It was just like old times with Roger Reed running a practice inside the Bangor Christian gymnasium.

Reed, the long-time former BC coach, and his current Bangor High School basketball team made the trip out Broadway to have the practice, which included a visit from BC grad Randy Dunton, now an assistant coach at Liberty University.

Reed and Dunton were kind enough to give a few pointers to the Patriots team, a squad that features one returning starter, but three transfers who will come in and start.

Call it a resurgence in Bangor Christian basketball.

Current Bangor Christian coach Steve Turner, in his second season, has 12 players on his roster and some good athletes.

“We’ve got some new kids in this year, and while we don’t have a lot of size, we do have more speed and quickness,” said Turner.

Reed and Dunton helping out with that practice was beneficial to both the players and the coach as Bangor Christian looks to improve from last year’s 1-9 team.

Mark Chiavelli, a senior, is the lone returning starter to the team, but two Temple Christian Academy transfers – Averill Lovely and Mark Jamison – give the team some depth. Matt Andreson, a transfer from Pennsylvania, will also be in the starting lineup along with freshman Luke Leavitt.

“We’ve already set one of our goals and that is to make the tournament,” Leavitt said.

Bangor Christian last played in a basketball tournament in 1983 and played for the EM “D” title in 1982. The Pats were one of Class D’s stronger teams during the late ’70s, and Turner is looking to build this team back into an annual contender.

“I think we can do it,” Turner said. “We’ve only got two seniors on the squad and a lot of freshmen coming in. We’ve got some good athletes.”

And with Reed and Dunton lending helping advice, the Patriots might be on their way.

BANGOR CHRISTIAN

Last year: 1-9

Coach/Years: Steve Turner/2nd

Returning starters: 1

Key players: Sr. Mark Chiavelli (F, 6-0); Jr. Matt Andresen (F-G, 5-8); Jr. Averill Lovely (G, 5-7), Jr. Mark Jamison (G, 6-0); Fr. Luke Leavitt (F, 6-0); Jr. Matt Clapp (G, 5-8); So. Matt Lassell (G, 5-8); Jr. Aaron Martin (G, 5-9); Fr. Phil Fairley (F, 6-0)

Outlook: The hopes are high at BC this season. With one returning starter and three transfers that will also start, the Patriots have an experienced team that could surprise a few people. Jamison has a knee injury, but he can play on it. If he remains healthy and the younger kids gel, Bangor Christian could return to the tournament for the first time in seven years. After playing only 10 games last season and 13 the year before, a full schedule of 18 games will help BC in the Heal Points run.

DEER ISLE-STONINGTON

Last year: 13-5, EM “D” semifinalist

Coach/Years: Joe Mesi/12th

Returning starters: 2

Key players: Sr. Ryan Dorr (G, 5-8); Sr. Garrett Brown (F, 5-10); Sr. Tony Bray (F, 5-7); So. Chris Eaton (F-C, 6-0); Jr. Harry Soucy (C, 6-5); Jr. Jon Haskell (F, 6-1)

Outlook: Mesi claims that there are nine players on this team who could find themselves in the starting lineup. That kind of depth will give the Mariners a lot of fresh bodies during key runs. A lot of fastbreaking and pressure defense can be seen from DI-S this season. A tough schedule with a few wins means the Mariners should be tourney-bound once again.

GREENVILLE

Last year: 2-16.

Coach/Years: Carroll Smith/10th

Returning starters: 2

Key players: Sr. Eric Smith (G-F, 5-11), Sr. Travis Carpenter (G, 5-10); Sr. Zeke Morrel (F, 6-0); Jr. Jon Walden (F, 6-1); Jr. Matt Murray (C, 6-3); So. Jarrod Strid (G, 5-10).

Outlook: “We’d like to be .500,” says Coach Smith. A mixed schedule of Class C (Lee, PCHS) and D (Forest Hills, Valley-Bingham) schools means the Lakers will probably have to go .500 to reach the tournament. While Greenville’s inside game is suspect, Smith has some good outside shooters that could carry the team.

JONESPORT-BEALS

Last year: 9-9, Class D quarterfinalists

Coach/Years: Ordie Alley, 24th

Key players: Sr. Shawn Alley (G, 5-11); Sr Troy Alley (G-F 6-0); Sr. Jon Beal (G, 5-9); Sr. Dana Beal (Sr, 5-9); Sr. Will Coffin (C, 6-1); Jr. Toby Crowley (G, 5-7)

Outlook: The Royals are small in size, but quick up the court. One of the more tradition-rich programs in Eastern Maine, Jonesport-Beals have some proven scorers. How the defense plays and how well J-B does against taller teams will tell if a trip to Bangor for the tournament is in the cards. If past history means anything, though, you know they’ll make a run for it.

LUBEC

Last year: 9-9

Coach/Years: Don Farrell/1st (13th overall at Lubec)

Returning starters: 0

Key players: Sr. Alan Kelley (F, 5-10); Sr. Mike Mahar (F-C, 6-0); Jr. John Denbow (F, 6-2); So. Donny Farrell (G, 5-10)

Outlook: The Hornets lost nine seniors from last year’s tournament entry. Farrell sums that up as, “We’ll be struggling.” Denbow, coming off a knee injury, and Farrell will be getting much needed experience for the future. With improvement and a few late-season upsets, the Hornets could sneak in.

MACHIAS

Last year: 5-13

Coach/Years: Ron Brown/2nd

Returning starters: 3

Key players: Sr. Shane Barker (G, 5-11); Sr. Justin Walston (F-C, 5-11); Jr. Ryan Schoppee (G-F, 6-1); Jr. Lucas Stuart (F, 6-0); Jr. Shannon Grange (C, 6-0)

Outlook: The biggest problem with the Bulldogs is a lack of height. Schoppee is the biggest kid at 6-foot-1, but he’s the point guard. How well Machias does on the defensive boards will tell the story of how they will do doing the season. The Bulldogs changed their style to a slower paced game last year, but maturity means they could pick it up a little bit this season. A tournament berth is the ultimate goal.

SHEAD

Last year: 4-14

Coach/Years: Lloyd Wentworth/1st

Returning starters: 1

Key players: Jr. Mike Le3); Sr. Ryan Garrison (F, 5-11); Sr. Jay Suddy (G, 5-7); Sr. Roger Keezer (G, 5-8)

Outlook: A building year in Eastport with Lee the only returning starter. Wentworth is looking to build the team around quickness and thinks, with a few key wins down the stretch, the Tigers might be able to sneak into the tournament.

TEMPLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

Last year: 9-10, EM “D” quarterfinals

Coach/Years: Galen Elliott/3rd

Returning starters: 1

Key players: Sr. Scott Kelley (C, 6-1); Jr. Chad Linnehan (G, 5-11); Sr. James Logan (G, 5-10); So. Emery Bamford (G, 5-7); Fr. Nate Campbell (C, 6-2); 8th-grader Chipper Logan (G, 5-9)

Outlook: Kelley is the only starter returning, but Linnehan and Logan saw a substantial amount of playing time. Elliott is looking for a .500 season, which should be good enough to get the Seahawks back into the tournament. Height and depth are the team’s biggest problems.

One in a series profiling high school basketball teams.