Cheverus annihilates first ranked Gorham
On Tuesday evening the Cheverus Stags beat the Gorham Rams 51-37.
Halfway into the season the Gorham Rams (8-0) have managed to win every single game on their schedule, putting them at first place in AA South. This team typically scores well above sixty points and holds their opponents in the low fifties.
Senior guards Gabe Michaud and Ashton Leclerc have been leading the Rams in scoring. During their last game against second ranked Scarborough (7-2), Michaud racked up 25 points while teammate Leclerc was only two behind with 23 points.
Ranked second in AA North, the Cheverus Stags (7-2) are on a two game win streak after losing to first ranked Windham (8-0) in overtime. Similarly, Cheverus usually scores around the sixties. But, holding their opponents to a lower score seems to be a struggle early this season.
Recently, Sophomore forward Jameson Fitzpatrick has been dominating the block, scoring around eight points per game. Then, of course, there are the three guards that give this team a leg up on offense; Juniors Leo McNabb and Sammy Nzeyimana and Senior Gio St.Onge.
From the get go the Stags had an edge against the Rams. McNabb penetrated the defense several times in the first half scoring deuces in the paint. Nzeyimana drained a triple from the top of the arch three minutes in, advancing Cheverus’ lead 7-0.
Gorham struggled with offensive fouls and scoring, until Leclerc took control. With two minutes left, he drove and got fouled on the way up. Scoring both foul shots Leclerc successfully put the Rams on the board.
Just as Gorham was getting into the rhythm of the game Leclerc went in for another layup in the last thirty seconds. Luckily, Freshman guard Nicola Plalum stood sturdy on the block to waver the shot. Cheverus led 14-2 at the end of the first.
Somehow this matchup turned into an endurance test.
Both teams struggled with scoring early in the second quarter, causing them to chase each other from basket to basket as they aggressively drove to the paint. Finally someone put the race to an end; Junior forward Griffin Gammon was fouled on the block with two minutes to go, scoring one bonus he cut the Stags lead nine.
But, with ten seconds left in the half Cheverus was yearning to dispirit Gorham before halftime. Rocco Depatsy, a Junior forward, made an old-fashioned three-point play. With that, the Stags led 24-11 at the half.
The Rams and the Stags emerged from halftime with scoring on their mind. Double teamed on the three-point line, Nzeyimana lofted the ball to Fitzpatrick. He made a drop-step move to put two on the board one minute in for the Stags.
Michaud hit a three for the Rams from the corner at five minutes after collecting two o-board rebounds in the same possession. Just thirty seconds later, Senior guard Caden Smith made a contested three-pointer and was fouled. He made the free throw cutting the Stags lead to eight.
With thirty seconds left in the third, Plalum hit a baseline three sticking the dagger in Gorham, making the score 38-24 heading into the final quarter.
Gorham started to put more pressure on Cheverus defensively, sort of testing the referees on how much shoving they could get away with underneath. This caused many turnovers for the Stags and many chances for the Rams to get ahead, but they did not capitalize.
However, the Stags did persevere. Playing through contact, Nzeyimana scored a layup with five minutes left making the score 40-29. McNabb drained his bonus free throws alerting the gymnasium that the game was over.
The Cheverus Stags took the win with a final score of 51-37.
Both teams compete again this Friday, January 12th. Cheverus will play at Edward Little (3-6) while Gorham will face Deering (4-5) at home.
