Broncos hang on for win over an aggressive Mt. Blue

AUGUSTA – When this game started not one person I had talked to expected to witness the game No. 8 Mt. Blue came to play against the No. 1 seeded Hampden Broncos. Not only did the Broncos have nothing to lose in this matchup, but they also played like they were going to win.

Hampden Academy's Bryce Lausier works on his foul shots before the game. Something we do not see a lot of any more at games. Could be a good part of why he is the player he is. Hampden won the game over Mt. Blue 57-54. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

In the end, it was the Broncos on top by the score of 57-54. These two teams played during the season and Hampden won that game on the road 83-38. This was a different game

Bryce Lausier and Braydon Cole were the team's top scorers putting a total of 40 points on the board. Only 10 of those came in the first half. It looked like perhaps the rims were new and they forgot to take the cellophane wrap off. The Broncos shot percentage had to be very low in that first-half.

Click here to view the full photo gallery from this game

After leading 12-8 at the end of the first, Mt. Blue took off in the second quarter outscoring the Broncos 20-8 to take a 28-20 half time lead over the No. 1 team. The second half got off to a good start for Hampden as they took the quarter, 19-11 to make it a 39-39 tie heading into the final stanza. The final quarter was a battle as Mt. Blue would not go away and it took everything the Broncos had to keep going in this tournament. In the end, they outscored their opponent 18-15 for the win.

Hampden's TJ Henaghen, right, gets up over Mt. Blue's Bradley Shamba on the tip-off. (Photo by Ron Hawkes) 

Scoring for Hampden was Lausier with 23 points; Cole 17; Mikey Raye 12; Andy Raye three; and TJ Henaghen two.

This was a beautiful block from Hampden Academy's freshman, Landen Gabric on a shot from Mt. Blue's Hunter Meeks. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

The Broncos were 6-of-13 (46 percent) from behind the free-throw line. They had seven 3-pointers, three each from Lausier and M. Raye, and one from A. Raye.

For Mt. Blue, Hunter Meeks had 17 points; Camden Phillips 11; Jacob Farnham 10; Zach Poisson eight; and Bradley Shamba and Hunter Donald four each.

The Cougars were, 8-of-13 (62 percent) from the foul line. They knocked down four 3-pointers, two from Farnham, and one each from Meeks and Phillips.

Hampden Academy will play No. 5 Brewer next on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 8:30 p.m. at the Augusta Civic Center in a semifinal Class A playoff game.

Brandon Cole (10) goes up to try and stop Mt. Blue's Jacob Farnham on this layup. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

Hampden's Mikey Raye goes up with a shot. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)