SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – Central Maine Community College survived a tough challenge from the University of Maine Machias Saturday afternoon, holding on for the 102-95 win to advance to the Yankee Small College Conference Championship game Sunday afternoon.
Eleven different players scored for CMCC, with four players scoring in double-digits. Hill led the way with a team-high 18 points while Kazre Cummings turned in 15 points during just 17 minutes of play. Jalen Lincoln and Chris Semedo scored 14 and ten points, respectively.
Machias head coach Brac Brady's team was led by AC Ford, who scored a game-high 24 points, including 16 from the free throw line. Ford also spread out eight assists and six steals. Elias Guitierrez scored 18 points while Floyd Higgins scored 17 points and grabbed a team-high nine points; Aaron Van Buren was also in double digits for the Clippers, scoring 12 points.
Machias held the edge in shooting, going 48.3% from the floor, compared to 45.9% for the Mustangs; but CMCC benefitted from depth, with 56 points coming off of the bench, compared to 16 points for the Clippers.
With the win, CMCC advances to play St. Joseph's College of Vermont on Sunday in the championship game.
CMCC teams make it to finals by Randy Whitehouse-Lewiston Sun Journal
South Portland- Central Maine Community College rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half to win its Yankee Small College Conference tournament semifinal game over University of Maine-Machias, 102-95, on Saturday. Shaun Hill scored 16 of his team-high 18 points in the second half and lead the Mustangs' comeback. Kazre Cummings added 15 points and six rebounds and Jalen Lincoln 14 points as the top-seeded Mustangs (29-2) advanced to Sunday's conference championship against St. Joseph's (Vermont). Trailing 67-57 with 15:41 to play, CMCC went on a 17-1 run, sparked by a Jimmy Pina layup and Chris Semedo 3-pointer. Hill topped-off the rally with back-to-back 3-pointers, the first of which put the Mustangs back in front to stay at 71-68.
