West boys strong Title hopes rest on stars

This weekend’s state boys basketball championship games could be called, “The brawls for the ball.” Considering the teams chasing the golden hardware in Classes B, C and D this season, you might want to change that to “When mountains meet the sea.”

From Mars Hill comes Eastern D champ Central Aroostook, to face the island community of Vinalhaven. In Class C, Eastern king Schenck of East Millinocket travels down from the gateway to Baxter State Park to take on Old Orchard Beach. And in “B” Western Maine’s Mountain Valley of Rumford will play Camden-Rockport.

The Classes C and D championship games will take place at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday. The “D” boys tip off at 3 p.m., while the “C” game will start at 9 p.m. The Class B title match is tonight at Bangor Auditorium. Game time is 8:45 p.m.

IN CLASS B, 18-1 Mountain Valley is led by 6-foot-2 junior Athird-team NEWS All-Maine selection a year ago. The high-flying guard broke the Western Maine B tournament record with 113 points in three games to carry the Falcons to the state game.

Bedard averages 33 points per game, to go along with nine rebounds, five assists and four steals.

“He’s one of the top players in the state, and has been able to break down a lot of defenses for us,” Coach Matt Kaubris said. “He creates a lot of shot opportunities for himself and for his teammates.”

Add the ability to shoot from the perimeter with his total of “about 20 dunks,” according to Kaubris, and you’ve got a dynamic package.

At the other guard is 5-foot-11 senior Dean Boudreau, who serves as the defensive specialist and long-range bomber. Boudreau set a Western tourney record with six 3-pointers in MV’s 95-61 win over Gorham in the championship game.

Shawn Spadea, a 6-5 senior, gives the Falcons a big man in the middle. Spadea averaged 14 ppg and 11 rpg during the season.

The power forward is Steve Gonzales, a 6-1 sophomore who pitches in 9 ppg and 9 rpg.

Rounding out the starting five is senior forward Adam Dayon, at 6-1 one of the top defensive players for the Falcons. Kaubris looks for Dayon to provide leadership and make good decisions on the floor.

CLASS C champs Old Orchard Beach, 16-5, also feature a player with star credentials, in 6-4 senior Bob Davies. Davies averages a triple-double, with 33 ppg, 14 rpg and 11 apg.

While soft-selling his star, OOB coach Mike Angelosante did offer a glimpse of how important Davies is to his team.

“I can say this: he jumps center for us and plays point guard,” Angelosante said. “He gets a lot of touches on the offensive end.

Junior Glen Johnson, a 5-8 guard, teams with 5-7 wing guard Matt Herbst to form the rest of the Seagull backcourt. But don’t let their diminutive appearance fool you; Johnson averages 14 ppg and can dunk. And Herbst is a sniper from the wing.

Jerry Nason will play the center spot. The 6-4 junior pulls down eight rebounds per contest.

The other forward will be 6-0 Mike Geyer, the “garbage man, so to speak,” says Angelosante. Geyer scores at a 13 ppg clip.

IN CLASS D, Vinalhaven will look to continue their string of giant-killing. The Vikings went into the Western Maine tourney seeded fourth, knocked off No. 1 in the second round, and crushed Windham Christian 61-31 in the finals.

The Vikings, like their opponents from Mars Hill, will feature a youthful blend of talent.

“We can run the court fairly well, but sometimes we try to take some time off the clock,” Vinalhaven Coach Dennis Pratt said. “We press at times. It just depends on how we match up.”

Sam Bickford, a 6-2 center, is the only senior in the starting lineup. He averaged about 14 points per game, according to Pratt, and has decent range.

“He can play (with his) back to the basket, or he can shoot from 15 feet in,” Pratt said.

Speedy junior guard Kyle Genevicz, the Vikes’ top scorer, is a 5-9 penetrator who can shoot the 3.

Junior Robert Swears, a 5-11 guard, will also start and add quickness and a good defender for the Vikings.

The stopper on defense is 6-1 sophomore Bruce Philip, who also averages 12 ppg from his forward position. “He’s our best defensive player,” Pratt said. “He’ll play a post man just as well as he’ll play a perimeter man.”

Sophomore Colby Oakes rounds out the starting lineup. The 6-1 forward gets most of his points on putbacks, and is a steady inside player.