Brunswick, Cony seeking state titles Dragons to face tough Portland frontcourt

The similarities between the 2004 Portland High School boys basketball team and the 1999 edition that won the school’s last Class A state championship are few.

This year’s team won its three Western Maine tournament games by an average of 18.7 points; the 1999 team won by 17.6 points.

This year’s team enters Saturday’s 7:05 p.m. state final against Brunswick at Portland’s Cumberland County Civic Center with a 20-1 record; the 1999 team finished 22-0.

But that’s where the similarities end – except that 14th-year coach Joe Russo guided both squads.

“They’re really two almost opposite teams,” said Russo. “There’s really not that much comparable except for the success the teams had.”

While the ’99 squad – the last Western Maine team to win the Class A state crown – featured a guard-oriented attack, this year’s team relies heavily on the frontcourt duo of 6-foot-4 senior Rocco Toppi and 6-5 junior Tyler Emmons.

Toppi, a first-team All-Southern Maine Activities Association choice and finalist for the 2004 Mr. Basketball Award, was the SMAA’s second-leading scorer with 17.2 points per game to go with 8.1 rebounds and 2.8 steals.

“He can play inside, handle the ball, and play either perimeter defense or interior defense,” said Russo of this third-year starter.

Emmons, a second-team All-SMAA choice, was named the outstanding player of the Western A tournament after averaging 20.3 points in Portland’s three wins. That came after a regular season when he averaged 12.4 points and ranked second in the SMAA with 11.4 rebounds per game.

Toppi and Emmons are joined up front by 6-4 senior Riko Bol, a defensive catalyst who moved into the starting lineup late in the season.

In the backcourt, Portland features All-SMAA first-team point guard Eric Shone and fellow senior Joe Murphy. Shone averaged 11.1 points per game and led the SMAA in both assists (5.1) and steals (4.8). Murphy is Portland’s fourth double-figure scorer at 10.7 points per game, along with 3.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.6 steals.

“One big key has been our defense,” said Russo. “Another key has been our ability to rebound at both ends,” he said. “Rebounding takes care of a lot of bad decisions.”

Battling Portland on the backboards is one of Brunswick coach Todd Hanson’s concerns as he and the 20-1 Dragons seek to win their second state title in three years.

“We must limit them to one shot on offense,” said Hanson. “They really crash the boards well, and with their size, we must keep them off the offensive boards. Also, they like to run, and we have to do a great job getting back on defense.

“Offensively, we must be extremely efficient – get a great shot each possession, and limit turnovers.”

Brunswick is led by 2004 Mr. Basketball favorite Ralph Mims, the 6-3 senior guard who scored 41 points in the Dragons’ 54-42 Eastern A championship game victory over Bangor. For the season, the two-time Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Player of the Year averages 28.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 5.0 steals per game.

“We know how good he is,” said Russo. “To me he’s one of the most dominant high school players I’ve ever seen and will see for a long time.”

Russo also is concerned with Brunswick’s other key players, junior guards Jesse Kaplan (10 ppg) and Justin Gauvin (6.6 ppg, 4.1 apg, 3.0 spg), 6-4 junior Kevin Scully (7.0 ppg, 6 rpg), 6-3 senior Phillip Warren (5.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg), and top reserve Doug Eichinger (7.7 ppg), a 6-1 sophomore.

“The ability of the team to incorporate so well into their roles has played a big key in our season,” said Hanson, whose team has won its last 15 games. “I also think we’ve played very well defensively over the course of the season. “