WINSLOW — Dillon Fitts hit a go-ahead bucket in the final minute and No. 10 Maine Central Institute held on from there for a 43-41 win over No. 7 Winslow in a Class B North preliminary playoff game. The Huskies will now play No. 2 Ellsworth in the quarterfinals at 9:05 a.m., Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
“It was a great win for us,” MCI coach Josh Tardy said. “…We have a lot of respect for Winslow. We know they’re a great team and a never-say-die team.”
The Black Raiders led 41-40 heading into the final minute, but MCI (8-11) had the ball and elected to call timeout. Tardy said they drew up a post-entry play to Fitts, who in turn converted with about 30 seconds to play to put MCI up 42-41. Winslow had a chance to take the lead at the other end but could not convert.
Fitts then grabbed the defensive rebound with 12 seconds left and was fouled, but only made 1 of 2 at the line to give Winslow (10-9) a chance to tie or take the lead. The Black Raiders had a few chances in the closing seconds but once again could not get the basket.
Tardy said MCI was slow out of the gates and fell behind 5-0 before finding its footing through a grind-it-out, low-post oriented style of play.
“We tried to throw it down on the block and use our size advantage,” Tardy said. “This is the kind of score we’re comfortable with.”
Fitts finished with 13 points for the Huskies while Greg Vigue scored 12 and Tre Grier chipped in with 10.
Nate Martin led Winslow with eight points, while Dylan Hutchinson, Jack Morneault, Keanu Earle, Trenton Bouchard and Justin Burgher each scored six.
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