Bangor boys cap perfect hoop season> UM hockey gets No. 2 seed; Young America sails ahead

The University of Maine hockey team, which beat UMass-Lowell 6-0 in Saturday night’s Hockey East Tournament consolation game, has earned the No. 2 seed for this week’s NCAA East Regional at Worcester, Mass. The announcement, made Sunday night, capped a busy weekend involving Maine athletes.

The Bangor High School boys basketball team and the girls from Cony High of Augusta claimed Class A state championships Saturday night at the Bangor Auditorium, capping undefeated seasons. Coach Roger Reed’s Bangor Rams held off Bonny Eagle of West Buxton 52-41 in a defense-dominated game, while Paul Vachon’s Cony Rams beat Westbrook 66-55.

Skipper Kevin Mahaney and his Young America crew opened the America’s Cup semifinals Saturday in San Diego with a 32-second victory over America . Sunday’s match against Stars and Stripe postponed by lack of wind. The race will be made up Wednesday.

Coach Shawn Walsh’s Black Bears take a 30-5-6 record into the East Regional, which begins Friday. By earning the No. 2 seed, Maine earns a first-round bye and needs only one victory to qualify for the Final Four, which begins March 30 at the Providence Civic Center in Providence, R.I.

The Bears play Saturday at a time to be announced at The Centrum against the winner of Friday’s contest between third-seeded New Hampshire and No. 6 Denver.

Saturday night, Maine bounced back from Friday’s 7-3 semifinal loss to Providence with a resounding shutout victory over the River Hawks. The Bears shut down UMass-Lowell, allowing only 14 shots on goal, to claim third place in the league tournament.

Senior defenseman Chris Imes of Maine was named to the Hockey East All-Tournament Team.

At the Bangor Auditorium Saturday night, Bangor wrapped up its first unbeaten basketball season in 75 years by beating Bonny Eagle. It was the second state championship in three years for the Rams.

Bangor shackled the Scots with swarming zone and man-to-man defensive sets, controlling the pace of the game. Seniors Matt Kinney and Danny Dahl scored 13 points each to pace the Rams’ offensive effort.

The Cony girls claimed the school’s first state hoop crown since 1989 by beating Westbrook. Amy Vachon led the way with 22 points and Mary Beth Coughlin had 14, including four 3-pointers in the first half, to help send the Rams on their way to victory.