The Undefeated Spruce Mountain Phoenix of Jay defeated the Lisbon Greyhounds 41-25 to capture the 2022 MVC Boys Basketball Championship. Spruce Mountain had defeated Lisbon 56-55 in their only meeting during the regular season, and the Greyhounds were looking for revenge.

In a defensively postured game, Spruce Mountain jumped out to a 13-1 first quarter lead behind Frosh sensation Jace Bessey’s 8 points.

The teams swapped hoops in the second period and the Phoenix went into the half-time break with a 21-9 lead.

It was Lisbon who turned up the defense in the third period, holding the Phoenix to single baskets by Bessey and Owen Bryant. Sophmore Caden Boone scored 8 points for Lisbon in that stanza to cut the deficit to 25-19.

But Bryant, a senior, scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth period as the Phoenix outscored the Greyhounds 16-6 to give the Jay squad the victory and the league title.

Bessey also scored 14 points for Spruce Mountain with sophomore Ian York chipping in with 6. Boone led Lisbon with 12 points, with Levi Tibbets scoring 6 and senior Mason Booker adding 5.

The 17-0 Phoenix will enter the Maine Principals Association’s tournament as the #1 seed in Southern Maine Class B. Lisbon, 14-3, is the #5 seed in that division.