Fourth-ranked Katahdin boys hold off fifth-seeded Hodgdon

By Ryan McLaughlin, BDN Staff

Posted Feb. 20, 2012, at 4:10 p.m.
Last modified Feb. 21, 2012, at 9:37 a.m.

BANGOR, Maine — Junior guard Bill Livezy scored seven of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning free throw with 18 seconds remaining as No. 4 Katahdin of Stacyville edged No. 5 Hodgdon 49-48 in an Eastern Maine Class D quarterfinal thriller at the Bangor Auditorium on Monday afternoon.

The Cougars (15-5) will play the winner of Monday’s basketball game between Jonesport-Beals and Easton in a semifinal at 3:35 p.m. Thursday. Hodgdon finishes 14-6.

Neither team led by more than four points in the fourth quarter, and the Hawks, who managed only four field goals during the period, forged a 48-48 tie as freshman Chris Hudson drained a 3-pointer from the right side and was fouled on the play, making the subsequent free throw.

Both teams would turn the ball over on their next possessions, and Livezey was fouled 10 feet from the hoop with 18 seconds to go.

He sank the front end of a 1-and-1, and after a Hawks timeout, Hodgdon played for one shot.

Josh Hudson’s pull-up from the right baseline with five seconds left failed to connect, and the Cougars ran the clock out.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair during which the Hawks opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run only to see the Cougars claw back with a 12-3 surge.

Wyatt Morse’s 10 points spearheaded that surge, but the Hawks managed to take a 29-28 lead into the break thanks to Hudson’s layup in the final five seconds.

Morse finished with 19 points for Katahdin while Chris Hudson scored 23 to pace Hodgdon. Jeff Hudson added eight and Tyler Sherman nine.