GSA boys and girls win final home court games of season
Feb. 2, 2026
By Gilbert Rieff
Varsity player Layla Hutchins at the Jan. 2 game against the Mariners. Photo courtesy of GSA.
BLUE HILL—George Stevens Academy’s varsity basketball teams for both girls and boys secured decisive victories over Deer Isle in their final home court games on Jan. 29.
GSA girls use passing and comms skills
The girls’ varsity game began with intensity, as GSA went for the ball and right off the bat and started making lay-up after lay-up. The Deer Isle Mariners played hard and well, too, but couldn’t quite catch up to GSA’s grit and determination. GSA senior Halle Clifford scored many of the points in her last ever game on the home gym floor. GSA finished the quarter with 17 points.
By the second quarter, GSA really started gathering their points against Deer Isle. GSA played stronger, gaining enthusiasm with every score while Deer Isle seemed to become more intimidated. GSA managed to rack up another 16 points over the second quarter, giving them a 33-11 lead.
At halftime, the crowd was treated to the tradition of a spectator being offered a free throw for a chance to win GSA a $50 donation from First National Bank (the spectator made the shot). Meanwhile , the GSA Pep Band played a collection of songs to get the crowd and players hyped up for the second half.
Deer Isle boosted their defense in the third quarter, resulting in a lot more turnovers of the ball and fouls, which effectively slowed down GSA’s offense. While Deer Isle started to climb back they couldn’t catch GSA. The third quarter ended with a score of 37-14.
GSA plowed through the fourth and final quarter with plenty of good passing, communication, and defense, blocking Deer Isle from scoring any additional points, for a game-ending win of 40-14. The girls team is now off to compete at the state level in Bangor at the Cross Insurance Center.
The evening also saw all of the GSA team’s seniors honored. Teammates passed out flowers to their families to mark their final home game of their high school careers.
After the game finished, there was another game in and of itself, as younger kids from across the area came out to show their new dribbling skills on the court led by GSA athletic director Billie L’Heureux, with help from senior Halle Clifford and junior Taylor Grego.
GSA boys pour on the heat
The GSA varsity boys’ basketball also faced off against the Deer Isle Mariners shortly after the girls’ team finished with their win. This was also the boys’ last home game of the season, and the last home game ever for the seniors.
The game was off to a quick start, with plenty of lay-ups, three pointers, and free throws, giving the GSA boys 27 points before the end of the quarter to the Mariners’ 6 points by the end of the quarter.
GSA sophomore Charlie Sullivan takes the shot. Photo by Gilbert Rieff.
The second quarter saw some great passes on both sides. GSA brought their score up by another 10 points at the end of this quarter, and the Mariners notched another 5. But it was obvious at the half that GSA was in sprint mode, ending the quarter 37-11.
In quarter three, the game kept getting better and better for GSA as they pulled ahead another impressive 24 points. Their offense and defense were both incredibly active, thorough and communicative on the court, and it showed–Deer Isle was unable to score throughout the quarter, which ended 61 - 11.
By the final quarter, there were no signs of GSA slowing down. The Mariners fought back for another three points, turned on their game as well, bringing them up another 3 points. But it wasn’t enough, and GSA ended the game with a 71-14 win.
Freshman Finley Hermans, who plays for both JV and varsity, was among those who saw lots of action within GSA’s young team ranks.
“For me personally, I felt like I’ve done alright,” Hermans said. “It’s been a big change from middle school with lots of adjusting.”
