CUMBERLAND — Not many players on the court Tuesday night for Greely performed in that capacity a year ago, when Poland sprang a comeback and an upset for the ages in the Class B West boys’ basketball championship.

That didn’t stop the Rangers from desiring revenge any less passionately, or achieving it any less decisively.

Sophomore Jordan Bagshaw hit five of Greely’s nine 3–pointers, all in the second half, and scored 19 points to steer No. 7 Greely past No. 10 Poland, 64-44, in a preliminary-round game.

“A lot of credit to them, because they obviously wanted us,” Poland coach Tyler Tracy said. “The tournament brings out the best in some people, and they had some kids today that showed their best.”

Greely jumped out to a 7-0 lead, never trailed, and Poland couldn’t whittle its deficit below double digits after trailing 30-17 at the half.

Aside from Bagshaw’s barrage, the Rangers were remarkably balanced.

Jordan Tebbs, one of only two seniors in the Greely starting lineup, added 10 points. Caleb Normandeau notched nine. Calvin Soule and Matt McDevitt added eight apiece, with McDevitt chalking uip nine rebounds, seven blocked shots and four assists. Gabe Axelson, the Rangers’ other senior, coupled six points with 11 assists.

Greely (10-9) will take on No. 2 Cape Elizabeth in Saturday’s quarterfinals at Portland Expo.

“We played well, and it’s no secret when you shoot well, things are easy for you,” Greely coach Travis Seaver said. “We had a mindset of where we wanted to get the ball, and I thought the kids did a good job getting it where it needed to be.”

The Rangers were just above percent at 24-for-47 in the game, including 12-for-18 to start the second half before both teams cleared their benches.

Junior John Fossett led the Knights (8-11) with 19 points. Derek Michaud and Alan Young, playing in their final game for Poland, added 10 each. Young and Fossett both tore down nine rebounds.

“They did a good job early taking away what we do well,” Tracy said. “It took us a while to get into a flow. Then we finally did, we couldn’t get stops. Then we when got stops, we couldn’t buy a basket. We had possessions where we just couldn’t finish. The ball went halfway in and out.”

Greely’s offensive patience and Poland’s rushed possessions made it a shutout for the first four minutes. Tebbs sandwiched two free throws and an 8-foot jumper around a Soule 3-pointer.

Soule hit another from beyond the arc before departing with his second foul. Bagshaw foreshadowed his later success with four points off the bench in the period, the second bucket coming in transition off his own steal.

“Between Young and Fossett, our guys did a good job team defensively on them, taking away the perimeter,” Seaver said. “We did a good job taking away transition, and our turnovers that we had didn’t lead to positions that we couldn’t defend.”

Fossett’s 3-point play kept Poland within seven, 15-8, after one.

Greely christened the second quarter with a 9-2 run, highlighted by two more Tebbs buckets down low and a deep 3-pointer by Normandeau.

Young and Fossett combined for all nine Poland points in the period, but the Knights were undone by 3-for-14 shooting. Axelson found Ryan Twitchell and McDevitt for baskets in the final two minutes to make the lead a baker’s dozen at the break.

Poland had its best chance to rally when it held Greely to one field goal in the first five minutes of the second half, but the Knights only produced three points in the same span.

Bagshaw hit his five treys in a span of just over six minutes, the final four in succession from an identical, relatively uncontested vantage point in the right corner.

“We were back on our heels and we had to try different defenses,” Tracy said. “We really were in a no-win situation. They’re very disciplined. We weren’t going to get back in the game sitting back there and letting them pass it and run time down. They got looks and knocked them down, every single one of them.”

Zack Lowe and Adam Mocciola also will graduate after leading Poland to unprecedented tournament glory.

The Knights used an early-season upset of Class A title contender Falmouth to fuel the encore playoff run.

“That’s the hardest part. It’s not always losing, but it’s losing them,” Tracy said. “I know they’re going to be successful. I know they’re going to do great things, but I won’t get to see them every day.”

koakes@sunjournal.com

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