Above, Witty’s Jaxon Haggett drives to the basket by Porter’s Jaxon Archambault (left) during Friday night’s ORA action at Fisher Hill School in Orange. Below right, Porter’s Lucas Isrow goes up with the one-handed layup.
Above, Witty’s Jaxon Haggett drives to the basket by Porter’s Jaxon Archambault (left) during Friday night’s ORA action at Fisher Hill School in Orange. Below right, Porter’s Lucas Isrow goes up with the one-handed layup. Credit: Athol Daily News/Mike Phillips

ORANGE — Porter Transportation won the 2018 Orange Recreation Association championship.

Porter Transportation broke free from a close game with a 9-3 run midway through the fourth quarter to defeat Witty’s Funeral Home, 42-38, to take home the crown Friday night.

Jaxon Archambault scored 17 points for Porter, while Lucas Isrow scored 11 and Nathan Griffith eight.

Jaxon Haggett led Witty’s with 16 points, while Issa Nahayo scored seven and Jenks six.

Porter scored five straight points thanks to a free throw by Isrow, a layup by Roy Adams and a layup from Isrow to take a 38-29 with 4 minutes, 29 seconds left in the game.

Witty’s cut the deficit to 38-33 just 30 seconds later thanks to a pair of layups from Jenks.

Porter extended its lead back to nine at 42-33 with 2:01 left on a jumper from Isrow. Witty’s ended the game on a 5-0 run but ran out of time as Jenks netted a basket underneath with 4 seconds left.

Witty’s was within one at 19-18, 21-20 and 25-24 throughout the third quarter. Porter led 27-26 when Griffith stole the ball and took it all the way for the layup and a 29-26 lead. Archambault added a basket from underneath with 6 seconds left in the third to put his team up 31-26.

Porter led 17-13 at the half thanks to a layup from Isrow, a jumper by Archambault and a half-court shot at the buzzer by Isrow.

Down 10-7 in the second, Witty’s Obi Eaton netted a long jumper. The shot ignited a 6-1 run for Witty’s that gave it a 13-11 lead with 1:50 left in the second quarter.

The two teams were tied 7-7 to end the first quarter. Up 6-4, Archambault netted a layup and free throw to put his team up 7-6. Haggett tied the game with a free throw with 1 second left in the first quarter.

Big league play of the game

The top play goes to Isrow’s half-court shot at the buzzer to end the first half. With only 6 seconds left in the second, Isrow rushed to get the inbound pass. He checked the time, took a couple feet in and launched a shot that touched minimal rim to put his team up 17-13.

Points

For Porter Transportation: Jaxon Archambault, 17; Lucas Isrow, 11; Nathan Griffith, 8; Zaccai Perry, 4; Roy Adams, 2.

For Witty’s Funeral Home: Jaxon Haggett, 16; Issa Nahayo, 7; Joshua Jenks, 6; Xander Dowler, 2; Jabari Freison, 2.