Old Town makes a comeback to defeat Hermon
The Old Town Coyotes defeated the Hermon Hawks 39-30 on Thursday evening.
These teams faced each other early in January at Hermon where Old Town sneaked by with the win 42-40. The Coyotes (6-7) are coming off of a win against John Bapst, but are reeling from a loss against Mount Desert Island, whom the Hawks previously beat.
Hermon (7-6), prior to their win against MDI, lost three games in a row. However, the strength of the Hawks was exercised last game and is sure to be present for this much anticipated Class B North match up.
The first points of the game were scored a minute in by Coyote’s Senior forward, Emmitt Byther, providing his team with energy for a fast-paced game. However, the Hawks struck back thirty seconds later with a three pointer from Mason Kinney, a Junior forward.
First half scoring was on the lower side for both teams- meaning their defense was impeccable. Freshman guard, Jack DeGrasse for Old Town, attacked the boards every time he could, securing rebounds for his team for second chances and new possessions.
For Hermon, Senior forward Bryce Edwards, and Maddox Kinney, a Senior Center, were holding down the paint on defense. This created some issues for Byther as he was forced out of the paint on many plays. Caleb Doughty, a Senior center for Hermon ended the first quarter with a fast break layup, making the score 8-7, to get within one point of Old Town.
The Hawks found their flow in the second quarter, dominating the scoreboard. Edwards dribbled the ball into the paint to penetrate the defense then popped for a shot for the Hawks to take the lead 9-8.
Hermon continued to work the ball in and out of the post opening up their shooters on the outside, yet allowing their posts to work when there was space.
Old Town was able to score at the end of the first half from the hands of Byther. With the rock, he jabbed into the paint, spinning his defender around, and elevated to nail a buzzer beater for two. Hermon led 15-10 at halftime.
Keeping with their intensity, Mason Kinney drained an open three propelling the Hawks up 18-10. At some point, Hermon’s strength rubbed off on Old Town and Byther along with his teammates figured out how to break their opponents defense.
Byther had a series of made baskets driving to the hoop forcefully, oftentimes getting awarded the and-one and capitalizing on it. With two minutes left in the quarter, down 28-22, he drove in on Maddox Kinney, converted the basket and made a bonus for the old-fashioned three point play.
Through hard work the Coyotes were able to overcome their deficit by the end of the third quarter. Old Town had possession with fifteen seconds running down on the clock. With the ball in Byther’s hands, he penetrated and stepped back for a buzzer beater three-pointer to steal the lead 29-28.
The Coyote’s dual post and guard, Byther, continued his reign over the court in tandem with teammate Brady Paradis, a Senior center. Paradis worked the offensive board like no other on his team, supplying himself and Byther with several extra chances to score. Up 32-28 with four minutes left in the game Paradis made a strong drop step toward the hoop for two.
But, it wasn’t the offense from the Coyote’s that silenced the Hawks. It was the two steals in a row from DeGrasse which granted his team with two extra possessions to take the game with a final score of 39-30.
Both teams play again this Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The Hawks will be at home playing against Foxcroft Academy while the Coyotes will travel to face Washington Academy.
