PORTLAND—The Windham Eagles are the team everyone is now measuring themselves against in Class AA boys’ basketball. And Friday evening at Keegan Gymnasium, the Cheverus Stags learned that they’re close, but not quite there yet. Windham 59 Cheverus 55 W- 21 13 12 13- 59 C- 14 11 12 18- 55 W- James 3-8-15, Colin Janvrin 3-5-14, Freese 3-0-8, Moody 3-0-8, Dickson 2-2-6, Conor Janvrin 2-0-4, Blige 1-0-2, Coppi 1-0-2 C- McNabb 10-2-23, Fitzpatrick 5-0-10, Plalum 4-0-9, Rwaganje 4-1-9, Lauture 1-0-2, Nzeyimana 1-0-2 3-pointers W (8) Colin Janvrin 3, Freese, Moody 2, James C (2) McNabb, Plalum Turnovers: W- 13 C- 14 Free throws W: 15-19 C: 3-3 As the reigning Class AA state champion Eagles made the big plays at the optimal times to win an early-season showdown.
Cheverus took an early 10-7 lead, but sophomore Colin Janvrin came off the bench and buried three 3-pointers and scored 11 points to help Windham hold a 21-14 advantage after one quarter. The Stags were unable to rally in the second period and the Eagles were up, 34-25, at the break. Cheverus scored the first six points of the second half, but Windham erupted for a 12-2 run to reassert control and take a 46-37 lead to the final stanza.
There, the Stags got nine points from senior standout Leo McNabb, including a 3-pointer with 1:04 remaining to cut the deficit to just one, but down the stretch, junior Tyrie James sank four of six free throws to help close out a 59-55 victory. McNabb’s game-high 23 points weren’t qui.
