Schenck’s LeVasseur glad to be back coaching

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Nobody is happier to be back at the Bangor Auditorium this week than Steve LeVasseur – especially after the veteran coach directed Schenck of East Millinocket to a Class C quarterfinal victory Tuesday morning over Penquis of Milo.

LeVasseur returned to coach the Schenck boys this winter, four years after his coaching contract was not renewed following the 1998-99 season because of a conflict over an extracurricular policy.

LeVasseur wore a big smile Tuesday after his 11th-seeded Wolverines beat No. 3 Penquis for their second upset of the postseason.

“This is great,” said LeVasseur, whose reputation as a taskmaster and a fiery presence on the sidelines remains intact.

LeVasseur, who previously had coached 13 years at Schenck (Class C girls state titles in 1987, ’88 and ’89 and a C boys crown in 1994), spent the last four winters enjoying the outdoors.

“I snowmobiled and ice-fished,” he said. “I never went to a game.”

When contacted by Schenck about the possibility of taking over the program, he was willing – and typically unyielding.

“I went in and I told them, ‘I’m going to do it my way. I didn’t do anything wrong the last time they released me, and I’m going to come in with the same type of intensity, the way I am,’ ” he explained.

LeVasseur praised the support he has received from the Schenck administration, including principal Thomas Tetu and athletic director Rick Grant.

“I think they’re very good people, and they’re working for the kids,” LeVasseur said. “They’ve backed me this year, and it’s really been great to get back to Schenck High School.”

The players had heard all about LeVasseur’s no-nonsense approach and his intensity. He was exactly what the Wolverines were looking for.

“We needed a coach that would work us hard, not take any crap and not just play you because of your name but how hard you work,” said senior Brian Graham. “He helped us come together as a team.”

Houlton’s Socoby on center stage

Mark Socoby might only be a sophomore on the Houlton High boys basketball team, but he’s already well-known statewide for his talents and his potential.

University of Maine men’s basketball coach John Giannini and Maine Central Institute Postgrads coach Ed Jones were among those who watched the Shiretowners’ standout during Tuesday’s Eastern Maine Class C quarterfinal against Dexter.

Socoby, a 6-foot-6 guard, showed off his versatility with 13 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three blocked shots in the Shires’ win. While he didn’t shoot real well, he showcased some of his other attributes.

“He’s a great all-around player,” said Houlton coach Sean Callahan. “He’s very unselfish. He will look for his shot, and he can put up 40 for us, but he can also make us better by only scoring 10 or 13 points.”

Socoby dominated the rebounding almost singlehandedly, but also exhibited tremendous court vision and court savvy with the basketball.

Giannini is precluded by NCAA rules from commenting on potential recruits, but it appears clear Socoby has Division I size and skills.

Maines’ Madison reign ends

Tom Maines’ tenure as boys basketball coach at Madison High ended Monday night in a 55-53 loss to top-ranked Hall-Dale in the Western Maine Class C quarterfinals at the Augusta Civic Center.

Maines, who coached at Madison for the last seven seasons, announced that this would be his last year before the season began.

The Bulldogs earned the eighth seed in Western C and finished their season with an 11-9 record.

Maines has coached high school basketball in the state for some three decades, including stints at Mexico, Madison and Morse High of Bath before coming to Madison.

His best years were at Morse, where he guided the Shipbuilders to three straight state Class A championships from 1987 to 1989.

That marked the only time a Class A boys team has been able to win three consecutive state titles since the Winslow High teams of 1937 through 1939.

Tweedie brothers advance

The coaching Tweedie brothers each survived quarterfinal- challenges at the Eastern Maine tournament to advance to regional semifinals in their respective divisions.

Alan Tweedie will be back on the sidelines this afternoon when his Hermon Hawks take on top-seeded Foxcroft Academy in a Class B boys semifinal at 3:35 p.m.

Hermon, the fifth seed, advanced with a 70-63 overtime win over Ellsworth in the quarterfinals.

Hermon and Foxcroft split two regular-season meetings.

Jerry Tweedie earned his trip to the Class C girls semifinals Tuesday when his seventh-ranked Houlton Shiretowners rallied from an early 12-point deficit to upend second-seeded Woodland 50-39.

Houlton next will play Dexter at 7:05 p.m. Friday.

When asked who was the older of the two after his team’s quarterfinal win, Jerry Tweedie looked over at his brother and joked, “He’s my father.”

Jerry Tweedie later admitted that he’s the older of the two by four years.