Ellsworth, Hermon boys off to quick starts

Just two Eastern B boys basketball teams took unbeaten records into Christmas, 6-0 Hermon and 5-0 Ellsworth.

Hermon preserved its unbeaten status by holding off previously unbeaten Foxcroft Academy 80-73 in an intense, physical battle Monday night.

The Hawks have been led by seniors Adam Gould, Adam Duplisea, Jason Shorey and Jesse Keith, who scored 14 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter against Foxcroft.

“Winning a game like this shows that we’re a contender, a tournament contender,” Keith said.

Keith has emerged as one of the state’s top scorers through the early part of the season, averaging 27.5 points per game.

“Jesse’s a player who just won’t let us lose,” said Hermon coach Alan Tweedie. “When times get tough on the floor, he’s the person that wants to do something about it. So far he’s been able to do that, and he always generating something for us that’s positive.”

While Hermon has relied on seniors for its success, a freshman has played a leading role in Ellsworth’s quick start.

First-year guard Corey DeWitt has burst on the Class B stage, leading the Eagles with a scoring average of 19.8 points per game.

Other leaders for coach Dan Clifford’s club are 6-foot-4 sophomore Andy Tracy (14.8 ppg) and senior point guard Joey DeWitt (11.2 ppg).

Ellsworth’s closest game to date has been a 63-50 win against Orono. The Eagles are averaging 70.6 points and allowing just 49.2 points per contest.

Ellsworth will host 5-1 Foxcroft on Jan. 9, then play Hermon for the first time this season in a road game scheduled for Jan. 13.

Hermon, meanwhile, has a return date against Foxcroft in Dover-Foxcroft on Jan. 6 before facing Ellsworth a week later.

Parity marks early Big East play

Eight head-to-head matchups featuring Big East Conference Class A teams have been played so far this season.

All but one have been decided by nine points or less, including three one-point games.

Only Old Town’s 63-42 victory over Nokomis of Newport last Friday defies the sense of parity that abounds early in the season.

And just two weeks into the season, no unbeaten teams remain.

“On any night, anybody can beat anybody that we play,” said Hampden coach Russ Bartlett, whose three Big East games have been decided by 11 points. “It just depends on who you catch on the right night and who’s playing better on that night. There’s not much difference between the lower teams in our league and the upper teams in our league.”

Most of the Big East Conference matchups have featured final scores in the 40s and 50s, contests marked by offensive halfcourt patience and tough man-to-man defense.

“It tells me that everybody is trying to play like we play,” said Bangor coach Roger Reed, whose defending state champions are off to a 1-2 start heading into Saturday’s game against 1-2 John Bapst. “Hampden as a rule is not as patient as they were [in the Broncos’ 51-44 win at Bangor last Friday], that’s usually our game. We’re the team that holds teams in the 40s and scores in the 50s, that’s what we’ve always been about.

“If everybody else begins to do that, you’ll see a lot of these kinds of games. They may not be the most exciting games but there will be defense and you’re going to have to work for your scoring opportunities.

“That’s what we’re trying to find out right now, who’s going to score for us.”

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net