JONATHAN BURK had a strong night for the Raiders, but FA was unable to control York's inside game in a home loss. (Rivet Photo)
RAIDER BOYS
Heal Rank: #7, 8-8
Games left: At Sacopee Valley (#14 in Class C West at 5-10) tonight at 6:30 p.m.; at Cape Elizabeth (#3, 13-3) Friday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. The Raiders potential prelim playoff foes appear to be either Greely, York or Poland.

By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

FRYEBURG — With a chance to cement a home basketball playoff game, the Raider boys picked a terrible night to turn in a bad outing.

Fryeburg failed to match York’s physical play in the paint as senior center Justin Frecker was a wrecking machine in the second quarter, scoring 14 points to power a game-changing 20-6 run to lead the Wildcats to a 56-35 victory at Wadsworth Arena. Frecker ended the night with a game high 29 points.

The loss dropped Fryeburg to 8-8, and leaves the Raiders just four tourney points ahead of Greely for the seventh spot in Class B West.

York (9-7) is ranked ninth, but could make a major jump in the poll with a victory or two in their final contests against Greely (#8, 8-8) and Lake Region (#4, 12-5). The Cats are just a point back of Greely and now five points back of the Raiders.

Teams finishing #7 and #8 host prelim playoff games.

Fryeburg rallied from an early deficit to take a 9-7 lead after one as Ben Southwick found Ben Darling open on the left side on a fastbreak chance, and Nacho Calleja made 1-of-2 foul shots with 3.7 seconds left.

Turnovers (seven) and poor shooting (1-for-6 from the field) haunted the Raiders in the second quarter as York pulled ahead by 12 at intermission.

Leading scorer Ryan Gullikson had a night to forget. He was saddled with two quick fouls and made an early trip to the bench in the first quarter with no points. Gullikson managed just a pair of foul shots in the second, and was forced to the sideline when he picked up his third foul on a charge with 1:17 left.

FA had a difficult time containing 6-foot-3 Frecker, who scored York’s final nine points of the quarter, all down low in the lane, which helped the Cats to a 9-of-13 shooting in the quarter with just three turnovers.

Fryeburg turned up its defensive intensity in the third quarter, resulting in 10 York turnovers. But, the Raiders were unable to put a major dent into York’s lead despite a solid shooting performance from Jonathan Burk, who tallied 10 of his team’s 14 points by showing a nice touch from short range. Burk led Fryeburg with 19 points. The Raiders hoisted 19 shots in the period, but made just seven.

Just when it appeared Gullikson might become a factor after knocking down a jumper and converting a turnover into a fastbreak layup, the junior guard was whistled for his fourth foul on a reach-in with 54.1 seconds left. The foul proved costly as Gullikson lasted just two minutes into the final quarter before picking up his fifth foul. He finished with just six points.

York took full advantage by running off seven straight points to go up 48-29. The Cats controlled the quarter, 15-6.

There would be no Raider rally in this one as FA scored just two field goals — one by Burk with 5:47 left and a 3-pointer by Darling with 4:02 remaining. Reserve Isaac Wakefield ended a 3 1/3 minute scoring drought by sinking 1-of-2 foul shots with 17.2 seconds left on the clock.

For the Raiders, Ben Darling netted 5 points, Cody Gullikson 2, Ben Southwick 1, Nacho Calleja 1 and Isaac Wakefield 1.

In other action

Ben Southwick and Ryan Gullikson each scored 12 points to power the Raiders to a 60-44 road victory last week against Greely.

With the Raiders clinging to a 27-25 halftime lead and a 39-36 advantage headed into the final quarter, FA pulled away as both Southwick and Gullikson each scored seven points to fuel a 21-8 run.

Jonathan Burk led all scorers with 16 points. Nacho Caleja chipped in eight points while Ben Darling and Henry Santana each netted six points.