Camden Hills boys grab a solid road win at Hampden Academy to start the season

 HAMPDEN – The Hampden Academy Broncos varsity boys basketball team opened the season Friday night in the Stable. The visiting Camden Hills Windjammers used their 3 point shooting and in your face defense to run away with the game in the third quarter outscoring Hampden 16-4 leading to the 64-49 win.

Camden's Hunter Norton had some serious ups to rip this rebound down in traffic during Friday's game at Hampden Academy. The Windjammers won the game 64-49. (Photo by Ron Hawkes/MSR)

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Hampden Academy moved up to the AA level this season and Camden Hills was its first of five out of conference games this season. 

Camden Hills is a much more experienced team having nine seniors while the Broncos only have two on the team. The Windjammers looked more like the Windjammers of years ago when coach Jon Moro was playing his high school ball at Camden. In your face defense, a lot of good shooters, and excitement from the players not often seen. 

The first half of this game was very close with Camden outscoring Hampden by four in the first quarter led by eight points from Liam O'Neal, 19-15. The two teams played to a 12-12 tie in the second quarter giving the Windjammers a four point, 31-27 lead. 

The wheels fell of the bus for Hampden in the third quarter when the Camden defense, rebounding, and shooting, led them to a 16-4 quarter score. Hampden outscored Camden by one in the final quarter 18-17, but too little too late for the Broncos.

Scoring for Camden Hills were, Hunter Norton with a team high 14 points; O'Neal and Aiden O'Connell had 10 each; Ryan Clifford nine; Hunter Bell seven; Dylan Morgenstern six; Eben Fagonde and Quincy Messer three each. Will Smith had a pair of free throws for two points. 

Camden went 8-of-13 (62 percent) from the foul line and they nailed eight 3-point baskets. Two each from O'Neal and O'Connell, and one each from Bell, Fagonde, Norton, and Clifford.

For the host Bronco's, Zach McLaughlin had a game high 16 points; JJ Wolfington 12; Landen Gabric six; Kaden Tardif, who came off the bench late in the fourth quarter, added five points; Nick Johnston four; Brandon Butterfield and Aiden Kochendoerfer two each; and Adam Pinkos and Kam Tardif one each.

The Broncos were 8-of-12 (67 percent) from the charity stripe and they had three 3-point baskets, two from Wolfington and one from Kaden Tardif. 

Next up for Hampden is Edward Little of Auburn. They won their home opener over Oxford Hills 66-65. That game will be Dec. 14. 

For Camden Hills, they will host Mt. Ararat of Topsham. They lost their home opener to Marshwood 50-36.