| |  | | | |  | | THE PROSPECT MOUNTAIN hoop boys pose with the plaque after winning the Lakes Region Holiday Hoop Tournament. Front row (l to r), Logan LaRoche, Nate Farnham, Ethan Henderson, David Troy and Travis Podmore. Back row (l to r), Sean Perkins, Logan Roberts, Zach Robertson, Aleix de Bofarull, Austin Perrin, Jay Mousseau and Matt Joy. Joshua Spaulding. (click for larger version) |
January 07, 2013 GILFORD — The Prospect Mountain hoop boys entered the finals of the Lakes Region Holiday Hoop Tournament looking to defend their title, while the Gilford hoop boys entered the game looking to keep their perfect season record intact.
With a strong night on both sides of the court, the Prospect boys prevailed in the Lakes Region Holiday Hoop Tournament title game, earning a 66-46 victory to take home the title for the second year in a row.
"Defense and turnovers were our focus," Prospect coach Tom Bourdeau said after the game. "All in all, it was a good tournament and it was good to defend the title."
"We didn't create very good shots and when we did get the ball in position, we missed," said Gilford coach Chip Veazey. "We didn't move very well without the ball and we stood around a lot."
Gilford entered with a 4-0 regular season record and a 2-0 record in the tournament, so Bourdeau was interested to see where his team stacked up against the Golden Eagles.
"I fully expected their best effort tonight," Bourdeau said of the Golden Eagles. "Coming in this was a statement game for Gilford."
"We've gone for stretches where we haven't scored this year and that costs us against this team," Veazey added.
Prospect built an 8-2 lead out of the gate, only to see the Golden Eagles cut the lead to three late in the quarter. Prospect got points from five different players in the frame, with Logan LaRoche, Jay Mousseau, Nate Farnham and Austin Perrin all putting in buckets and Zach Robertson hitting free throws, but Max Troiano was strong for Gilford, putting in six points in the frame. His second field goal of the game cut the lead to 14-11, but a Perrin bucket made it 16-11 after one. Josh Joyce chipped in with a three-pointer for Gilford in the frame and Sam Prescott also got on the board with a hoop.
Perrin opened the second quarter with a bucket that was answered right away by David Sykie. After another Perrin hoop and one from Mousseau, Kaleb Orton hit a pair from the line. Prospect's Logan Roberts, who was named tournament MVP for his work, hit a hoop and two free throws to up Prospect's lead to 26-15.
Prescott scored again for the hosts, but the Timber Wolves answered with hoops from Robertson and Mousseau for a 30-17 lead. Joyce drained a free throw, but LaRoche answered with a bucket to push Prospect to a 32-18 lead before Orton hit a pair from the line and a field goal to cut the lead back to 10. After a Robertson three pushed the lead to 35-22, Kyle Gaudet hit one from the stripe for Gilford to close out the half, with Prospect taking a 35-23 lead to the break.
Hoops from Farnham and Roberts got Prospect off and running in the third before Prescott scored for the hosts. After a Perrin free throw, Jack Athanas hit for Gilford to make it 40-27. Prospect then went on a 9-0 run, with Perrin hitting a three and two free throws and Mousseau and LaRoche each hitting buckets. A Joyce hoop stopped the run, but Prospect went on a 6-0 run immediately after, with LaRoche hitting four from the line and Perrin hitting a bucket for a 55-29 lead. Troiano sank a free throw and a three-pointer to close out the third, but Gilford still trailed 55-33.
The fourth quarter featured plenty of free throws, with each side getting numerous trips to the line. LaRoche, Roberts and Travis Podmore hit from the stripe for Prospect, while Joyce, Prescott and Matt Saulnier hit for Gilford. Perrin, LaRoche and Roberts all had field goals for the Timber Wolves and Prescott, Sykie and MacKenzie Meyers had field goals for Gilford, while Troiano added a three-pointer.
Bourdeau stated that keeping turnovers to a minimum and focusing on defense was key for his squad, but offensively, they didn't come in with any goals. However, the team treated the game like the championship that it was.
"We had a shootaround before the game," the Prospect coach said. "I don't care if it's a rec league game, it's a championship game and we'll treat it as a championship."
His team's goal at the break was to not let Gilford climb back into the game and he noted his team succeeded in that.
"At the half, I said we don't want to let them back in, so forget the score and win this quarter," Bourdeau said. "We can't get in a lull, we have to keep kids on their toes."
Veazey noted his team didn't do a great job of defending against Prospect's big frontcourt.
"It's tough when you stand behind them, which we did most of the game," Veazey said. "When you let them get the ball down that low, it's tough."
He also pointed out his team missed plenty of shots, which is bound to cost any team against a solid squad like the Timber Wolves.
"I thought we did have some good fast break opportunities, but there were times we could've done a better job getting back on defense," Veazey said.
He praised the work of Troiano, Orton, Cam Patridge and Joyce during the tournament.
Perrin finished with 18 points and LaRoche added 17. Mousseau chipped in with 10 and Roberts added nine. Troiano led Gilford with 13 points, while Prescott had 10 and Orton had eight.
Orton, Joyce, Mousseau and Roberts were all named to the All-Tournament First Team.
Joshua Spaulding can be reached at sportsgsn@salmonpress.com or 569-3126
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