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By Mike Violette
At times during the 24-25 season, scoring and shooting has been a problem for the Hampden Academy Broncos. HA was on the lower side of scoring in Class A North all year, averaging 49.9 ppg. Not terrible but not great either. Well, even so.., they parlayed some rock solid, jailhouse defense to overcome some offensive challenges and finished the season as the 2 seed in Class A North. Well, Wednesday night at the Augusta Civic Center, the Broncos had an offensive awakening shooting a robust (for them) 47 % from the floor and beat the #3 Brewer Witches, 52-44. Hampden Academy won this game in the first half, running out to a 10-4 lead after the 1st quarter then outscoring Brewer 12-5 in the second. Impressive freshman, Oli Higgins had a nice drive to the hole to score early on to make it 4-2 Brewer but that was the last time the Witches would lead all night long. A Sawyer Worcester 3 pointer followed by 2 Andy Henaghan lay ups and suddenly Hampden Academy was up 17-4 and looking like they were going to run away and hide.
They didn’t run away and hide but they didn’t really have to. Oli Higgins fed Owen Fullerton on a pretty feed for a lay up then the young freshman Higgins hit a driving leaner and threw down a dunk to chip the Hampden Academy lead down to 6 going to the 4th quarter. Brewer had their best quarter of the game in the 3rd, outscoring HA 17-10. The teams pretty much matched baskets in the 4th quarter and Brewer couldn’t afford to do that. They needed stops and they didn’t get them because HA shot the lights out.., for them. The Broncos 12 for 23 from 2 and 4 of 11 from distance. For those of you without a calculator or abacus, that’s 52 % from 2 point land and 36 % from international waters. A combined 47 % from the floor combined with HA’s rock solid defense and you add the two together and you get VICTORY!
Aiden Kochendoerfer let HA with 19 points, 5 boards and 3 assists. Sawyer Worcester had 12 and Miles Shain had 10. Owen Fullerton had 13 for Brewer and Charlie Brydges had 12.
Next up for Hampden Academy? A date with #1 Messalonskee in the regional title game. I’ll tell you what. If the Broncos shoot like they did in this game again.., they’ll be tough to beat.
