The Bangor Christian boys basketball team will be looking to reverse last year’s result Thursday when it meets Valley of Bingham for the Class D state championship at the Bangor Auditorium beginning at approximately 9 p.m.

The Patriots dropped a heartbreaking 67-66 decision to the Cavaliers in the 2002 Class D state game.

It was the fifth consecutive state title for Valley, and the Cavaliers haven’t lost a game since then. In fact, Valley’s last loss came in the final regular-season game of the 2001-2002 season to Class C Piscataquis of Guilford. Prior to that loss, the Cavaliers had run off a streak of 101 straight wins. Their current streak is at 24 wins.

Valley will enter the game sporting a 20-0 record after beating Elan of Poland Spring 59-53 Saturday for the Western Maine title.

The Cavaliers are led by 6-foot-5 senior center Kevin Miller, who averaged 21 points per game during the Western Maine tourney.

Point guard Mark Gaudet averaged 20 ppg during the regular season. The 5-9 junior had a 32-point game against Buckfield in the WM quarterfinals.

Valley has also been able to count on 9 ppg from 6-0 sophomore Lucas Melcher. Travis Hovey, a 6-5 freshman, has averaged 9 ppg while primarily coming off the bench.

Bangor Christian (18-4) is led by NEWS William C. Warner award winner Josh Madden. The award is given to Eastern Maine tournament most valuable players in each class.

The 6-1 junior averaged 21.3 ppg and six rebounds during the Eastern Maine tournament.

Senior David Chrisos will undoubtedly have the juices flowing for the game after missing the state championship last year. The 6-0 Chrisos, a Wendy’s High School Heisman national finalist, was severely injured in a car accident just before the start of the 2002 Eastern Maine tournament.

Bangor Christian also has size at guard where senior Greg Patterson, a NEWS All-Tournament Team member, plays the point at 6-4.

The Patriots can match the Cavaliers’ inside size with 6-4 senior center Ben Sobey and his brother, 6-3 freshman forward Eric Sobey.

Junior D.J. McCleary plays bigger than his 6-1 frame and is not afraid to mix it up inside.