Two-way play fuels Panthers CAHS to rely on strong shooting and defense vs. Richmond

The Central Aroostook boys basketball team is a bit of a throwback.

While other teams have heavy-duty summer schedules, the Panthers either play on their own or wait until basketball season – save for the 5:30 a.m. pickup games brothers Andrew and Cameron York play with their dad and a few others at the local rec center three times a week.

And in an era of high school basketball where defense often is the focus of the game, Central Aroostook wins with a true two-way approach.

The reigning Class D state champs have scored nearly 82 points per game this winter, including 73 a game in three tournament victories.

Why? For one, they just shoot the ball better than most – as evidenced by their collective 48 percent (69 of 144) effort in the 2006 Eastern D regional.

“We shoot better in the tournament than in the regular season,” said Central Aroostook coach Tim Brewer, whose Panthers face Richmond in the Class D state final at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday. “The kids seem to be so comfortable playing in Bangor, I can’t explain it.”

And the current crop of Central Aroostook players seemingly feels comfortable playing at a level that has been the norm for the program – it’s been some 15 years since the Panthers didn’t make the playoffs, a run that includes state titles in 1994, 1996 and 2005.

Last year’s team graduated much of its inside strength, but after an opening-night wakeup call in a 20-point loss at Katahdin of Stacyville, Central Aroostook has responded with 20 straight wins entering Saturday’s battle for the gold ball.

The Panthers are led by 6-2 senior Andrew York, a two-time Eastern D tourney MVP who has become one of the more versatile basketball forces in the state, regardless of class.

Brewer put that versatility to the test after the loss to Katahdin, moving York to point guard, where he has led the team in scoring while helping create opportunities for his teammates.

“I can play him anywhere,” said Brewer of York, who hopes to study mechanical engineering and continue his basketball career in college. “I’m very lucky to have someone as versatile as he is.”

Junior Tim Carlson joins York in providing the Panthers’ a formidable 1-2 punch.

“I knew Tim was going to be a solid player even before he got to high school,” said Brewer. “He’s come a long ways. He’s matured this year as far as taking better shots, and he also enables Andrew to get freed up because people have a hard time focusing on one just guy, and we’ve got five guys who score in double figures.”

That group of scorers at or near double figures also includes Cameron York, Eric Martinez, Sam Clockedile and senior Taylor McLaughlin, whose contributions extend to the defensive end.

“Taylor’s probably as important to our team as Andrew,” said Brewer. “Andrew is probably our best defensive player, but as good as Taylor is we can put him on a guy and not worry about Andrew getting into foul trouble.”

Just one more victory separates Central Aroostook from becoming the first Eastern D boys team to win back-to-back state titles since Jonesport-Beals won five in a row from 1970 to 1974.

Like most of the Panthers’ opponents, Richmond will field a taller lineup, but that hasn’t stopped Central Aroostook yet – its three tournament victories have been by an average of 18.3 points, a run capped off by an 80-52 victory over Deer Isle-Stonington in the final.

“We’ve been playing pretty well since halftime of the Bangor Christian [quarterfinal win],” said Brewer. “The kids picked up momentum off that, and since then I’ve just told them to pick up where they left off the last game.”