(Concord, N.H.)- No 2. University of Maine at Fort Kent has advanced to
the championship game of the 2009 Sunrise Conference men's basketball
championship beating the University of Maine at Machias Saturday night
at New Hampshire Technical Institute. The Bengals will play top-seeded
Fisher College who beat the College of St. Joseph in the other
semifinal.he Bengals took a 33-26 lead at halftime after holding the
Clippers to just 30 percent shooting from the field in the first 20
minutes. Both teams had trouble holding on to the ball as they
combined for 25 turnovers in the first half.
After the teams traded three-point baskets in the first minute
of play, Fort Kent held a six-point lead for the next four minutes.
The Bengals stretched the lead to 11 at 44-33 following a three-point
play from Othniel Hyliger and a 3-pointer from Jimmy Lopez. Alan
Campbell then got into the act for the Bengals and scored seven points
sandwiched around a long jumper from Adam Mauro for Machias. Campbell
worked his way inside for two baskets and also hit a three during that
stretch and the lead was pushed to 16 points.
Both teams traded baskets over the final five minutes but the
Clippers couldn't get over the hump and cut the lead to single digits.
Hyliger punctuated the win for the Bengals going coast-to-coast and
throwing down a one-handed jam with a minute left in regulation.
Brandon Fox led the Bengals with 22 points and 12 rebounds for his
fifth double-double of the year. Hamill Bassue added 15 points, six
rebounds and three steals. Jimmy Lopez canned three 3-pointers and had
13 points and Campbell finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Zach Armstrong had 17 points and six rebounds to guide the
Clippers. Adam Mauro added 12 points and Eric Righter contributed
seven points and eight rebounds.