Levesque leads way in West whipping

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BANGOR – The flashy moves, high-scoring offenses and high-flying slam dunks were enough to keep a smile on the face of nearly everyone at Newman Gymnasium at Husson College on Saturday. Everyone, that is, except for Falmouth’s Roger Levesque.

Despite the light atmosphere of the Boys Class C/D senior All-Star basketball game, Levesque managed to wear a scowl throughout the contest. His look earned the attention of his coach, Dwight Littlefield of Valley High School at one point in the second half.

“Hey Roger,” Littlefield shouted from his sideline seat. “Smile.”

Even though he didn’t smile, Levesque had the last laugh in the end, as he led the West to an 89-60 win over the East.

In the Class A/B game, four players in double figures paced the West to a 91-79 victory over the East.

In the C/D game, the West squad’s defense and rebounding kept the East stars in check and secured a 29-point win.

Levesque controlled the outside for the West, while the combination of Aaron Mattson of Hall-Dale High School and Ethan Betts of Mount Abram pounded the boards.

Levesque’s numbers were solid, if not impressive, for an All-Star game. He registered 16 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals in a fine all-around performance. But the key for Levesque was his will to win.

“I was going full speed,” he said. “I always like to win.”

The absence of Pine Tree Academy’s Nick Goodman pressed Levesque into extra duty in the first half, but he responded like the Mr. Basketball finalist he was. He scored nine points, including two 3-pointers, in the second quarter, fueling a 13-4 spurt that left the West with a 20-point lead with 2:30 remaining in the first half.

The West, which outrebounded the East 58-33, at times, looked as though it had played together all season, but there was still a good deal of miscommunication by both teams.

Levesque noted that the West had just one practice and a scrimmage against the West A/B team. Despite that he said, “Everything just seemed to click.”

Jonesport-Beals coach Ordie Alley, a co-coach of the East squad, along with Jamie Russell of Central of East Corinth, wasn’t impressed by the cohesiveness of either team, but loved the experience just the same. “It was a wonderful chance to be with the kids,” he said. “It was an All-Star game and that means just what it says. If you win, you win, and if you lose, you lose.”

Mt. Abram of Strong’s Betts finished with a game-high 24 points and 15 rebounds for the West. Gavin Robinson of Valley in Bingham connected for 17 points and David Connolly of Falmouth contributed 12. Mattson grabbed 13 rebounds.

Nathan Marquis of Van Buren led the East with 11 points, including six in the fourth quarter.

In the A/B game, the East remained close, but the West’s height advantage was too much to overcome.

Pierce Jackson of Kennebunk and C.J. Vose of Yarmouth dominated the paint as the pair of 6-8 centers rotated every four minutes to control the inside. The two combined for 38 points and 15 rebounds, providing the difference for the West.

Vose scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Jackson contributed 18 and six boards.

Robert Pilsbury of Portland, the new Mr. Basketball, turned in a typical performance, posting 19 points and eight rebounds. His acrobatic shots and passes kept the crowd in awe.

Kevin Crosman added 11 points and nine rebounds for the West.

Elliot Blackstone of Bangor put on a show for the hometown fans, leading the East in scoring with 15 points. Waterville’s Sean Flood netted 13 points while Jim Wilson of Camden-Rockport and MDI’s Aaron Gray chipped in with 11 and 10, respectively.

Blackstone wasn’t concerned about the loss after the game. “It was fun to play with some players from around the league and my senior friends,” he said. “There were no expectations and we just had fun.”

C-R’s Jeff Hart, coaching the game for the third time, echoed Blackstone’s sentiment. “We had a good time,” he said. “It was fun for the kids and it was fun to watch them play.”

A-B boys basketball

West 91, East 79

A-B West Boys A-B East Boys

Name G AG F AF TP Name G AG F AF TP

Crosman 5 11 0 0 11 Blackstone 6 9 2 3 15

Ginn 3 10 0 0 6 Clark 3 7 2 2 8

Jackson 8 11 2 3 18 Clement 3 5 2 4 8

Pilsbury 7 11 3 3 19 Flood 5 9 2 4 13

Russo 0 3 0 0 0 Gray 5 10 0 0 10

Seaver 1 6 0 0 3 Moore 1 2 0 0 2

Tarbox 1 2 0 0 2 Sleeper 2 6 0 0 6

Vose 8 10 4 7 20 Underwood 2 7 0 0 4

Walker 1 5 3 4 5 Weston 1 3 0 0 2

Wallingford 2 6 2 2 7 Wilson 4 6 1 2 11

Totals 36 75 14 19 91 Totals 32 64 9 15 79

West 22 44 68 91

East 20 40 63 79

3-pt. goals: West (5-16): Crosman 1-3, Ginn 0-3, Pillsbury 2-3, Seaver 1-4, Walker 0-1, Wallingford 1-2; East (6-18): Blackstone 1-4, Clement 0-1, Flood 1-2, Sleeper 2-6, Underwood 0-1, Wilson 2-4

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C-D boys basketball

West 89, East 60

West East

Name G AG F AF TP Name G AG F AF TP

Averill 3 13 1 2 7 Clavette 4 11 0 0 8

Bell 1 4 2 2 4 Jamo 1 4 0 1 2

Betts 11 20 2 4 24 King 3 5 2 3 8

Connolly 4 13 2 2 12 Knowlton 3 9 0 0 7

Finelli 0 2 0 0 0 Marquis 4 7 1 1 11

Huke 1 3 0 0 2 Michaud 1 3 3 4 5

Levesque 5 9 3 4 16 Priest 0 4 1 2 1

Mattson 3 9 1 2 7 Reynolds 3 8 1 2 7

Robinson 7 11 1 1 17 Rivera 0 4 6 8 6

Thompson 2 6 0 0 5

Totals 35 84 12 16 89 Totals 21 61 14 22 60

West 15 45 63 89

East 18 29 43 60

3-pt. goals: West (7-25): Averill 0-7, Connolly 2-7, Huke 0-1, Levesque 3-3, Mattson 0-1, Robinson 2-6; East (4-18): Clavette 0-2, Jamo 0-1, Knowlton 1-3, Marquis 2-3, Priest 0-3, Reynolds 0-1, Rivera 0-3, Thompson 1-2