FAIRFIELD -- On Tuesday, the Lawrence High School boys basketball team took the court for the first time since an altercation at the end of the third quarter of Friday's game against Lewiston. With nine players suspended from the team following Friday's incident, the Bulldogs sent a mostly junior varsity-heavy squad onto the court against Hampden Academy.

While the effort was there, these young Bulldogs couldn't keep up with the Broncos. Hampden pulled away in the first half and led by as many as 32 points in a 58-35 win. Hampden is now 9-6, while Lawrence is now 8-7.

Five players listed on Lawrence's varsity roster dressed for the game: Adam Carey, Bobby Belanger, Josh Moody, Chase Karter and Dan Fleming, and all five started. Lawrence athletic director Bill MacManus said seven of the nine suspended players will be back for Friday's game at Brewer.

The Bulldogs also were without head coach Mike McGee, who was suspended for two games for leaving the bench area and allowing his team to leave the bench on Friday. Longtime assistant coach Charlie Jucius filled in as head coach.

"I was wondering what kind of effort the kids were going to (give). They went out there and played as tough as they can play," Jucius said. "They're up against a good team, but they gave it everything they had."

Lawrence scored the first four points of the game, but Hampden took the lead midway through the first quarter and never relinquished control.

"It was a situation where, to be honest with you, I didn't know what to expect. I just told our kids I wanted to make sure we played hard. We tried to do the things we normally do," Hampden coach Russ Bartlett said. "I thought the Lawrence kids represented their school very well tonight, and their program. I'm sure Coach McGee is very proud of the way they played."

Juco led the Broncos' balanced offense with 10 points, while Nate Burke and Brad Haase each scored nine. Ten different players scored for Lawrence, with Colby Trask, Moody, and Corey Lee each scoring five.

"I just wanted to play as tough defense as we could. I wasn't sure if we'd get much offense, but I'm happy with that effort right there," Jucius said.

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com