle of three Central defenders. (Photo by Skip Hawkes)

Shaw scored a game high 21 points to pace Central, while Ward added 11 points and Mailman scored 10 points. Also scoring for 12-3 Central was Dylan Gray with eight points, James Doucette with four, and Andrew Speed with two points.

Central had five 3-point baskets, two by Gray and one each from Shaw, Ward, and Mailman. They went 11-for-17 (65%) from the free throw line.

 John Bapst's JJ Higgins (14) tries to get a pass around Central's Dylan Gray during the first half. (Photo by Skip Hawkes)

Alex Mooney scored 15 points and Hanscom added 14 points to lead John Bapst in scoring. Noah Tomah had five points, James Butler had four, Jagger Cummings scored three, and Nick Lakeman added two points. Sean Joyce and Isaac Wardwell each chipped in with one point.

The Crusaders had five 3-point baskets, three by Mooney and one each by Hanscom and Cummings, and they went 12-for-25 (48%) from the charity stripe.

 John Bapst's Noah Tomah (with ball) gets up for a shot over Central's Dylan Gray (34) during the first half. (Photo by Skip Hawkes)