Falcon boys clipped by Yarmouth, 77-52

PORTLAND -- The second season creates a different set of intangibles. However, the Mountain Valley boys' basketball team hasn’t been able to get a firm grasp on the situation and it proved costly at the Portland Exposition Building.

Josh Britton scored a game-high 28 points and Yarmouth pulled away in the second half for 77-52 win in a Western Maine Class B quarterfinal playoff tilt.

The matchup between No. 5 Mountain Valley and No. 4 Yarmouth started out very tight knit. The score was either tied or changed sides nine times in the first quarter, which ended knotted at 16-all. The Falcons lacked their uptempo offense and Yarmouth had a height advantage.

“We simply got outplayed today,” said MV coach Rick White. “It wasn’t because they showed us something that we hadn’t expected. This (MV) team was not the same collected effort that had been shown in past games. It certainly is a tough way to end the season.”

The offense was led by Cam Kaubris (13 points), Izaak Mills (12 points), and Zach Radcliffe (10 points).

Mountain Valley had tied the score twice early in the second quarter. Yarmouth had taken a 22-17 lead, but MV responded with a basket by Isaac Roberts (nine points, six rebounds) and a Radcliffe trey. Bitton scored, but on the ensuing possession Kaubris hit a runner from the lane. The game changed as the Clippers scored 14 of the next 17 points, to lead 38-27 at halftime.

“I had told the kids that one of the keys was going to be rebounding”White said. “We needed to box out and get in on the boards. We didn’t and it cost us. Zach Radcliffe was our leading rebounder and he was the littlest guy (5’7”) on the court.”

Yarmouth was crashing the boards with three bodies Mark Murphy (11 rebounds).

“The kids had mentioned (pressing) full court,”White said,regarding halftime adjustments.”So, we did try it in the third quarter, and full court is all fine and good but, you needed to be able to get back on defense.”

The Clippers continued to control the boards and shot 49 percent from the floor.

MV did receive three treys from Mills (two) and Kaubris to trail 43-36. Yarmouth went on a 10-1 run, Ryan Nicols made a free throw. The Falcons were held scoreless until Radcliffe made a basket, two minutes into the fourth quarter. Jacob Theriault and Justin Carter added baskets.

Falcon boys clipped by Yarmouth, 77-52 Photo:

Going up high for a shot here is Mountain Valley's Izaak Mills. (Times photo by Bruce Farrin)

Falcon boys clipped by Yarmouth, 77-52 Photo:

Cameron Kaubris paced the Mountain Valley effort with 13 points against the taller Clippers of Yarmouth. (Times photo by Bruce Farrin)