AUGUSTA — Monmouth had two big problems in Monday’s Western Class C boys’ quarterfinal against Old Orchard Beach.

One was 6-foot-7 and named Nate Dow. The other, 6-foot-2 with a startling spring in his jump, and answers to Rajheem Lang.

Disciplined, determined half-court basketball worked wonders for the No. 6 Mustangs all year long. Tough to pull it off under the bright lights at Augusta Civic Center, though, especially when you’re dwarfed not only in the low post but at every other position.

Big and experienced No. 3 OOB cruised to a 62-42 victory.

“Even Jeremy Ashlock (5-foot-8) was outsized by Andrew Fleury (5-foot-9). They were definitely big, and athletic at every position,” Monmouth coach Lucas Turner said. “We needed to kind of play the perfect game on the defensive end — one and done, box out — and we didn’t do that in the third quarter.”

Monmouth (12-7) saw its 26-18 halftime deficit grow to 43-27 in those eight minutes.

The Seagulls also flaunted 6-4 Jason Dutton and 6-2 wide body Quincy Grace in the paint. And if that wasn’t enough, OOB’s starting backcourt was dynamite in transition and from 3-point range.

Fleury, a junior, led all scorers with 16 points to go with four steals and three assists. Senior co-captain Ryan Gallant conducted the Seagulls’ offense to the tune of 14 points and six assists.

“I guess they were just going in today,” Gallant said. “We practiced and had a shoot around for about half an hour this morning. I think that helped.”

OOB advanced to the semifinals for the second straight year, drawing No. 2 Boothbay at 7 p.m. Thursday.

The Seagulls shot 53 percent from the floor while forcing 20 Monmouth turnovers and rarely allowing second chances under the glass.

Despite picking up two fouls in the first 64 seconds and being saddled with his third and fourth infractions early in the second half, Dow finished with 10 points.

Lang picked up the slack with 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Dutton, while scoreless, chalked up five boards.

“That’s exactly what (Coach John Regan) told us in the locker room: To look for them, because there was no one that could match our size,” Gallant said. “We knew they didn’t have anybody as tall as our guys.”

Robby Neal, the Mustangs’ second-tallest starter at 6-2, led Monmouth with 14 points.

OOB held Tim Whitmore, the MVC South player of the year, to eight points.

“We knew he was the kid who they wanted the ball in his hands,” Regan said. “He’s their shooter, so we really got up on him. I feel pretty good holding that kid to eight.”

Neal scored the first point of the game at the free-throw line before Fleury and Gallant strung together seven straight for the Seagulls.

Monmouth responded with its own 7-0 run — a Whitmore 3-pointer sandwiched between Roger Bachelder and Brandon Goff hoops — to grab its last lead at 10-9.

Anthony Langella-Laws’ layup restored OOB’s edge at the end of one.

Fleury and Gallant each rained down a 3-pointer in the second quarter to complement Dow’s six points and stake the Seagulls to a 26-18 advantage.

The Mustangs enjoyed little success denying the ball from Lang, Dow and Grace thereafter. Most OOB layups in the second half were relatively uncontested.

“Third quarter, I don’t know if it was legs or execution, we just weren’t getting over there,“ Turner said. “When they were missing the initial one, we weren’t getting the defensive rebound. It went from 7 to 14 to 20.

“We play well when we’re either ahead or within six or eight. Once we get down 10, we’re not really a full-court pressure team. We’re more of a half-court trap and one-and-done and then run our half-court offense.”

Monmouth, which lost its third straight game to end the season, was making its first Western C quarterfinal appearance since 1977.

koakes@sunjournal.com

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