AUGUSTA — Just four years ago, the Augusta Civic Center was the site of the most bitter defeat in Calais boys’ basketball history. Saturday night, it housed their sweetest victory.
Calais won its first state championship in school history with a 56-49 victory over Winthrop.
The Blue Devils lost the Class C state title to Jay in 2002 at the ACC on a controversial last-second call, but Adam Knowles made sure it didn’t come down to that by hitting back-to-back jumpers in the span of 20 seconds to give Calais (22-0) the lead for good with just under two minutes left.
“I just love that kid,” said Calais coach Ed Leeman. “He loves the game, and I couldn’t be more happy for a kid that’s played for me to have the outcome he’s had here tonight.”
Knowles finished with 18 points, while Chris Taylor added 14 and Brandon Tomah 12 for Calais. Nate Damm poured in 17 for Winthrop, while Tyler Smithgall added 14 points and 15 rebounds.
Winthrop (18-4) was held to just one inconsequential field goal in the final two minutes, in part because they lost sophomore point guard to his fifth foul with 3:42 to go.
“We didn’t make good decisions in the last three minutes,” Winthrop coach Dennis Dacus said. “We were firing up 3-pointers and there was no flow to the offense. Sammy’s our floor general out there, plus he keeps us mentally intact.”
After Leclerc fouled out, the teams exchanged hoops furiously over a 90 second span that included to three ties before Knowles drilled a jumper from right of the key with 1:56 left that sent Calais on its way.
“That Knowles kid stepped up. It comes down to hitting shots at the end and we didn’t hit them,” Dacus said.
Both teams came in with a running pedigree, but thanks to poor shooting and 11 first half turnovers by the Ramblers, the Blue Devils were the only ones able to hit the gas pedal in the early stages. Winthrop missed 12 of its first 15 shots, while Calais started the game with Knowles attacking the basket to take a 13-6 lead after one.
“They came out a little more aggressive than we thought they were going to, a little more physical than we thought they were,” said Winthrop coach Dennis Dacus.
Calais led by 12 at the half but started the third quarter the way Winthrop started the game, sloppily. The Ramblers tallied the first six points of the half and pulled to within three on Damm’s slashing hoop with 2:24 left in the period.
“I think we were a little tentative, but I think their defensive pressure closed us out pretty good,” Leeman said.
Tyler Smithgall made a shot from his knees and completed a three-point play over a minute into the fourth to make it a one-point game. Leclerc drew his fourth foul a short time later, but stayed in the game and picked up a steal that set up Tim Gingras’ two free throws that finally put Winthrop in front for the first time with 4:34 left.
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