MDI Boys Defeat Ellsworth 58-52

Anytime Ellsworth and MDI play a game, regardless of the sport, you can throw away the records, and know that those on the floor, field or diamond are going to give it their all. This is high school rivalry at it's best. Saturday night's game at Ellsworth's Katsiaficas Gymnasium was the perfect example, and it was a great evenly played game, until MDI won 58-52.

MDI jumped out to an early lead and led 7-1 before Ellsworth came back and Ellsworth tied the score at the buzzer thanks to a Griffin Nightingale 3-pointer. In the 1st Quarter Alex Braley, Nightingale and Kyle Golding all drained long 3-pointers for the Eagles. MDI was led by Abe Philbrook with 5 points including a 3-pointer, and Jon Phelps and Andrew Davis each scored 4 points for MDI and after the 1st Quarter the score was tied at 15-15.

The score would remain tied at the end of the 1st Half 25-25. Phelps had 4 points in the 2nd Quarter and Ellsworth would get 2 more 3-pointers from Nightingale and Bryce Harmon. Through the 1st Half,Ellsworth made 5 3-pointers.

In the 3rd Quarter, with 5:48 left, Ellsworth would get it's first lead of the night when Bruce St. Peter's 2 put Ellsworth up 27-26, but Phelps and Philbrook's 3 pointers put MDI back in the lead, a lead they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the game. MDI outscored Ellsworth 13-9 in the 3rd Quarter to take a 38-34 lead at the end of the 3rd Quarter.

In the 4th Quarter the score was 53-47 MDI when freshman Riley Swanson was fouled and calmly sank both free throws for the Trojans, to make the score 55-47 MDI with 50 seconds remaining. Nick Bagley of Ellsworth answered with a 3-pointer to bring Ellsworth withing 5 points, 55-50 with 30.0 seconds remaining. Phelps then went 2-2 from the free throw line and Steven Hanscom went 1-2 from the free throw line and with 16.8 seconds left in the game 58-50. Abe Philbrook fouled out as Steven Mahon scored for Ellsworth with 5.2 seconds left, to make it 58-52 but Mahon missed the free throw, and MDI came away with the 58-52 victory.

MDI was led by Jon Phelps with a game high 21 points including 1 3-pointer. Abe Philbrook had 13 including 2 3-pointers, and Andrew Davis had 11 points. MDI was 15-25 from the free throw line, going 10-18 in the 4th Quarter.

Ellsworth was led by Griffin Nightingale with 14 points coming off the bench. Nightingale, Brandon Braley and Nick Bagley all had 2 3-pointers for Ellsworth. Alex Braley, Bryce Harmon and Kyle Golding all had 1 3-pointer, as Ellsworth hit 9 3-'s during the game. Ellsworth was 3-10 from the free throw line.

With the victory MDI improves to 6-2 on the season while Ellsworth falls to 4-3. MDI is scheduled to play Washington Academy at home on Monday, January 6th and  at Old Town on Wednesday January 8th this week. Both of these game will be heard on WDEA AM 1370. Ellsworth is scheduled to play at Calais on Wednesday January 6th and then at Sumner on Friday, January 10th. The Ellsworth-Sumner game will be heard on WDEA AM 1370.

To see more pictures from Walter Churchill click HERE

To see more pictures from Michelle Mahon click HERE

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Box Score

MDI

Ellsworth

Heal Point Standings