Hermon boys offensive struggles gives Ellsworth low scoring win

HERMON – While the offense of the Hermon varsity boys basketball team may be struggling, they were not at all in that shape defensively as they held Ellsworth to their fourth lowest-scoring game in the 17 they have played this year in a 44-29 loss.

Hermon's Wyatt Gogan calls out the play as he advances the ball up the court. Ellsworth won this game 44-29. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

The Hawks came out playing like the team that really wanted this game taking a 7-4 first-quarter lead.  Then Ellsworth got over the play of the Hawks and outscored them 15-6 to take a halftime advantage 19-13. Outstanding defense from the Hawks in the third quarter kept the score close as the Eagles took a 32-23 lead into the final stanza where they put the game away with a 12-6 run to finish the game.

Click here to view the full Photo Gallery from this game

Scoring for Ellsworth was Austin Harris with 14 points; Jackson Curtis had 13 including a fourth-quarter slamdunk that got the Ellsworth fans erupting into applause. Other scorers were Hunter Curtis eight points; Connor Crawford five; and Darby Barry four.

Hermon's Eli Reed goes up for a shot. Reed led the team in scoring. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

Ellsworth was 1-1 (100 percent) from the foul line and they had two 3-pointers from Harris.

For Hermon, Eli Reed had 11 points; Zach Tubbs seven; Wyatt Gogan five; Jaeden Henderson four; and Trey Brown two.

The Hawks were 5-of-10 (50 percent) from the charity stripe. They also had a pair of 3-point baskets, one each from Reed and Tubbs.

Hermon's Zac Tubbs, right, draws the foul on Ellsworths Connor Crawford. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

Interestingly there were only 16 total fouls in this game and neither team got to one-on-one in the game. In stark contrast, the girls game, with three different officials, had 40 fouls called and each team got to two double bonus (two foul shots) every quarter but the first for Hermon.

Hermon falls to 11-5 on the season and is in fourth place in the Maine Principales' Association Heal Point Standings. The Top 12 make the postseason. No. 1 Caribou is 16-1, their only loss coming at the hands of Hermon.

ELLSWORTH---04---15---12---12---44
HERMON--------07---06---10---06---29

Hermon's Jaeden Henderson takes a 3-point shot. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)

Hermon coach Mark Reed talks to his team on the floor. (Photo by Ron Hawkes)