Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) Unified basketball beat the BRHS faculty 51-41, March 25, in a rousing midday exhibition game. March Madness rocked Porter Memorial Gymnasium as the Seahawks eased into their game against their teachers, who looked less confused this time around. Mike Cherry, 6’7", perhaps Maine’s tallest English teacher, tipped off the matchup against 5’3 senior Chloe Joneth. Cherry scored the first bucket of the game, which was the last time the faculty led.

Mr. Reliable, Caiden Farmer, led in points for the Seahawks with 14, followed by Joneth with a dozen, Matthew Jackson with nine, Anthony Angelico with six, and Aryana Gray with two. Gray was the only Seahawk to shoot free throws, off a second Emily Higgins technical foul at the start of the second half. Gray was unstoppable in steals and assists, providing height to an otherwise short team. Jackson continued his rebounding dominance, with half his points off rebounds. Angelico had a couple of impressive fast-break layups.

Sophomore Brandon Seigars lit up the 3-point line, reminding fans that when he’s on, he’s on. NBA-ready, Seigars ran circles around the faculty, on par with Bobby Hurley circa his Duke years.

Two of the three Smith triplets, Moriah and Zuriel, activated their wonder-twin powers of pressure defense. If you can’t tell them apart, it’s because they’re both equally brilliant at shutting down passing lanes and creating turnovers. Sarah Harris and Eleanor Marshall spent most of the game boxing out Cherry from the low post. The Marshall-Cherry man-to-man matchup delighted, each with stellar moves that counterbalanced. In the end, Marshall led with steals, Cherry with blocks. Under constant pressure, Cherry still led the game with points in the paint.

Cole Hyson and Maddie Andreasen provided defensive pressure on the perimeter, created scoring opportunities for teammates and managing the game’s tempo. Ronan Drage, the Seahawks’ most trusted on-court partner for years, plays transition better than anyone in the league, capitalizing on numerical advantages, speed, and aggressive ball movement. His mother, Tanya Hammond, played a spectacular game; floaters, fades, banks, her range is expansive. Spectators held their breath as Hammond went for a failed alley-oop off an Alexandra “Rock’em Sock’em” Ryan lob. Ryan was on point, draining a 3-pointer and a few jump shots.

Chip Schwehm (corner), Nick Scott (wing) and Nicole Brown (top of the key) played well from the perimeter, landing long-range jumpers and spreading the defense to create space for Cherry. Ultimately, low field goal percentage handed the game to the Seahawks.

Higgins cheered on her peers from the icy depths of the bench, in foul trouble of the technical kind. Behind by 10, student Thomas Hennessy, who had dunked the ball in practice, helped himself into the game, running a fast break layup (missed) for the faculty.

Tatum French and Cale Rogers officiated the game. French was confidently calm, making controversial calls. Rogers was less whistle-happy as Seahawks Coach Tammy Blackman seemed to conjure a cloak of invisibility, stepping out of the coach’s box and into plays, in front of Rogers.The Seahawks are coached by Dennis Dacus, Tanya Thibault and Blackman. Faculty was coached by Cathy Hodgdon and Stacy Laird. Sophie White was scorekeeper and Sophia Mansfield sang the national anthem.