For what might be its swan song in Class B, Falmouth boys’ basketball flaunted a team that could have been part of the championship conversation in Class A.
The Yachtsmen exploded to a double-digit lead in the first five minutes Friday night and cruised to a 62-39 win over Medomak Valley, walking away from Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland with its second state title in four years.
Falmouth (21-1), which also won five Class C championships between 1986 and 1999, will advance to Class A in 2013-14 under its current enrollment if the next two-year Maine Principals’ Association reclassification proposal is approved in the spring.
Sophomore Jack Simonds scored 15 of his game-high 21 points in the first half for the Yachtsmen. He was 10-for-11 from the floor. No other player for balanced Falmouth topped 20 in this year’s tournament.
“I think I missed the first (shot). I was kind of nervous,” Simonds said.
Tom Wilberg added 15 points, seven from the free-throw line. Freshman Thomas Coyne collected 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter.
“It’s great to be able to get your stops and push the lead early, because it sets you up for the rest of the game,” Wilberg said.
John Murray, a 6-foot-8 senior center, led Medomak (19-3) with 11 points. Micah Williamson added nine and Ryan Ripley eight.
Medomak was playing for its first Class B championship since 1980.
Falmouth raced to a 17-5 lead. All seven of Grant Burfeind’s points came in the first quarter.
Burfeind and Simonds each chipped in a 3-pointer as Falmouth’s lead inflated to 26-15 after eight minutes.
“We got off to a great offensive start,” Falmouth coach Dave Halligan said. “Some of the things we worked on in practice worked for us early on, and they got us into the flow of the game.”
Simonds and Wilberg combined for all 12 Falmouth points in the second period. The Yachtsmen held the Panthers to three field goals and extended the advantage to 38-24.
“That’s the way we’re successful on this team is sharing the ball,” Wilberg said. “We don’t care who scores.”
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