The Monmouth Academy boys basketball team won the Class D state championship on Saturday, but Machias made them work for it at the Augusta Civic Center.
Monmouth withstood a furious comeback from Machias in the second half and held on to win 51-41.
The newly crowned Class D champs took a 28-14 lead into halftime, which Machias whittled to 35-28 at the end of the third quarter.
And the Bulldogs kept pushing, with seniors Mickey Fitzsimmons, Liam O’Connor and Landon Barrett helping to spark a spirited fourth quarter run.
Clockwise, from upper left: Wyatt Hunter of Machias sinks a basket for two in the first quarter of the Class D State Championship game against Monmouth Academy on Saturday afternoon; Machias head coach Chad Fitzsimmons gathers his team in between the first and second quarter of the Class D State Championship game against Monmouth Academy on Saturday afternoon; Mickey Fitzsimmons of Machias tries to get by Monmouth’s Gavin Parsons in the opening minutes of the Class D State Championship game at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday afternoon; Kaiyden Carter of Machias airs over Monmouth’s Aiden Oliveira in the first quarter of the Class D State Championship game at the Augusta Civic Center. Credit: Josh O’Donnell / BDN
Barrett made it a 35-30 game early in the fourth with two free throws. Fitzsimmons then nabbed a steal and finished a layup to tighten things at 35-32.
But as he did throughout the game, Monmouth junior guard Levi Laverdiere was there to slow the positive momentum for Machias. Laverdiere knocked down a 3-pointer to add to his game-high total of 33.
At left: Machias High School brought their own “one man band” to lead the loyal Machias fans and students in attendance cheering for their boys team in the Class D State Championship game against Monmouth Academy at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday afternoon; at right, from top to bottom: Monmouth Academy fans cheer on their boys basketball team at the Augusta Civic Center for their Class D State Championship victory over Machias High School at the Augusta Civic Center; A battle for the rebound under the Machias basket in the first half of the Class D Championship game against Monmouth Acadmey at the Augusta Civic Center. Credit: Josh O’Donnell / BDN
Barrett secured an offensive rebound and bucket to pull closer at 38-34 midway through the fourth, and two free throws by O’Connor put Machias within two at 38-36.
But there was Laverdiere again with an impressive floater for two to give his team a four-point cushion. Machias would get the game back within three, but Monmouth locked down on defense and knocked down their foul shots to seal the win.
Fitzsimmons led the scoring for Machias with 15 points, followed by Barrett with nine and O’Connor with seven.