Central Aroostook of Mars Hill’s Tim Brewer and Larry Judd of Skowhegan have resigned from their jobs as boys basketball coaches at their schools.

The 26-year-old Brewer said that a combination of his continuing education and workload forced him to step down.

“We’re going to try to get a one-year interim coach,” Brewer said. “I want to come back the year after next.”

Brewer attends Northern Maine Technical College in Presque Isle as a full-time student studying electrical construction.

He also works full-time for his father in the construction business.

“I [coached] this year and went to school full time, took 13 and 16 credits in the two semesters. Next year is 19, plus we have a couple of big jobs coming,” Brewer said.

On top of that, Brewer said he wants to spend time with his young family.

“I know where basketball stands. I love it, but I know its place,” Brewer said.

In three years as the Panthers’ coach, Brewer’s teams went 42-16. His teams qualified for the Eastern Maine Class D tournament each year, reaching the quarterfinals two years in a row and the semifinals in this year’s tourney.

“I think they have a shot to do some good things there next year. I’m certainly going to miss them,” Brewer said.

Central Aroostook athletic director Joe Shaw said that the position will be advertised and that the school and team will miss Brewer.

“He’s one of the most outstanding coaches in the state. We’re very sad he’s getting through. I wish he would come back tomorrow,” Shaw said.

Judd said that he is stepping down because he and his wife would like to relocate from Skowhegan to the Bangor area.

“She works at the university in Orono and I teach at Mount View [in Thorndike]. That’s quite a commute for both of us,” Judd said.

Judd acknowledged that he was pursing a job as an assistant college coach in the area but would not say where.

Judd’s teams were 57-26 during his four years at Skowhegan. His teams played in three Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championship games and reached the Eastern Maine Class A finals in 2001.

Messalonskee loses coaches

Messalonskee of Oakland has lost its football and boys basketball coaches.

Athletic director Gwen Bacon said that football coach John Hersom met with the school district’s superintendent on Monday and told him he will not be returning as the coach in the fall.

“He met with his players [Tuesday] morning and told them,” Bacon said.

Hersom has coached the Eagles for 10 years. His teams qualified for the playoffs seven times, playing in both Class A and B.

“We’ve always looked at our program as a ‘we’ program. We’ve always gone with that philosophy. I think we’ve gotten away from that the last few years,” Hersom said. “I think the world of the kids but I think we’ve gotten away from having that good player-coach relationship a bit. I’m not sure how that happened. And that has bothered me.”

Hersom’s decision to resign comes less than two weeks after boys basketball coach Jim Pettis says he was told his contract would not be renewed.

Pettis said that he believes the decision not to renew his contract was based on an evaluation he received following the end of the basketball season.

“I was surprised. Even in the evaluation I didn’t see anything that would merit me not returning,” Pettis said. “I guess, to me, it doesn’t matter, the reason. I wasn’t happy with the way I was treated, but I certainly understand the school has the right to have the coach it wants.”

Bacon said she could not speak about personnel matters.

“The position is open and has been advertised. I’ve had a number of people inquire about it,” Bacon said.

Pettis coached the Eagles for two years and had a 12-20 record.

Maine Hoops reaches semis

The Maine Hoops North under-16 AAU boys basketball team reached the semifinals of the Adidas Hoop Challenge last weekend in New Haven, Conn.

Coach Paul Cook said the team won four straight games before losing 62-55 to the Shaq Attack team from Springfield, Mass.

“Maybe the name scared them a little,” Cook quipped.

Maine Hoops North beat Westchester County, N.Y., 43-41 behind Jordan Cook of Hampden’s 11 points and 6-foot-8 Matt Wheelock’s 10 points. Wheelock attends Hall-Dale in Hallowell.

They followed that with a 43-34 win over the Connecticut Northstars. Cook had nine points while Tim Stammen of Camden Hills had eight.

Mark Socoby of Houlton had 21 points in their 62-46 win over Boston YABC, while Bobby Gilbert of Foxcroft Academy had 14 and Isaac Bell of Brewer 10 in their 62-38 win over Connecticut Gold.

Matt Carey of Foxcroft Academy scored 13, Stammen 12, and Wheelock 11 in the team’s semifinal loss.

The team is back on the road this weekend to play in the AAU Super Regional at Springfield, Mass.

Don Perryman can be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or dperryman@bangordailynews.net