Midseason awards for boys hoop

With five weeks until Tourney Week 2006, here are some midseason awards for Eastern Maine schoolboy basketball.

Remember, these are all subjective, and subject to change over the second half of the season.

CREAM OF THE CROP: Class A – Hampden Academy, Gardiner and Brunswick; Class B – Presque Isle and Maranacook of Readfield; Class C – Calais; Class D – Schenck of East Millinocket, Katahdin of Stacyville and Deer Isle-Stonington.

UPWARD MOBILITY: Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln was moved up from Class C to Class B by the slightest of enrollment margins – one student – but a veteran Lynx team coached by Rick Sinclair has made a smooth transition with a 8-2 record heading into Friday night’s game against John Bapst of Bangor.

NEW-CLASS NOBILITY: Medomak Valley of Waldoboro and Schenck of East Millinocket have made the most of their reclassifications. Medomak Valley moved from Class A to Class B, and after an opening-night loss at Maranacook the Panthers won eight straight before being upended by Waterville on Thursday night. Schenck has shifted from Class C to Class D with even more success, leading the Heal Points ratings and holding a 10-0 record after Thursday’s 66-58 win against Lee Academy.

UNDER THE RADAR: Don’t look now, but defending Eastern C champion Dexter is finding its groove as crunch time approaches. Coach Peter Murray’s Tigers have regrouped after graduating its entire starting lineup to build a 7-2 record that includes a six-game win streak after Thursday night’s 50-35 win at Penobscot Valley of Howland. That win avenged a three-point loss to the Howlers at Dexter, and the Tigers will attempt to avenge an overtime loss to Central of Corinth when those teams meet Saturday at Guiski Gymnasium in Dexter.

SURPRISE SUCCESS?: Of the seven undefeated teams left in Eastern Maine entering Thursday’s play, Deer Isle-Stonington may be the most overlooked. The Mariners suffered some significant graduation losses last spring, but led by brothers Collin and Bryant Ciomei coach Glenn Billings’ club has quickly climbed back up through the Class D ranks thanks to in large part to wins against George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill, Jonesport-Beals and Lee Academy.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jordan Cook of Hampden Academy. Coming off last winter’s state-title run, the 6-foot-10 senior center is putting up numbers worthy of Mr. Basketball talk. The University of Maine-bound Cook is averaging 22.1 points and 10 rebounds a game for coach Russ Bartlett’s 9-1 Broncos while shooting 56 percent from the field and 78 percent from the line.

ALL-EASTERN A: Jordan Cook, Hampden Academy; Sean McNally, Gardiner; Doug Eichinger, Brunswick; Chris Wilson, Brewer; Troy Barnies, Edward Little.

ALL-EASTERN B: Greg Whitaker, Presque Isle; Matt MacKenzie, Medomak Valley; Andy Tracy, Maine Central Institute; Corey Dewitt, Ellsworth; Ryan Martin, Maranacook.

ALL-EASTERN C: Alan Campbell, Madawaska; Brandon Tomah, Calais; Collin Henry, George Stevens Academy; Tyler Pineo, Central; Matt Cummings, Penobscot Valley.

ALL-EASTERN D: Brock Bradford, Bangor Christian; Andrew York, Central Aroostook; Owen McCarthy, Katahdin; Ross Griffin, Jonesport-Beals; Ben Doucette, Van Buren; Nick Bishop, Schenck.

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