HAMPDEN, Maine — The Mt. Blue High School Cougars from Farmington came into Tuesday night’s Class A showdown at Hampden Academy averaging 69.7 points per game through their first three contests, all wins.
But the Broncos had given up only 42 per game in their two previous games and their stifling man-to-man defense limited Mt. Blue to only 30 points and a 26.1 percent shooting performance from the floor as the Broncos triumphed 45-30 in a battle of Class A North contenders.
Mt. Blue shot 17.6 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.
The Broncos improved to 2-1 while Mt. Blue is now 3-1.
“We really had to lock in, defensively,” said Hampden Academy 6-foot-6 junior forward Liam Henaghen. “They run a lot of action so we had to make sure we talked defensively and got out on their shooters and I think we did a really good job of that tonight.”
Henaghen held Mt. Blue 6-foot-3 senior forward Nolan Leso to just two points which is 14 below his average.
“Henaghen’s size really bothered (Leso),” said Mt. Blue coach Troy Norton. “(Leso) is a tough player and he can get to the rim on almost anyone but today was the one he couldn’t.”
“Our ball pressure was really good tonight,” said HA coach Russ Bartlett. “Miles Shain’s defense was phenomenal. And he gave us a nice jolt in the second half, offensively.”
Junior guard Shain scored all 11 of his points in the second half including five in a 10-2 run in the third period that gave the Broncos their biggest lead of the game at 27-16.
The Cougars couldn’t get any closer than nine the rest of the game.
“Our coach said we needed to go into the corners more when we’re on the wing against their 2-3 zone. I was able to hit a couple of shots, penetrate and get to the foul line and make (my free throws),” said Shain.
Leading 17-14, Shain began the 10-2 spurt with a 15-foot jumper from the left elbow before Aidan Kochendoerfer hit a short fall-away jumper.
After Mt. Blue’s Tyler Abell converted with a nifty move to the rim, Kochendoerfer fed Shain in the corner for a three and then Kochendoerfer passed to Sawyer Worcester for a three from the top of the key to cap the rally.
Shain eventually sewed up the win with four free throws to make it 39-26 with 2:01 left in the game.
“Defense is our hallmark. We take pride in it, and usually we can score just enough to be in the game, but tonight we couldn’t do it,” said Norton. “But you have to hand it to them. Their defense was outstanding.
“We knew we could hold them in the 40s but we just didn’t execute (offensively). When we got a good shot, we couldn’t make them,” added Norton. “Their physicality definitely hurt us.”
Senior guard Kochendoerfer led the Broncos with 12 points, five assists and five rebounds. Shain had three rebounds and two steals to go with his 11 points and junior guard Sawyer Worcester contributed 10 points and two assists.
Liam Henaghen produced six points, eight rebounds, two blocked shots and two steals and senior brother Andy Henaghen had six points, 12 rebounds and two assists.
Senior forward Abell had a game-high 14 points for the Cougars and he also corralled six rebounds. Senior guard Carter Norton notched 10 points and dished out two assists.
Leso had 10 rebounds and five steals and freshman forward Evan Drake hauled in nine rebounds to go with a basket.
The Broncos took a lead they would never relinquish with a 10-3 run spanning the first and second quarters.
Kochendoerfer had four points and an assist in the run.
The game was 15-12 at the half before HA broke it open in the third period.
Both teams will return to action on Thursday.
Hampden Academy will travel to Rockport for a 7 p.m. game against Camden Hills while Mt. Blue will host Nokomis of Newport at 6:30.
