Hampden Turnovers Lead Deering to State Boys A Championship Despite McCue’s 28 Points

 THe Deering Rams won the rubber state championship series with the Hampden Broncos tonite as they forced 19 Hampden turnovers and turned them into a 59=50 win to give Deering the 2 to 1 state championship series leads between the two teams.

It was just to much athleticism and quickness on the college sized 94′-50′ court at the Cumberland Community Civic Center.

Deering couldn’t stop McCue as he lived on the foul line, but they forced enough turnovers and forced Hampden to settle for outside shots by shutting down Hampden’s inside game.

Hampden ;lead 14-12 at the end of the first 8 minutes, but Deering went to their full-court zone press trap and moved ahead by 1 19-18 at the half as Hampden could only muster 2 field goals.

Deering continued to press in the third quarter and raced to a 40-28 3rd quarter lead.

Hampden shot just 32% from the floor on 16 for 49 while Deering shot 23 for 55 for 41.9%. Hampden could only hit 4 for 17 from the 3 point line for 23.6% and Deering went just 1 for 5 for 20%.

Hampden was excellent from the foul line as they went 15 for 21 for 71.5% and Deering went 12 for 20 for 60% Hampden had 19 turnovers to Deerings 11 and the scores of the Turnovers was really the difference in the game.

Mr. Boys Basketball Finalist Christian McCue lead all scorers with 28 points and with many coming from the foul line. For Deering they got 25 points from Jack Amabile. McCue was the only Bronco in double figures.

McCue got to the line with his penetration, but Deering did a good defensive job of stopping Hampden’s size advantage inside, doing it with their speed, quickness and athelticism.

Deering controlled the tempo of the game thru mainly of their pressure and strong defensive board work.