By Pete Warner, BDN Staff
Posted Feb. 21, 2015, at 11:31 p.m.
Last modified Feb. 22, 2015, at 2:43 a.m.
BANGOR, Maine — Calais High School basketball fans, including former head coach Ed Leeman, call Tyler Niles “The Beast.”
On Saturday night, the senior forward demonstrated why he has earned that nickname.
Niles scored 18 of his game-high 29 points during the last 10 minutes, 4 seconds, and converted nine of 10 free throws in overtime to lift top-seeded Calais to a 60-57 victory over No. 7 Orono in the Eastern Maine Class C basketball championship game at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
“It was really nerve-wracking, I’m still shaking,” said Niles, who was chosen the Darling’s/BDN Most Valuable Player.
Coach Chris Woodside’s Blue Devils (19-2) advance to face Western Maine winner Dirigo of Dixfield (19-2) in next Saturday’s 8:45 p.m. state title game in Bangor.
Coach Jason Coleman’s Red Riots (14-8) gave Calais everything it could handle, but could not overcome Niles and Co.
Niles’ performance, which also included nine rebounds, was especially important because classmate Kyle Johnson encountered early foul trouble and fouled out late in regulation. Niles earned Darling’s/BDN Player of the Game honors.
Senior Andre Paul contributed 11 points and four rebounds for the Blue Devils, while classmate Nathan Newell added five points and four rebounds.
Orono received 17 points each from senior Damian Heeger and sophomore Keenan Collett, who pulled down eight rebounds. Nate DeSisto chipped in with six points.
The Red Riots sent the game into overtime after Jake Koffman made one of two free throws with 48.7 seconds to play in the fourth quarter. Calais wound up getting a good look at the basket on a drive through the lane by Niles, but the shot rimmed out.
In overtime, the Blue Devils did all of their damage from the foul line. Niles made his first eight attempts and Paul added two to help overcome three turnovers.
Orono hung tough and got within three points when Jackson Coutts drained a 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds left. And the Riots got the ball back without any time ticking off because of a team-control foul.
However, DeSisto’s 3-pointer from the left wing was off the mark as the horn sounded.
