Newport, Me--- Ethan Pearl hit a go ahead free throw with 3.8 seconds remaining in overtime to lift the Nokomis Warriors boys basketball team to a 50-49 preliminary round victory over the Waterville Panthers on Wednesday evening.
The Warriors shot 5-14 from the free throw line for the game including 3-8 in overtime. Pearl shot 4-9 from the line. Pearl was given the final opportunity when J.P. Michaud fouled him 48 feet from the basket with the game tied. Pearl missed the first. He sank the second just like he was on the green on the 18th hole.
"I just kept telling myself, it is like a putt on the 18 for the win," Pearl said. "I guess I was missing a bunch of three footers. I made one and it got us the win."
The Warriors advanced to the Bangor Auditorium for the second consecutive year. Nokomis lost a overtime thriller to Ellsworth in the quarterfinals last year.
The Warriors will play the first game of the 2012 basketball tournament at the Bangor Auditorium. They will tip off against Gardiner at 5 PM on Friday, February 17th.
Nokomis faced Gardiner on January 20th at Newport. Gardiner overcame a six point halftime deficit to earn a 68-50 victory.
"We had the lead at the half. We lost control of (Jake) Palmer. That was the difference in the game. I think we can play with them. They (Gardiner) are a very good team," Nokomis coach Carl Parker said. "We are excited to be back in Bangor for the second year in a row. I am not sure many thought we would be back."
Pearl added, "We were up six at halftime (VS Gardiner). We came out flat. They came out with more intensity and they just beat us in the second half. It will be a good battle at the Auditorium."
Pearl led the Warriors with 19 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals. Andrew Cartwright finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Ruel Libby chipped in with seven points, four steals, three rebounds and three assists.
Chris Hale led the Panthers with 17 points, six rebounds and two steals. Michaud finished with nine points and 12 rebounds. Jordan DeRosby chipped in with seven points. Maxwell Brown recorded six points, four rebounds Josh Gormley finished with five points, seven steals, four rebounds and two assists. Waterville finishes the season with a 10-9 record.
1 2 3 4 OT Tot
Nokomis 13,11,10,9, 7, 50
Waterville 11, 9, 9, 14, 6, 49
Team Stats
Field Goals- Nokomis- 20-52 (38.5) Waterville- 17-50 (34.0)
2 PT FG- Nokomis- 15-38 (39.5) Waterville- 16-44 (36.4)
3 PT FG- Nokomis- 5-14 (35.7) Waterville- 1-6 (16.7)
Free Throws- Nokomis- 5-13 (38.5) Waterville- 14-23 (60.9)
Rebounds- Nokomis- 29 (Pearl 11) Waterville- 33 (Michaud 12)
Assists- Nokomis- 10 (Pearl 4) Waterville- 7 (Brown, Gormley 2)
Steals- Nokomis- 10 (Libby 4) Waterville- 12 (Gormley 7)
Blocks- Nokomis- 2 (A. Cartwright 2) Waterville- 1 (Michaud 1)
Turnovers- Nokomis- 19 Waterville- 22
Scoring
Nokomis (50)
Pearl- 19
Cartwright- 15
Libby- 7
Wing- 5
Hartsgrove- 4
Waterville- (49)
Hale- 17
Michaud- 9
DeRosby- 7
Brown- 6
Gormley- 5
Braley- 3
Bailey- 2
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