Ellsworth Boys Fall to WA in Overtime

The Ellsworth Boys fell to the Washington Academy Raiders in overtime Wednesday, January 9th in Ellsworth. In the pregame, one of the "Keys to the Game" was that Ellsworth was going to have to hit their free throws, and Ellsworth had plenty of opportunities to make the free throws, getting to the line 31 times, but only converted 15 of them. Washington Academy led 21-14 at the end of the 1st Quarter, Ellsworth led 38-32 at the end of the 1st Half and 50-48 after 3 Quarters. The game was tied at 63 at the end of regulation, and Washington Academy outscored Ellsworth 11-3 in the overtime period to win 74-66.

Ellsworth was led by Steven Mahon with 29 points including 4 3 pointers. Josh Bean had 11 points and Griffin Nightingale had 10 points. Washington Academy, who live and die from 3 point range hit 7 3-pointers in the game, 3 by Jacob Schoppee, 2 by Tyler Varney and 1 each by Andrew Farnsworth and 1 by Gage Feeney.

Washington Academy went on a 7-0 run to start the game in the 1;40 and it wasn't until Bruce St. Peter his a shot that Ellsworth wwas on the scoreboard with 6:09 left in the 1st Quarter and WA led 7-2. With 5:43 left Schoppee hit a 3, and it was WA 10-2. Bean then went 1-2 from the free throw line for Ellsworth with 5:37 left and it was 10-3. Mahon hit his first 3 with 5:05 left and it was 12-6 WA. With 2:52 left Griffin Nightingale scored for Ellsworth and it was 12-8. WA then scored quickly, repeatedly, and when Nightingale went 1-2 from the free throw line with 1:55 left it was 16-10 WA. Bean's 2 cut the lead to 16-12 with 1:05 left, and Mahon went 1-2 from the free throw line with 50.5 seconds left and WA was up 16-13. With 42 seconds left WA's Gage Feeney sank a basket making the score 18-13, but Bean partially answered for Ellsworth, going 1-2 from the free throw line and it was 18-14 WA. With 10 seconds left in the 1st Quarter, Tyler Varney hit a 3 pointer for WA and they had the lead at the end of the 1st Quarter 21-14.

The Ellsworth Eagles came out flying in the 2nd Quarter. and with 5:32 left, they had outscored WA 9-3, and WA's lead had been cut to one point 24-23. Ellsworth took the lead for the first time in the game when Steven Mahon's 3 swished through the net with 5:03 left and Ellsworth led 26-24. Mahon hit another 2 with 4:36 left, and Bruce St. Peter followed up with a 2 pointer with 4:32 left and Ellsworth led 30-24. It was 33-24 Ellsworth after Mahon scored another 3 pointer with 3:22 left. But Tyler Varney answered with his own 3 pointer for WA with 3:16 left and it was 33-27 Ellsworth. The half ended with Ellsworth up 38-32, and Steven Mahon had 18 points including 3 3-pointers in the first half.

In the 3rd Quarter, WA regained the lead 41-40 with 5:14 left after Gage Feeney hit consecutive 2 point baskets. Ellsworth regained the lead with 4:47  left after Brandon Braley's basket went in, and it was 42-41 Ellsworth. The lead was 45-41 with 3:41 left after Mahon's basket went in, giving him 22 points for the game. The 3rd Quarter ended with Ellsworth up top 50-48.

With 7:28 left in the 4th Quarter, Washington Academy regained the lead 51-50 after Andrew Farnsworth hit his 2nd 3 pointer of the game.  Mahon answered with his own 3 for Ellsworth with 6:50 left and Ellsworth was back on top 53-51. With 6:32 left Schoppee tied the scored going 2-2 from the free throw line and it was 53-53. With 6:06 left Varney hit a 2 and WA ledt 55-53. It was 57-53 after Andrew Farnsworth basket went in, giving him ten for the night. With 4:16 left Mahon went 2-2 from the free throw line, and WA was up 57-55. WA led 59-55 after Varney nailed a two with 3:06 left. But then Bruce St. Peter scored consecutive baskets and with 2:12 left, the score was tied 59-59. It was WA up top 62-59 after Feeney went 1-2 from the free throw line, and Ellsworth's Griffin Nightingale brought Ellsworth to within one point after going 2-2 from the free throw line with 21.2 seconds left and WA led 62-61. With 15.1 seconds left WA's Jacob Schoppe went 1-2 from the line and WA was up 63-61 but Ellsworth's Jeff Weeks scored his lone 2 points of the night with 1.9 second left putting the game into overtime, tied 63-63.

In the overtime, Washington Academy outscored Ellsworth 11-3. Gage Feeney had 6 points in overtime, Rick Raye had 2 and Fred MacLean went 3-4 from the free throw line. For Ellsworth, Nightingale went 1-2 from the free throw line and Mahon scored a basket. Final score was Washington Academy 74- Ellsworth 66.

Ellsworth is now 3-6 on the season, and next plays at home against Foxcroft Academy on Tuesday, January 15th. Washington Academy is 3-6 on the season and next plays Saturday, January 12th in Presque Isle against the Presque Isle Wildcats.

Box Score

Washington Academy

Ellsworth