By: Mike Whaley

AUBURN, Maine — The Great Bay Community College men’s basketball team had a great run come to a close on Sunday with a 59-47 loss to Southern Maine CC, 59-47, in the Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) playoff championship Sunday at Central Maine CC.

With the win, No. 3 SMCC, the defending USCAA Division II national champs, earned the automatic bid to the D-II nationals later this month in Richmond, Virginia. Great Bay is also going to the nationals as it earned an at-large bid. Three YSCC teams are bound to the 10-team national tourney with NHTI also joining the field.

Great Bay will open the nationals on Monday, March 13, noon, vs. Villa Maria (19-10) from Buffalo, N.Y.

In Sunday’s final, the Seawolves (19-9) jumped out to a 35-21 lead at the half and never let the Herons (20-8) get in the game. No. 6 GBCC struggled offensively, making just 31.7 percent of their shots from the field and 4 of 18 3-pointers. Theo Wolf led the Herons with 14 points and 18 rebounds. He was named the YSCC Men’s Final Four Offensive Player of the Tournament. Bryce Gibson added eight points. The loss snapped a six-game GBCC winning streak.

SMCC was led by Thomas Martinotti with 14 points, while Jack Pyzynski and DeSean Cromwell added 12 apiece. Martinotti was named Tournament MVP, while Cromwell was tabbed as the Defensive Player of the Tournament.

By Mike Whaley

AUBURN, Maine – The No. 6 Great Bay Community College men’s basketball advanced to the championship game of the Yankee Small College Conference playoffs with a 95-67 win over No. 7 Paul Smith’s College on Saturday at Central Maine CC. They will meet the Central Maine CC/Southern Maine CC winner in Sunday’s championship for the right to play in the USCAA Division II national championship tournament later this month in Richmond, Virginia.

The Herons (20-7) were paced by five players in double figures as they raced out to a 44-22 lead at the half and were never challenged. Theo Wolfe led the attack with 20 points and seven boards, followed by Kingsley Breen (Dover) with 16 points and six rebounds, Alex Tavares (Portsmouth) with 16 points, seven boards and four assists, Bryce Gibson with 12 points and Cam O’Brien (Dover) with 10 points. The Herons have won six straight games and 13 of their last 15.

In the first round last week, GBCC upset No. 3 UMaine-Augusta, 86-78, behind 22 points from Tavares, 18 from Wolfe, 12 from Breen and 10 from Gibson.

The 2022-23 New Hampshire Basketball Coaches Organization announced the Division III girls All-State teams along with annual award winners on Thursday. Conant’s Brynn Rautiola was named Player of the Year, while Hopkinton head coach Patrick Roye was named Varsity Coach of the Year to headline the awards.

Joining Rautiola on the first team is teammate Emma Tenters, Winnisquam’s Lauren MacDonald, Newfound’s Malina Bohlmann and Stevens’ Alyssa Paquette & Kiley Bundy. Check out the full awards below…