The Patriots outscore Hampden Academy 21-10 in the third quarter en route to a 52-41 victory and the Class A championship.
|Steve Craig, Portland Press Herald|
Gray-New Gloucester turned up the defense in the third quarter, got its running game going and then survived cold-shooting fourth quarter to win its first boys’ basketball state championship in nearly 50 years, beating Hampden Academy, 52-41, Saturday afternoon at Cross Insurance Arena.
The Heberts, all seniors, got things going for the Patriots in a 21-10 third quarter. Nate Hebert hit a turnaround and scored nine points in the period. Noah Hebert added five points and took the challenge of playing Hampden’s star player Zach McLaughlin. McLaughlin was held to 10 points, just two in the second half. Aidan Hebert, Noah’s twin brother, added his first bucket of the game.
Gray did not make a shot from the floor in the fourth quarter but made 9 of 10 free throws to keep Hampden at bay, including a clutch par by Nate Hebert (uncle to the other Heberts) with 2:30 to play after Hampden had cut a the lead to five points, 46-41.
Gray-New Gloucester (20-2) was playing in its first boys’ basketball championship game since winning the Class C title in 1975. Nate Hebert led the scoring with 21 points. Carter Libby contributed nine key points. John Patenaude also scored nine points, Noah Hebert had eight and Aidan Hebert finished with five.
Hampden Academy (19-3) was in its ninth Class A final since Russ Bartlett took over as coach in 2004, winning four championships including the 2020 title against York. Read more
