2 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
A trip down history lane of Maine high school basketball
BDN File Photo by Bridget Brown
The Fort Fairfield Tigers, including (from left) Danielle Tracy, Kelsie Wilson, Courtney Churchill and Amanda Hotham, celebrate their 67-59 win over Greenville for the Class D girls state basketball championship in February 2010 at the Augusta Civic Center. By Dale Duff Special to the BDN
Starting Friday night, high school gymnasiums will be buzzing as teams begin that long journey to Tournament Week and maybe, just maybe, some history. I love the history of schoolboy and schoolgirl basketball in Maine. As the 201415 season begins, how about a trip down history lane every five years…
5 Years Ago 2009-10
Amanda Hotham of the Fort Fairfield girls began this first week on their way to a 17-1 season and a state championship. A team named Washburn has won every Class D title since…
10 Years Ago 2004-05
There were 21 Class A teams and despite finishing 14-4 the Hampden boys were the #9 seed. The Broncos went to Mt. Blue and won the play-in game, then beat Bangor, Brewer, Oxford Hills and Deering to win the state title. The last time the Class A tournament and states were played at the old Bangor Auditorium.
15 Years Ago 1999-2000
30 Years Ago 1984-85
The Valley High School of Bingham boys were in their third year of a remarkable 101-game win streak and six year streak of Class D state championships. Coach Dwight Littlefield, the Hartwells, Brian Andre, Nick Pelotte…
Van Buren’s Matt Rossignol led his Crusaders to an 18-0 record. He scored 103 points in the Eastern Maine Tournament, still a Class B record. Ed Guiski’s top ranked Dexter Tigers beat #2 VB is the final.
The Bangor boys began one of those seasons – going 18-0 and rolling through a win over Bonny Eagle for the state Class A title. Most sports fans think of Matt Kinney as a baseball player. He was a BDN first team all-state pick. The Rams Danny Dahl was a second team pick.
Westbrook’s Lisa Blais began her junior year of her brilliant career to led to four consecutive state titles. She was a four time BDN first team all-state pick. Her Blue Blazes won the championship against Old Town in a battle of #1 seeds. This summer, Blais was inducted into the first class of the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame.
20 Years Ago 1994-95
25 Years Ago 1989-90
Mt.Blue HS senior Mike Adams led the Cougars to a 13-5 record and tourney appearance after averaging 28 points and 14 rebounds for coach Jim Bessey. Not bad for a kid who was cut from his seventh grade team. Adams was Mr.Basketball Award winner. This year his Edward Little team is considered one of the teams to beat in Class A.
35 Years Ago 1979-80
40 Years Ago 1974-75
Girls basketball teams all over the state began this season with something new to play for – a tournament. The first Eastern Maine tourney games were played at Brewer High School. When all the tourney games were played 40 years ago this season, Gardiner, Lake Region, Hall-Dale and East Grand were first time state champs!
45 Years Ago 1969-70 One year after losing the state championship on a Mike Thurston beyondhalfcourt-shot-at-the buzzer, standout Matt Donahue and the Westbrook boys rolled into tourney play at 17-1 and the #1 seed in the west, only to lose in the west final to South Portland 71-70. Stearns would then beat South Portland in the state game.
50 Years Ago 1964-65
And speaking of Stearns, a half century ago the Minutemen of Millinocket of coach George Wentworth were in the middle of a 62-game win streak as the season began. The 64-65 season ended with another undefeated state championship season. Wonder who will make history in 201415? Dale Duff is the sports director for SportsRadio 92.9 The Ticket, was the WZON Radio Sports/Program Director, Adjunct Instructor at NESCOM in Sports Journalism and former WLBZ-TV Sports Director. Read more at theduffelbag. bangordailynews.com.
HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
BDN File Photo by Kevin Bennett
Bangor’s Matt Kinney converges on Cony’s Jason Moore in Class A quarterfinal in March 2005 at the Bangor Auditorium. Bangor won 53-45.
3
BDN File Photo by Stephen M. Katz
Hampden Academy’s Jillian Beal (35) reaches for a rebound between Mount Ararat’s Kelsey Diane (left) and Erin Johnson during an Eastern Maine Class A quarterfinal in March 2004 at the Bangor Auditorium. Mount Ararat won 61-52.
4 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
Pioneer Times photo/Joseph Cyr
Members of the Hodgdon boys basketball team for the 2014-15 season include, front row from left, Matt Tuttle, Jimmy Buzzell, Ben Tuttle, Blake Woods, Tyler Barton and Dana Brown; and back, assistant coach Seth Dorr, head coach Robbie Smith, Jordyn Merritt, Daden Palmer, Kevin McAfee, Devin Ramsey, Caleb Dube and volunteers Sean Molloy and Jake Tidd. Not pictured is Devin Quint.
5 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
Hodgdon Hawks: Class D defending state champs By Joseph Cyr Houlton Pioneer Times
HODGDON — Coming off a whirlwind season that saw the Hodgdon boys basketball team collect its first state championship in Eastern Class D, it would be easy for the team to rest on its laurels. But if veteran coach Robert Smith has anything to say about it, there will be no letdown for the Hawks this season. “We honestly feel we are a Bangor Bound team,” coach Smith said. It was a rough off-season for the Hawks who lost two players to graduation, one to transferring to a private school and a fourth to injury. Tyler Sherman and Deyrell Vargas graduated last spring, while Keegan Gardner is out for the year with a knee injury. The biggest loss, however, came when Chris Hudson (a junior on last year’s squad who averaged 24 points and was considered to be one of the best players in Eastern Class D),
opted to transfer to Williston Northampton, a private school in Massachusetts. Hudson, Sherman and Vargas were the top three scorers for the team a year ago. Last season, the Hawks finished 20-3 overall, winning the state Class D championship 51-46 over Valley of Bingham. But that was then, and this is now for fifth-year coach Smith. “We think they have the capability to win a good amount of games that will get them into the playoffs with a shot to go to Bangor,” he said. “Whether we make it or not we do expect the players to come in and work hard and improve as individuals and as a team.” The Hawks’ roster features seniors Tyler Barton, Caleb Dube and Devin Quint; juniors Dana Brown, Blake Woods and Jimmy Buzzell; sophomores Ben Tuttle, Jordyn Merritt, Daden Palmer, Devin Ramsey, Dillan Buzzell and Kevin McAfee; and freshman Matt Tuttle. Smith said nine different players could
potentially fill the role of point guard if needed, which should make for some spirited practices as players jockey for a position. The starting rotation, at least to begin the season, will likely be Quint, Dube, Woods, Jimmy Buzzell and Palmer. Quint is a 6-foot, 1-inch guard who can also play forward. Dube, a 5-10 guard, is a transfer student from Houlton who will be one of the primary ball handlers. Woods, a 6-1 forward, was the Hawks sixth-man last season. Jimmy Buzzell, a 6-0 guard, will have duties of handling the ball as a point guard. He can shoot from outside and has the ability to drive to the hoop and either shoot or create for others, the coach said. Palmer, a 6-1 guard, is coming off a year where he was the first guard off the bench and hit some big shots in games. “This year he will be called upon to do the same,” Smith said. “He will be used as a ball
handler when needed and is able to shoot from behind the arc.” Developing team chemistry will be one of the biggest challenges with so many new players vying for time at the varsity level, the coach said. “We will have players that have not been on the floor together in the past,” he said. “As games go on, they will learn each other’s tendencies and it will start to glue the team together. “We have the capability to shoot from outside and most of our guards have the confidence to drive to the basket when the opportunity arises,” he said. “Our defense will be the key and this team has already caught on to what it takes to give our team a chance to win. They have been hard at work learning our man-to-man and our zone defense.” Teams to beat in the Hawks’ division will be Southern Aroostook, Easton, Washburn and Schneck. Helping Smith will be assistant coach Seth Dorr and volunteer Sean Molloy.
6 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
Houlton Shiretowners: Class C defending state champs By Joseph Cyr Pioneer Times
Pioneer Times photo/Joseph Cyr
Members of the Houlton boys basketball team for the 2014-15 season include, front row from left, Cameron Cleary, Jake Brown, Garrett Ring, Jake Worthley, Noah Holmes, Jake Donovan, Jared Fox and Dylan Johnston; and back, head coach Rob Moran, Cameron Graham, Dakota Gramour, Christian Crane, Kyle Bouchard, Jake Condon, Dan Howe, Jake Drew, and assistant coaches Matt McCluskey and Wendall Harvey.
HOULTON — How does one improve upon an undefeated season that ended with the school’s first gold ball championship in 10 years? That is the question on the minds of Houlton boys basketball fans, as well as varsity coach Rob Moran as the Shiretowners prepare to defend their state championship. And with a bundle of talented players returning from that squad, the Shires appear poised to once again be one of the elite teams in Eastern Class C. Houlton had season to cherish a year ago, posting a 22-0 overall record capped off with thrilling 58-56 overtime victory against Waynflete School of Portland to bring home the gold ball. “It will be hard to improve on that undefeated season, especially when you lose a lot of good, talented players like we did,”
7 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014 coach Moran said. “We have a lot of capable kids, but we will probably be a different style of team.” Entering his fourth season with the Shires, Moran has tallied an impressive 52-13 record with Houlton and has appeared in the Eastern Class C championship three consecutive seasons. Moran said while he would like to see the Shires push the ball up the court, the team might be physically stronger and a better rebounding team than a year ago. Lost to graduation were Isaac Cone, Nick Guiod, Elyjah Crockett and Kole Buzzeo. Guiod was a starter and primary ball handler for Houlton, while Cone (a defensive stalwart) and Crockett (a rebounding force) logged serious minutes coming off the bench. Buzzeo missed much of the year with a serious
knee injury, but provided veteran guidance on the bench. This year’s Shire roster features seniors Kyle Bouchard, Dakota Gramour, Christian Crane, Jake Condon, Dan Howe, Noah Holmes, Jake Drew, Jake Donovan; juniors Jake Brown, Garrett Ring, Jake Worthley; sophomores Cameron Graham, Jared Fox and Dylan Johnston; and freshman Cameron Cleary. Moran said he has four of the five pieces to his starting lineup in place with Bouchard, Howe, Drew and Crane. The fifth starter has yet to be determined and could change on a nightly basis depending on the opponent. It is no secret that the success of the Shires flows through Bouchard, a 6-foot, 4-inch forward with exceptional ballhandling skills. He is coming off a
tremendous junior campaign in which he averaged 21.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. He broke the 1,000-point scoring plateau and currently has 1,387 career points for the Shires. “Kyle is just a do-it-all kind of guy who, in addition to his scoring, is one of the better defenders in the state,” Moran said. Howe, missed multiple games last season with a knee problem, but all signs point to him being healthy this year. “He played great opening weekend for us, so getting him back and healthy for us is a huge boost,” Moran said. “He’s a great shooter and has good basketball IQ.” Drew, a 5-11 guard, is coming off a stellar football season in which he led the Shires in rushing yards and touchdowns. “Jake is just a phenomenal athlete,”
Moran said. “He will be one of our best defenders and can get to the rim whenever he wants.” Crane, a 6-4 center, developed into a strong post player as the season progressed a year ago and that trend should continue this year. “Christian passes the ball really well and can hit a 15-footer,” the coach said. Not knowing who the fifth starter will be is the one area that coach Moran hopes to address early in the season. “We have to have somebody step up and seize that role,” he said. Expect to see a little less man-to-man defense from the Shires as the team may lean more to zone schemes. Class C is a lot deeper this year,” Moran said. “Calais, Washington Academy, Orono and Lee Academy are all going to be very good.”
Washburn Beavers: Class D girls defending state champs By Kevin Sjoberg Aroostook Republican
WASHBURN — The Lawrence girls did it in the 1990s during the Cindy Blodgett era and the Gorham girls pulled it off in the late-1970s and early 80s. The feat? Four consecutive gold balls in state schoolgirl history. Washburn is the third team to accomplish it following last year’s win over Forest Hills in the state championship, and has a chance to make history this year by making it five in a row. Third-year coach Diana Trams admits the task will be difficult, as replacing Nicole Olson, Carmen Bragg and Carsyn Koch is not easy. The trio, who were all part of the four previous state titles, provided so much to the Beavers. Washburn does have the other two starters back and both are among the most talented in the Class D ranks. Senior guard Mackenzie Worcester is the all-time leading scorer in Washburn girls’ basketball history and if she stays healthy will be one of the most prolific ever to play in the state. Last year she missed all of December due to a broken wrist but came back strong. “She is able to break down defenses with
Contributed photo/jMavor Photography
Washburn girls’ basketball team: from front left, Mackenzie Worcester, Emelia Churchill, Laina Mette, Mikayla Churchill and Kristen Sarmiento. Back row, assistant coach Scott Olson, manager Owen James, Natalie Doody, Grace Braley, Jessica Aube, Joan Overman, Brittany Corey, coach Diana Trams, manager Kaitlyn Maynard and assistant coach Andy Churchill. her ability to penetrate or hit open shots from anywhere on the floor,” Trams said. Classmate Joan Overman made it through an injuryriddled junior year and was still a heavy contributor in last year’s run to the gold ball. “Joan is versatile in that she can play both inside and out,” Trams said. “Her quickness will be a tough matchup for opposing teams in the low post, plus she runs the floor extremely well and is a tenacious defender.” Washburn is welcoming back junior Laina Mette, who had missed last season due to a soccer injury.
“She is gradually testing her knee and is getting better each and every practice,” Trams said. “She will help add depth and quickness to our team. Emilia Churchill, another junior, received lots of playing time off the bench last year and will play a larger role this season. “She has gotten stronger physically and has great instincts for the game,” Trams said. Natalie Doody is also back. The junior is a physical player who could score a starting role at small forward. Junior center Grace Braley has the
ability to put points on the board with her inside play and soft touch. Classmate Brittany Corey also has good size and the ability to be an interior threat. Mikayla Churchill has joined the squad for her senior year. She is athletic and will be counted on for her aggressive defense. Jessica Aube, a junior, joins sophomore Kristen Sarmiento and Corey as players who are on both JVs and varsity. Kaitlyn Maynard and Owen James are the managers, while Scott Olson returns as an assistant coach. Andy Churchill is in his first year as the JV coach. Trams believes Fort Fairfield is the toughest opponent on her team’s schedule and calls the Tigers “the team to beat in Class D.” “We think we can compete, but we know we have to work hard to play at their level,” Trams said. “Easton is another strong team we will face, while Machias could be a great team in Class D as well.” Winning another state title will be a challenge, but Trams and the team are ready. “They strive to be the best and part of the success of the program is that the girls have been willing to put in the time to get the results they want,” Trams said. “They are dedicated, hard-working individuals who have a no-quit attitude.”
8 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
Parental interference can hinder coaches’ ability to teach life lessons through sports By Bob Cimbollek
Until the mid 1960’s coaches never had to have a contract between parents, players and school administrators. We just gave players two copies of team rules and policies (one for them and one for their parents) and went over them and answered any questions the players had. Today, coaches must have a contract signed by all the aforementioned parties. Back then, a student caught drinking alcohol resulted in an immediate dismissal from the team. Today, in some schools, the same offense could lead to a two-week suspension. In some situations, it is done on a case-by-case basis. People will say, “Wow, how times have changed.” No, times haven’t changed. People and their ideas are what have changed. I went into coaching in the early ‘60’s for one reason, to teach the life lessons that cannot be taught or learned in high school classrooms. That is why interscholastic high school athletics were put into the curriculum. If life lessons aren’t taught in sports, all you really have are high-priced intramurals. I never took a coaching or athletic director position unless I was guaranteed by the people hiring me that my own player-school contract would be supported. By 1990, I had to add a section for parents. They had to follow what I called the “4 Cardinal Rules for Parents.” These rules stated that playing time, squad selection, team strategy or issues involving other players could not be discussed with the coach, AD or administrators. I told the people interviewing me that if they hired me and did not back my contract, I would immediately step down from the coaching position and then hold a press conference to announce the reason for my resignation. I had to do that a couple of times in my coaching career. When I did so, I was backed by the administration.
Today, the question is, are coaches hired to be fired? When athletic directors, principals and superintendents recommend that a coach be rehired, but he or she is not rehired because school boards, committees or boards of directors override their decisions because of parent pressure, it is impossible to teach life lessons. My theme song, Aaron Tippin’s “You’ve got to Stand for Something” (or you’ll fall for anything), is appropriate here because if you are not backed and you don’t take a stand you will not really be in control of your own destiny. Travel basketball coaches for AAU, MAC, YBOA and MBNation teams have a better chance of teaching needed life lessons. The reason is if the player and their parents don’t like the way their child’s team is being run, they can find another team. These outside teams are formed through tryouts or by invitation. High school athletics should be more than recreation, entertainment and physical fitness. They should teach values that players can use for their entire lives. They should develop coping skills, discipline and an understanding that life is not fair at times. They also should learn teamwork, that there is no ‘I’ in the word team, and how to accept a role on a team and have responsibility to a group. It is impossible today to teach these life lessons if parents put pressure on school administrators, from the athletic directors to school boards and boards of directors. This violates the main objective of why interscholastic high school athletics were put into the education curriculum in the first place. That is why I couldn’t coach today, except maybe a nonschool team. Bob Cimbollek is a retired high school basketball coach and former high school and college basketball official. Read his blog at offtherim.bangordailynews.com.
9 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
BDN Photo By Terry Farren
(L-R) Autumn Preble, Melyssa Prescott and Hillary Williams, of Central High School, hold the trophy high after winning the Class C State Cheering Championship,Feb. 9. 2014 at the Augusta Civic Center.
10 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
Photo by Jim Evans, Special to the BDN
Calais High School’s Madison McVicar (4) presses for a loose ball against Carrabec High School’s Hannah Atwood (20) during the girls Class C state championship basketball game March 1, 2014 at the Augusta Civic Center.
11 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
Dates to remember Some dates for high school basketball fans to mark on their calendar:
Thursday, Feb. 5 Final day for countable regular-season games, except for games postponed on Feb. 5 that may be made up the following day.
Tuesday, Feb. 10 and Wednesday, Feb. 11 Preliminary-round playoff games.
Feb. 13-21 Regional tournaments — Eastern A and Western C-D at Augusta Civic Center; Eastern B-C-D at Cross Insurance Center, Bangor; Western A-B at Portland Exposition Building and Cross Insurance Arena, Portland.
Fridayt, Feb. 27 Class B state championships at Cross Insurance Arena, Portland.
Saturday, Feb. 28: Class A state championships at Augusta Civic Center; Class C and D state championships at Cross Insurance Center, Bangor.
12 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
Presque Isle’s Graham, Calais’ McVicar hope to lead girls basketball teams to state titles By Larry Mahoney BDN Staff
Hannah Graham and Maddy McVicar know the joy of hoisting the cherished gold ball emblematic of winning a state high school basketball championship. Graham and her Presque Isle High School teams captured state Class B titles in 2012 and 2013, and McVicar led her Calais girls to the state Class C crown last season. The two are seniors and would love to cap their outstanding careers with another title. The chase begins across the state on Friday night. Both were chosen to the Bangor Daily News’ Schoolgirl All-Maine second team a year ago. Graham said the 63-51 loss to Mount Des-
ert Island in the Eastern Maine Class B final last year, which snapped the Wildcats’ 64-game winning streak, left a sour taste in their mouths. “I think we had become immuned to winning, and that’s not always a good thing,” said Graham. “Hopefully, that will spark a fire under us for this season. That was the first time I had lost a regular season game and that includes middle school.” Graham, a 5-foot-10 point guard, averaged 17.7 points, 4.5 assists, three steals and three rebounds per game last season and expects “to do more than that” this season while also taking on more of a leadership role. “Hannah can do a lot of things,” said Presque Isle coach Jeff Hudson. “She can shoot, she can take the ball to the basket, and she’s real heady. We will need her to do everything.”
Graham has an exceptional supporting cast as senior forward Kaleigh Kinney is the only player who graduated. She said the team has worked hard to improve and the Wildcats will be deep. “It’s nice to know [Hudson] can look down the bench and put anyone in and be confident in them,” said Graham, who is hoping to attend Bowdoin College in Brunswick next year. McVicar has a more difficult job ahead of her as the entire frontcourt, including 5-foot-11 Paige Gillespie, 5-9 Kaitlyn Cundiff and 5-7 Taylorae Carter, has departed. “I’ll have to help out more when it comes to rebounding, and I’ll have to push the ball up the court. I’ll also have to take the ball to the hole more,” said McVicar, who averaged 18 points, seven assists, five rebounds
and two steals in 2013-14 and was the Eastern Maine Tournament’s Most Valuable Player. “We definitely lost some great post players, but our post players are working hard and will be much better by the end of the season.” Calais coach Dana Redding called the University of Maine-bound McVicar a gym rat. “She always wants to play. She is always trying to get better. That’s why she’s had success and why Maine wants her,” said Redding. “She sees the court well, she’s so good off the dribble, she’s smart, and she defends well,” said Houlton coach Shawn Graham. “She sets her teammates up well. She’s the best player in Class C.” Fellow senior guards Olivia Smith and Kaylee Johnson will complement McVicar, whose Blue Devils will have a host of imposing challengers including Houlton, Orono and Dexter. “This will be one of the most talented teams I’ve had in my 11 years,” said Graham, whose Shires return leading scorers Katie Condon and Natalie Hill. He said they also have a talented freshmen class featuring skilled and versatile 5-10 Kolleen Bouchard and that they will benefit from the addition of Greater Houlton Christian Academy transfers Rylee Warman, a point-producing point guard, and 5-11 center Makala Watson, who can score and rebound. Orono went 19-2 a year ago, losing to Calais in the Eastern Maine final, and features guard Hannah Clement, forward/center Katie Sypher and an athletic supporting cast including inside presence Sydney Robertson, a transfer from Lincoln’s Mattanawcook Academy. Tasha Pratt, Michaela Pratt and Peyton Watson headline a strong senior class for Dexter. In Class B, few will be surprised if there is a repeat of last year’s final between Presque Isle and Mount Desert Island. Graham will be joined by quality players
13 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
BDN Photo by Kevin Bennett
Presque Isle’s Hannah Graham (right) brings the ball down the court while guarded by Mount Desert Island’s Molly Carroll on Feb. 22, 2014 during the East Class B final at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. MDI won, and both Graham and Carroll return this season to lead their teams’ title hopes. such as Big East Conference Class B forward Krystal Kingsbury, sharpshooters Taylor Williams and Emily Lagerstrom and inside force Regan Nelson. Mount Desert Island loses BDN AllMaine first-teamer and tourney MVP Hannah Shaw, but four top-notch starters return in guards Sierra Tapley and Sarah Phelps along with forward Kelsey Shaw and versatile top-shelf defender Molly Carroll. Keely McConomy will provide a presence under the glass. “We’ve got a good group. We’ll battle,” said coach Brent Barker, whose team has
developed depth by playing a challenging preseason schedule. Ellsworth and Medomak Valley of Waldoboro are among the challengers. Class D finds Washburn seeking a fifth straight state championship behind the dynamic pair of Mackenzie Worcester (19 ppg, 6 apg, 4 rpg, 4 spg), a third team BDN All-Maine choice, and Joan Overman. But the Beavers were hit hard by graduation, and there are several teams nipping at their heels. “They’re still the team to beat,” insisted Fort Fairfield coach Larry Gardner whose Tigers are one of the primary challengers thanks to returnees Taylor Churchill and Teresa Maynard and Limestone Community School/Maine School for Science and Mathematics transfer Chelsey Pelkey. Another contender is a tall and athletic Penobscot Valley team from Howland. The Howlers are led by 6-foot-1 Sami Ireland and 5-11 performers Amy Hallett and Mikayla Roy. Machias, which went 16-1 during the regular season, also will be in the thick of it thanks to Kate Whitney and Tate Dolley. Class A has enjoyed a unique parity in that six different schools have won the last six Eastern Maine titles. Defending champ Oxford Hills, led by BDN All-Maine honorable mentions Mikayla Morin, the tourney MVP, and Anna Winslow, will be one of the favorites along with Lawrence of Fairfield, which returns BDN All-Maine second teamer Nia Irving (19.6 ppg, 16.2 rpg), a 6-footer, and 5-9 Paige Belanger. Edward Little of Auburn also could be in the hunt, and 2013 champ Bangor, with sixfooters Mary and Katie Butler and Cordelia Stewart, could surprise after a 6-12 season.
14 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
Paul Bunyan promotes ‘A Healthy Bangor Starts With You’ campaign Courtesy of Bangor Public Health
This year, Bangor Public Health and Community Services worked in partnership with more than 50 organizations to create healthier places to live, work, play, and learn in the Greater Bangor Area. These organizations included schools, worksites, businesses, healthcare systems, and childcare providers. These partnerships resulted in the adoption of school wellness policies, the promotion of smoke-free events, increased time for physical activity within childcare sites, and the creation of worksite wellness programs. As a local public health department, Bangor Public Health and Community Services strives to find ways to make the healthiest choices the easiest choices for all of us. That is why there is great emphasis placed on working on environments. While we each make personal health decisions, our surroundings play a big role in shaping those decisions. Are there safe places to walk or ride your bike? Do you see healthy foods in the vending machine at work or on your lunch tray? Can you avoid exposure to second hand smoke? When environments are shaped through a health lens, it’s easier for everyone to make choices that help them stay healthy. Working to create healthier environments is a big job, and requires the input and expertise of many. It also requires the support of the community. To help get this big job done and get the word out about public health, Bangor Public Health decided to adopt a big “spokesperson,” Paul Bunyan. “Paul Bunyan is a well-known local figure who has gotten a health makeover as part of BPHCS’ campaign, a Healthy Bangor Starts With You,” said Jamie Comstock, health promotion manager at
Photo courtesy Bangor Public Health
A woman looks at the sign identifying the walking paths at Bangor Mall.
BPHCS. “We hope you’ve seen him and his family on signs throughout the community, thanking you for not smoking or giving tips and resources for healthy living.” Bangor Public Health and Community Services will work to grow its public health campaign, and its partnerships throughout the Greater Bangor Region so that everyone has education, resources, and opportunities for healthy living. If you are interested in learning more about Bangor Public Health and Community Services, visit bangorpublichealth.org.
15 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
16 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
Modern opportunities ease rivalries, but matchups remain intense for boys basketball By Ernie Clark BDN Staff
Technology and travel teams have helped foster a profound change in many high school sports rivalries. Intensity that once prevailed on a 24-7 basis is confined largely to the actual competitive experiences between the schools, otherwise, opponents with similar athletic passions routinely exchange text messages, team up in off-season club programs and often become best friends. “Times have changed,” said Brian McDormand, who coached the Old Town boys basketball team to the Class B state championship last winter. “There’s so much interaction with social media, the kids go back and forth with it. When I was in school in Waterville [at Colby College], I called home once a month if I had enough money from working in the cafeteria to put my nickels and quarters in the old phone machine. These guys today just get on the phone and text and are always going back and forth with each other. That’s the way of the world. It’s much more open now.” Student-athletes at neighboring Old Town and Orono high schools are typical of that trend and in recent years have developed an even more formalized sporting relationship -- the schools field a cooperative ice hockey team and this fall held a weekly joint football practice. “It’s not like the Orono-Old Town rivalry when I was a player at Orono my senior year,” said Red Riots boys basketball coach Jason Coleman. Old Town used a late-season surge to rise
from the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Maine tournament all the way to a gold-ball celebration. Graduation losses included guard Garvey Melmed, playing at the University of Maine -- but the Coyotes return veterans Eric Hoogterp, Adam Richardson and Mitchell Cole and confidence stemming from last winter’s unanticipated rise to the top. Orono reached the Class C regional quarterfinals last winter with a lineup featuring four freshmen among its top seven players before dropping a three-point decision to perennial power Calais. Those freshmen -- Keenan Collett, Jackson Coutts, Nate DeSisto and Jake Koffman -- are now more physical sophomores, and the expectations are even higher. “Last year, our goal was to earn a preliminary spot and have a chance to get to the Cross Center,” said Coleman. “This year, we obviously want to take it a step further.” While they compete in different classes, Orono and Old Town will have two highly awaited opportunities to test themselves against each other during the regular season, Dec. 23 at Orono and Jan. 28 at Old Town. “I think they’re pretty good with each other off the court, but when they get on the court, they’re going to battle each other,” said McDormand. Old Town likely will be challenged by the likes of Big East Conference rivals Ellsworth and Caribou, which returns the brotherly backcourt pairing of Dayne and Donovan Savage. Then there’s Kennebec Valley Athletic
Conference contenders Winslow, Medomak Valley of Waldoboro and Oceanside of Rockland-Thomaston that similarly are poised for tournament time. Orono may face an even deeper field of contenders in Eastern C led by defending state champion Houlton and All-Maine senior forward Kyle Bouchard, who will continue his basketball career on scholarship next year at Division II Bentley University. Calais returns a strong senior nucleus led by versatile swingman Kyle Johnson, while Washington Academy boasts the senior forward tandem of Gage Feeney and Austin Seavey. Lee Academy is another consistent tournament threat, while George Stevens and Central of Corinth loom as potential dark horse contenders. Hampden Academy hopes to continue its remarkable run in Class A, where coach Russ Bartlett’s club is the four-time defending Eastern Maine champion. The Broncos will feature a different look this winter with the graduation of two firstteam All-Maine stars in reigning Maine Gatorade Player of the Year Zach Gilpin and Isaiah Bess, but the team will rely heavily on a talented junior class led by guards Nick Gilpin and Jake Black and forwards Brendan McIntyre and Conar Moore. Senior-laden Edward Little of Auburn was picked just ahead of Hampden atop this year’s Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll, with an Oxford Hills of South Paris featuring junior forward Andrew Fleming ranked third. Another threat looks to be Messalonskee of Oakland and senior forward Nick Mayo, who emerged during this year’s AAU season to earn nine Division I college scholarship
offers before signing to play at Eastern Kentucky beginning with the 2015-16 season. Perennial power Bangor and neighboring Brewer were among teams outside the top eight in that KVAC preseason outlook. Bangor suffered heavy graduation losses, but seniors Liam Harrigan, Andrew Hillier and Trey Kenny and junior Justin Smith provide veteran experience for coach Ed Kohtala’s Rams. Brewer will be more experienced overall than a year ago, with coach Clayton Blood’s Witches led by two talented third-year varsity players in forward Matt Pushard and guard Logan Rogerson. The Eastern D ranks typically provide one of the more entertaining races from early December to title time. Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook, a regional finalist last winter, should be back among the contending class this fall, with veteran coach Bill McAvoy guiding a squad that features senior Cameron Landry and sophomores Jackson Mathers and Nolan Altvater. Washburn, top-rated in last year’s regular-season standings before being stunned by No. 16 Jonesport-Beals in the preliminary round, also boasts a deep returning cast, while Easton graduated leading scorer and rebounder Hunter Turner but returns considerable experience of its own after reaching the regional semifinals for the second straight year. Defending Class D state champion Hodgdon’s quest for a second straight title run took a hit over the summer when All-Maine junior forward Chris Hudson transferred to Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, Massachusetts.
17 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
18 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
Bangor hockey team seeks first Eastern Maine title By Larry Mahoney BDN Staff
Will the third time be the charm for the Bangor High School boys hockey team? The Rams have never won an Eastern Maine Class A hockey championship dating back to the start of the program in 1983. But they have played in the last two EM championship games and have posted a 33-8 record during the past two seasons. The Rams lost to Lewiston 5-1 in the 2013 final and to St. Dominic of Auburn 3-1 last season. The Rams have graduated four of their six defensemen, including Travis Roy Award finalist Justin Courtney, and goalie Rye Powell. The Travis Roy Award is presented to the state’s best senior player. Courtney had 10 goals and 19 assists last season. They also lost two of their best forwards in
Cam Dickson and Jordan Tracy. Dickson has graduated while Tracy decided to pass up his senior year at Bangor to play for the Portland Junior Pirates’ under-18 team. But sophomore goalie Derek Fournier was chosen the most valuable player in the annual John Bapst exhibition tournament last weekend, and the Rams have a talented group of forwards back led by Trevor DeLaite, a 20-goal scorer in 2013-14. BDN Photo by Kevin Bennett They also have a pair of Bangor’s Alec Coleman-Pray reels in the puck while seasoned defensemen in Sam being chased by Lewiston’s Kyle Lemelin during a high Huston and Ben Crichton. school hockey game Feb. 13, 2014 at Sawyer Arena in “I think this is the year we can Bangor. get over the hump,” third-year Bangor coach Quinn Paradis said. “Getting to looking forward to an exciting year,” Paradis added. the state championship game is our goal. “We have been so close. And now, having “We have some holes to fill, but I’m
19 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014 won the baseball state championship (last spring), we know how it feels,” said DeLaite, who pitched and played the outfield for the high school team and is one of four members of both teams. “We want to prove we’re one of the best teams in the state. A lot of people don’t think we’re good enough.” “We want to be the first Bangor team to win a state championship in hockey,” Huston said. “If any team can do it, it’s us.” “We have a real good core group of seniors. We’re all dedicated, and we’re all really hard workers,” senior left winger Sam Kenney said. “The majority of us have been around since we were freshmen. A lot of people feel we suffered some big losses, but that just gives us a bigger chip on our shoulders to win.” The most significant holes for the Rams to fill are on the back end with Fournier taking over for Powell and four inexperienced defensemen joining Huston and Crichton on the blue line. Senior Brennan Lane missed a healthy chunk of last season with an injury and wound up seeing time on the JV team along with sophomore Nick Cowperthwaite and junior Cameron Burpee. Cowperthwaite and Burpee also will see regular service on defense. Junior Brandon Rios, another JV last season, and sophomore Gary Farnham, who didn’t play last winter, will rotate in as the sixth defenseman. “We may have a few gaps on defense, but as the season goes on. And with the dedication of our (inexperienced) defensemen, it won’t be a problem at the end of the season,” Kenney said. “We’ll be strong on defense,” Paradis predicted. “The guys have really improved from Day One.” Huston, who is likely to log a lot of
minutes, said he has full confidence in his younger defensemen. “They’ll be able to step in and help us a lot,” Huston said. Fournier has impressed people with his early play. “Derek’s a very good goalie,” Kenney said. The Rams should be able to put the puck in the net. DeLaite will center a line between Kenney and senior Andrew Elston. That line played together last season and was highly productive. The Rams also will have a dangerous allsenior line comprised of Owen Trundy between Jake Fournier and Nick Graham. They played together at times last season. Two more seniors, center Alec ColemanPray and left wing Nate Bach, will be on a line with junior right wing Cam Cota. Burpee, in addition to his role on the blue line, will center the fourth line between sophomore Dan Webber and junior Drew Powell. “Our forwards will be one of our team’s strengths,” Kenney said. “We have a pretty multi-faceted team.” Kenney, Jake Fournier and Graham also scored at least 10 goals apiece last season along with DeLaite. DeLaite said he is looking forward to another strong season. “I’m going to do the same things I did last year: crash the net hard and try to make plays,” DeLaite said. “I’m not going to press. I’m going to stay focused and trust my teammates. Paradis and his players feel the Eastern Maine Class A championship again will be decided among themselves, Lewiston and St. Dom’s. They feel it is their turn to hoist the crown.
20 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
Lisbon cheerleaders hounded by the dream of a state title
RUSS DILLINGHAM/SUN JOURNAL
The Lisbon High School competition cheering team surprised everyone last year and coach Niki Adams, back center, hopes to develop the program into a powerhouse. By Tony Blasi Sun Journal
Speak to any Lisbon cheerleader and you will discover the entire team has a onetrack mind when it comes to this season. The conversations become repetitive, with ‘state title’ bandied about every other sentence. For the Greyhounds, it is all about winning a state title, which has become their holy grail. Lisbon came pretty close last year and surprised itself at New Englands. The Greyhounds took second place in the Western regional and second place in states. “Our goal is to definitely duplicate or do better,” Lisbon coach Nicole Adams said. “This season, we are upping the bar.” There was no room in the budget to hire a choreographer like a handful of bigger schools do, but Adams and her Greyhounds are used to going it alone without outside help. Although Lisbon operates on a tight budget, the Greyhounds’ numbers are up and that’s greats news for the entire team. “This year, we have quite a few freshmen,” Adams added. “Most of our team is freshmen. They are definitely going to be learning and developing their skills.” Confidence is high for the Greyhounds with the their added depth and last year’s
success. “A state title would definitely be wonderful to take and attend New Englands,” Adams said. “They definitely have a goal and mindset on what they want to do this year.” The drive to capture a state title began when last season when the Greyhounds finished on a high note. The opportunity to compete in New Englands against teams outside Maine sparked that dream. “It definitely put a drive in us to return to New Englands,” Adams added. Tony Blasi, Staff Editor“Certainly a state title would be awesome,“ senior Loren Grant said. “Lisbon has never had a state title so it would be awesome to be the first. Go out with a bang. We have a lot of talented cheerleaders this year.” “We are all very, very hungry for that state title,’ senior Abby Curtis said. “We came very, very close last season and we want to take it.” For senior Mataia Shane, this season is all about Lisbon pride — and, of course, winning the state title. “This season I want to go out and push myself more than last year and hopefully we will get states,” Shane said. “After seeing New Englands and experiencing their caliber down there, we are definitely upping the bar,” Adams said.
21 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
Maine high school basketball rule changes address hand checks, free-throw rebounding By Ernie Clark BDN Staff
The biggest rule change facing high school basketball players this winter isn’t really a change. It’s more like the ultimate accentuation of the hand-check rule as a point of emphasis. Instead of continuing to stress such fouls as merely a priority for game officials, the National Federation of State High School Association rules committee has added a new article on the topic to its rule book. Under the article, the following acts constitute a foul when committed against a ball handler: placing two hands on the player, placing an extended arm bar on the player, placing and keeping a hand on the player, or contacting the player more than once with the same hand or alternating hands. “Either four or five different times over the last 15-ish years, this exact terminology was in the points of emphasis,” said Maine basketball commissioner Peter Webb, a voting member of the 10-member National Federation of State High School Association rules committee representing New England, New York and New Jersey. “It’s a new article, but it isn’t a new rule, and it says against the ball handler, but it’s true against every player on the court. The contact rules have been spelled out in the other 11 articles [in the rule book] for decades.” That change was one of more than 30 recommendations that reached the rules committee but among less than a handful gaining final approval. “The bottom line is players don’t want hands on them, they want to be able to play, and coaches have the same feeling, so if this is officiated as it should be, everyone involved should be happier,” said Webb. “Basketball’s a busy game and is played in rather small confines, so certainly it’s not going to be contact free. By rule there is incidental contact, contact that doesn’t af-
fect the play, but on top of that when you see somebody putting two hands on a player or an armbar on a player, you should hear a whistle every time,” he said. Perhaps the other change that will be most noticeable to fans involves action around the lane during free-throw attempts. Players stationed along either side of the free-throw lane will be able to enter the lane in an attempt to grab the rebound or box out as soon as the shooter releases his shot. That compares to the rule that has existed for the last two decades, when players along the side of the lane had to wait until the shot hit the backboard or basket ring before entering the lane. “The reason we were playing the way we had been was that for seven years in a row there was a point of emphasis on rough play, and about 90 percent of that rough play involved pursuit of rebounds on missed free throws,” said Webb. “That rough play has been removed for nearly 20 years, and now the rules committee has decided based on information it has received to go back and try allowing people on the free-throw lane lines to enter the lane upon the release of the ball by the free thrower.” The shooter still must wait until the shot hits the backboard or basket ring before crossing the free-throw line, while other players on the court who would be standing beyond the 3-point arc can’t cross that arc until the ball touches the backboard or basket ring. In addition, players along the lane can’t enter the semi-circle from where the free throw is taken until the ball touches the backboard or ring. Other changes include the regulation of arm sleeves, knee sleeves, lower leg sleeves and tights worn by players to bring them into more color conformity with school uniforms; and a further definition of intentional fouls to include excessive contact with any opponent while the ball is live or until an airborne shooter returns to the floor.
22 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
Law leads talented crop of seven state qualifiers returning for Foxcroft wrestling By Mark Chevalier
With 144 wins, two team state titles, and two individual state titles, senior Brooks Law can already lay claim to being one of the most decorated wrestlers in Foxcroft Academy history. Yet he’s still just second in his own family in career wins, with brother Forrest, class of 1013 (now a U.S. Army Airborne Ranger) setting the school’s alltime mark at 168 two years ago. That should soon change for the 145-pound senior captain, who became the second Pony freshman to win a state title in 2012, was the first sophomore in Maine history to pick up his 100th win as a sophomore, and has lost just 12 matches in three years. Law is one of seven state qualifiers returning for Coach Luis Ayala, who led the Ponies to a fourth-place finish at the Class B state meet last winter on the heels of winning three straight Class C BDN Photo by Kevin Bennett state titles. Fellow seniors Eli Olson Bucksport’s Matt Stewart, right, and Dover-Foxcroft’s Brooks Law compete in the championship match on Feb. 1, 2014 in the 138 pound (third at the eastern regional meet at 126 weight class during the PVC wrestling championships in Ellsworth. Law won.
23 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014 pounds) and Isaac Whittemore (third at the PVC meet at 138) will look to finish their careers on a high note while talented juniors Antonio Ayala (third at the state meet at 120 last year after becoming the third FA freshman to win a state title the previous year), Michael Pendriss (fourth at the state meet at 182), and Brandon Brock (fourth at the state meet at 195) also return. Sophomore Billy Brock will look to build on a promising freshman campaign that saw him finish third at PVCs and fourth at the eastern regionals in the 170-pound bracket. “We have an experienced team coming back this year and that helps a lot in practice,” said Coach Ayala, who led Foxcroft to back-to-back state titles in 2004-2005, in addition to the recent threepeat. “We can move into learning a higher level of moves and drills. We don’t have to review a lot of the basics. Practices have been moving along because the kids have been coming to practice ready to work hard–especially with these two first weeks of preseason,
where we do a lot of conditioning and cardio drills. It can get intense, but the kids are used to it now and are prepared for it.” The Ponies, who graduated two more state qualifiers (state runners-up Corbyn Bruce and Todd Francis), will also look for major contributions from junior Chris Storer (152), sophomores Conner Johnson (132) and Matt Storer (285), and incoming freshmen Brandon Weston (106), Breyer Manchester (106-113), and RJ Nelson (120126), each of whom was a Penquis League Champion last year. Coach Ayala has been impressed with his freshmen thus far. “The new wrestlers are learning what it means to be a Foxcroft wrestler,” he said. “They have been coming in with an open mind, learning a lot, and working hard. They have a lot of experience wrestling and have been successful in middle school, and that helps with their adjustment to high school wrestling.” The Ponies will seek to improve on last year’s performance at the state meet, in which they finished behind Camden Hills,
Mountain Valley, and Ellsworth. “It’s not going to be easy, but we look forward to the challenge,” said Coach Ayala. “The competition at this level is intense, and it’s a battle every time we wrestle these opponents. Expectations for us are always high. We expect to be in every tournament competing and battling for a trophy. This year is no different. We have a great group of kids that expect no less from our team. We will train hard and be prepared to compete to do our best. That is what we do!” The Ponies first regular season test will be at Belfast this Saturday at 10 am. They face a great challenge in the early going, as both Ayala and Pendriss will be sidelined with injuries for several weeks. Mark Chevalier is director of communications at Foxcroft Academy, where he also teaches filmmaking and applied media production, works as a dorm parent, and coaches the varsity baseball team. Read more of his blog at foxcroftsports.bangordailynews.com.
24 HIGH SCHOOL WINTER SPORTS GUIDE • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014