AUBURN — Edward Little High School scored the first 13 points of the game Saturday night. Later, during a stretch that bridged the third and fourth quarters, the Red Eddies’ Yusuf Iman erupted for 12 in a row by himself.

All of which meant it didn’t really matter what Cony did for the remainder of the evening. And EL controlled most of those minutes, too, in a convincing 70-49 Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference boys’ basketball victory.

Iman’s explosion included a steal and breakaway dunk in the opening minute of the fourth period. The senior point guard finished with 23 points, seven assists and four thefts.

Brandon Giguere added 10 points for the Red Eddies (8-2).

James Philbrook, rounding back into all-conference form after a toe injury suffered in EL’s season opener at Cony, scored seven of his nine points in the first half and dominated the paint to the tune of 21 rebounds.

“That’s well-deserved,” EL coach Mike Adams said of Philbrook’s breakout game. “He’s an all-conference player who hasn’t had the chance to play that way. It was good to see him be able to jump again and use his athleticism.”

As for everybody else?

“Those kind of games don’t happen very often,” Adams added, “but it’s fun when they do.”

If the win were a whodunnit movie, Iman’s 3-pointer from the right corner six seconds after the opening tap was classic foreshadowing.

That and Cony’s 0-for-8 start triggered EL’s running game and opened the floodgates underneath the basket. Iman, Bo Leary and Philbrook each drained two free throws during the opening run.

Giguere chimed in with a put-back. Philbrook also delivered a deuce after three consecutive offensive rebounds and a feed from Tim Mains.

“When we get the big guys involved, that opens it up for the guards,” Iman said.

Cody Nicholas demonstrated that concept after a brief, six-point Cony surge, nailing twin 3-pointers from the left wing and staking EL to a 20-8 lead at quarter’s end.

Nicholas found Mains for a 3-pointer early in the second period, then nailed his third late as EL coasted into the locker room with a 34-21 edge.

EL limited Cony to 8-for-31 (26 percent) shooting in the first half, and one-and-done was the rule. Philbrook’s 16 boards prior to the break nearly matched Cony’s team total of 17.

“They’re a better team. Bigger, faster, stronger and more basketball players,” said Cony coach Tim Bonsant. “And they couldn’t miss. It just wasn’t going to be our night. They defended very well, and they’re bigger and longer at every position.”

Ryan Minoty led Cony with 14 points. Brandon Kieltyka added 13.

Giguere and Philbrook combined for the first six points of the second half to make it a 19-point advantage. Cony (5-5) never nudged closer than 14 thereafter.

After an eight-point outburst by the Rams’ 6-foot-6 center Charlie Partridge late in the third, Iman turned out the lights with three 3-pointers and three drives to the hoop, including the jam.

Philbrook, Iman and Leary all were hampered at times through the first half of the schedule. But the continued emergence of first-year starters Giguere and Mains and sixth man Nicholas gives the defending Eastern Class A champion Eddies the look of a developing contender once again.

“Cody Nicholas hitting those big, early 3s — that’s exactly what he’s capable of,” Iman said. “We’ve had people out of the lineup and we keep having people step up. That shows how deep we are.”

EL hits the road to Morse, Brunswick and Brewer next week. One of the Eddies’ defeats was a one-point home loss to unbeaten Brunswick.

“We want to keep improving,” said Iman. “This is not where we want to peak.”

koakes@sunjournal.com 

« Previous

Page 2: Sprinter's paradise

Next »

Boys' roundup: Oxford Hills edges Morse in 2OT