Maine
5 stories to watch in the Maine high school boys’ basketball tournament
The Maine highschool boys basketball event is lastly upon us.
There are storylines galore, from groups attempting to get again to the championship recreation to rematches to star gamers, the North regionals this season may have a bit of every thing. Playoffs had been underway Monday with preliminary video games, whereas groups will head to the Cross Insurance coverage Heart in Bangor on Friday for the official begin of the event.
Listed below are a number of the greatest plotlines this tourney season.
Class B North could possibly be the deepest event area this winter.
Led by Probability Mercier, a junior who reached the 1,000-point profession milestone this season, the undefeated Ellsworth Eagles (18-0) ran by way of B North with only a few shut video games in opposition to Outdated City, Orono and Presque Isle. Ellsworth reached the Class B state championship recreation final 12 months earlier than dropping in additional time to Yarmouth and the Eagles’ important focus is getting again to that championship recreation.
Winslow within the second seed is led by Jason Reynolds, who additionally hit 1,000 factors this 12 months and has damaged the varsity document for profession factors. Reynolds has constantly put up eye-popping stat traces, however the Black Raiders haven’t performed any of B North’s high six seeds over their 17-1 common season.
No. 3 Orono misplaced to Ellsworth within the B North ultimate a 12 months in the past, and the Crimson Riots want to get again to a finals rematch with Ellsworth, whereas fourth-seeded Outdated City got here the closest to beating Ellsworth in a 60-58 loss to the Eagles on Dec. 27.
Class A Brewer almost accomplished an undefeated season.
Class A is led by Brewer, who went 17-1 within the common season, dropping its second-to-last recreation to Skowhegan at house, 49-48 on Feb. 3.
Brady Saunders, among the best all-around gamers in Maine, makes every thing click on for the Witches. Saunders lets the sport come to him, is unselfish and makes successful performs.
Brewer has a deep crew with Evan Nadeau, Ryder Goodwin, Cam Hughes and Brock Flagg taking part in with Saunders as a top-tier beginning 5. The Witches misplaced to Nokomis final 12 months within the A North ultimate and are laser-focused on reaching the A title recreation this event.
The Skowhegan River Hawks (12-6), led by Adam Savage and twins Kyle and Collin LePage, have tons of dimension that they used to their benefit of their win over the Witches. Skowhegan enters the event because the No. 3 seed behind Nokomis (13-5) and Brewer.
Better Bangor groups face powerful matchups within the AA North quarterfinals.
Bangor (2-16) will face top-seeded Oxford Hills within the opening spherical of the Class AA North event. Star junior Teigan Pelletier led the Vikings to a 17-1 document, with the one loss approaching Jan. 5 to No. 3 Lewiston.
Hampden (10-8), the fifth seed in AA North, will face off in opposition to fourth seed Cheverus (13-5) within the AA North quarterfinals. Zach McLaughlin not too long ago led the Broncos to a 74-61 victory over Lewiston on Feb. 7 wherein the junior scored 38 factors. Hampden then misplaced 70-64 within the season finale to Oxford Hills however will probably be a darkish horse within the AA playoffs.
The reigning Class C North champs have a troublesome path to defend their crown.
Calais (15-3) leads Class C North into the event because the area’s high seed, adopted by No. 2 Fort Kent (14-4) and No. 3 Dexter (16-2), final 12 months’s regional champion.
Dexter is paced by Will Kusneirz, a 1,000-point scorer dedicated to play basketball at Husson College subsequent 12 months. For now, Kusneirz and Dexter are centered on getting again to the Class C title recreation after dropping to Dirigo on a game-winning shot within the state championship a season in the past.
Southern Aroostook needs to repeat in Class D.
Southern Aroostook is seeking to win back-to-back Class D titles this winter after an 18-0 common season. Machias (14-4) is the second seed in D North and is coming off a commanding 88-23 victory over No. 4 Bangor Christian (14-4) within the common season finale on Feb. 7.
The win was a stark distinction from its first matchup with Bangor Christian, wherein Machias earned a 56-51 win on Jan. 10. Main Machias is Shane Feeney, a 1,000-point scoring massive man who can do all of it.