Guards highlight PI-Bangor game

Presque Isle’s Kasey Keenan vs. Bangor’s Tommy Waterman. It may be the premier individual matchup of the Eastern Maine Class A schoolboy basketball tournament.

For one team’s point guard, a semifinal playoff berth has become a constant, like potholes in spring for Maine drivers.

For the other team’s, the semis have been as elusive as “The Fugitive’s” one-armed man.

While the battle on the boards may go a longer way in determining the winner of Friday’s semifinal clash between Presque Isle and two-time defending state champion Bangor, it is the head-to-head matchup between both teams’ point guards that captures the imagination:

Waterman’s No. 2 Rams will meet Keenan’s No. 6 Wildcats at the Bangor Auditorium in a 9:10 p.m. game. The other Eastern semi matches top seed Mt. Blue of Farmington against No. 4 Skowhegan at 7:30 p.m.

The 17-2 Cougars will try to make it three straight against fellow Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference member Skowhegan, which comes in with a 14-5 record.

In the later game, Waterman is no stranger to semifinal playoff games. The junior point guard has played in one each year he has been in high school.

Keenan, on the other hand, has never played in a semifinal game and is playing in only his third tournament game. Waterman already has eight to his credit.

Both players bring unique abilities to the contest.

Though he only stands 5-foot-3, Keenan has been the Wildcats’ dynamo. And though technically an underclassman, Waterman has been playing like a veteran since he broke onto the team as a freshman.

“I think Kasey does for them what Tommy does for us,” said Bangor coach Roger Reed. “They both control the game and control their offenses. I think Kasey looks to score a little more. Tommy might be a little more defensive-minded in our scheme of things.”

Both players said playing the other was one of their toughest assignments.

“I wouldn’t say it’s impossible, but it’s a tough matchup,” said Waterman. “It’s tough to guard a small guy who can shoot because you feel like you want to block it. You just have to stay down and get a hand up when he shoots.”

Keenan hit 39 percent of his 3-point shots and averaged 16.3 points and 5.7 assists per game in the regular season.

Waterman has never been a huge scoring threat, but has earned a reputation as one of best defensive players in Eastern Maine and averaged more than two steals per game.

“He’s probably the quickest guy I’ve defended,” said Keenan. “But he’s also taller and that makes him tough to play.”

Both players have made their teammates better just by their presence in the lineup.

“Kasey makes his teammates better because they always have to pay attention. You never know when he’s going to make a pass, and a lot of our guys have found that out the hard way.” said Presque Isle coach Tim Prescott.