The two-time state champions trailed by 16 with about nine minutes to play but outscored the host Bulldogs 26-8 in the fourth.

Communities:

• Portland,
• Windham

Posted December 19

Steve CraigStaff Writer

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Portland High boys basketball coach Joe Russo knew Windham, which has won back-to-back state titles, would “keep doing what Windham does,” even when the Eagles were down 16 points.

Windham senior AJ Moody, who led all scorers with 18 points, agreed. There wasn’t panic, just confidence born from success and faith in each other.

“We knew no matter what, we were going to give our effort and attitude another boost up because that’s what we can control, and that translated (on the court), making shots, playing good defense, and that’s how we won the game,” Moody said.

Trailing 40-24 with about a 1:20 to play in the third quarter, the Eagles cut the deficit to 10 after three quarters and then went on a 21-4 run in the fourth en route to a 57-50 Class A victory Friday at the Portland Expo.

Windham, which won its titles in the old Class AA format, improved to 4-1. Portland is 2-2.

WHAT CHANGED?

Windham started to make shots.

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“It was just remembering who we are and taking one possession at a time,” said Eagles coach Chad Pulkkinen. “Offensively trying to get a great possession, and defensively trying to get stops.”

The rally really started in the third quarter with a bucket in the paint from Tyrie James — just his second basket of the game, followed quickly by a layup from Colin Janvrin (six points) and then a 3-pointer from Landon Wyman, who scored 12 points, all in the second half.

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Windham boys win second straight championship

“We took three ill-advised shots and they capitalized on it,” Russo said. “Windham just keeps playing hard, and then their shots started to fall.”

While Portland’s attacks at the basket rimmed out, Windham found its range.

When Moody hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game — right after a Portland timeout with 5:50 to play — the Bulldogs’ lead was down to 44-39. A minute later, the game was tied after James drained a 3-pointer.

James got inside, spun one off the glass and was fouled, resulting in a three-point play that gave Windham its first lead since late in the second quarter. Another Wyman 3-pointer — after a scramble and an offensive rebound by Janvrin — put Windham in control.

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James scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter.

“I just wasn’t confident in the beginning, and the coaching staff just pushed me to be myself at the end,” James said.

BALANCE MATTERS

When Windham surged, it had five guys scoring.

When Portland got rolling with a 19-4 third-quarter run, Alex Martin, smooth sophomore center Elvis Ishimwe (14 points) and Maddox Meas each had two buckets. Lucas LeGage (12 points) had a hoop and two free throws. Defensive specialist Loic Ramazani and promising freshman point guard Ephraim Luseko each scored a basket in the paint.

NOTES OF INTEREST

Portland was without two would-be starters. Cordell Jones, injured in the Thanksgiving football game for a second consecutive season, is out until January. Benilson Lumani, a 6-7 senior center, was out because of sickness. Further, Maddox Meas, a senior guard, was limited because he’s recovering from an injury. … Windham’s loss came in its second game when it couldn’t hold a 16-point third-quarter lead at home against Sanford. The Spartans are 5-0 after beating Scarborough, 61-53. “They’re legit,” Pulkkinen said of Sanford. “They have everybody back, some kids that have gotten better, and they’ve got knockdown shooters and they play fast.”

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Windham at Portland

Friday, December 19, 2025

Windham 57, Portland 50

STORY

Windham boys basketball surges past Portland in final quarter