Hampden boys barely escape with win over Brewer

HAMPDEN – The Hampden boys basketball season is off to a great start, there is no denying that fact. They entered the night undefeated at 10-0, having had one game where the win was by less than double figures and that was a win against Class AA Bangor.

Hampden's Bryce Lausier (2) drives past Brewer's Brady Saunders. Hampden won the game 57-56. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

Hampden's lowest win margin in Class A play was the first game against Brewer, who they beat by 12 in that meeting.  Saturday night, they would be the first to tell you they had as much luck as the talent to get past Brewer this time around scoring on a layup in with 10.2 seconds left in the game and blocking a shot with two seconds on the clock giving the Broncos a 57-56 win over Brewer.

Click here to view the full Photo Gallery from this game

Two great things come out of this, Hampden now knows what real competition feels like, and Brewer players now know they can play with the best in the league.

The newest member of the 1000-point club, Bryce Lausier, led the night with 32 points. Lausier made his 1000th point on a foul shot.

Brewer tried about everyone guarding Lausier with not much luck, as he is a threat from anywhere on the court.

Lausier led the Broncos with his 32 points. Other scorers were Andy Raye and TJ Henaghen seven each; Mikey Raye and Landon Gabric five each; and Alex Thomas one.

The Broncos were 7-of-11 (64 percent) from the foul line and they had four 3-pointers, one each from, Lausier, A. Raye, M. Raye, and Gabric.

Brewer's Trevor Pearson goes up over Hampden's Aiden Kristal with a shot. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

Brewer, in an excellent team effort, was led by Trevor Pearson with 21 points; Kyle Goodrich 11;  Aaron Newcomb 10; Colby Smith six; Brady Saunders five; and Gavin Carr and Ryder Goodwin one each.

The Witches were 8-of-13 (62 percent) from the foul line and they had five 3-pointers, two from Goodrich, and one each from Pearson, Newcomb, and Saunders.

After Brewer took a 16-12 first-quarter lead, Hampden came back to tie the score at 26 each at the half time break.

Hampden's TJ Henagan looks to go by Brewer's Trevor Pearson during Saturday night's game in Hampden. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

Hampden outscored Brewer 19-11 in the third quarter, led by Lausier's eight to take a 45-37 lead into the final stanza.

Brewer had another idea on how this game was going to end, and did all they could to make that happen as they fought back and outscored Hampden 19-12 erasing seven of the eight-point lead the Broncos had to start the fourth quarter.

With time running out and Hampden trailing 56-55, Lausier took the ball to the right side and dribbled the baseline for a difficult shot that went through the net for the 57-56 lead.

Brewer came down the court with 10.2 seconds left in the game, and just needed a basket or get fouled on the shot. Aaron Newcomb was about to get a shot off with about two seconds left on the clock, when the shot was tipped and fell well short where Hampden rebounded and cleared it out as the buzzer went off.

BREWER----16---10---11---19---56
HAMPDEN-12----14---19---12---57

Excellent tumbling from the Hampden Academy cheerleaders. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

Excellent tumbling from the Hampden Academy cheerleaders. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

Brewer coach Ben Goodwin is excited by the defense of his players stopping Bryce Lausier from driving the baseline.  (Photo by Ron Hawkes)