Reed deflects credit Rams coach says players are key

AUGUSTA – Winning state championships never gets old for Roger Reed, but how such achievements reflect on his career as a high school basketball coach is low on his list of priorities.

“It isn’t about me, it never has been,” said Reed, Bangor High’s coach for the last 22 years. “A lot of people might think it’s about the coach, but it’s not. It’s about the kids and what they bring to it.

“The good thing I’ve had is the opportunity to coach some good kids who listen and buy into what we do and are just wonderful human beings.”

Bangor has won 11 state championships in its boys basketball history, seven since Reed made the move up Broadway from Bangor Christian to Bangor High School in 1986.

The first of Bangor’s state titles under Reed came in 1993, followed by 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2003, and now 2007 after the Rams whipped Portland 56-39 to claim their fourth Class A gold ball of the decade at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday night.

Bangor is 7-1 in state championship games under Reed’s watch, having lost only in 1992 when South Portland outlasted the Rams in five overtimes.

“Everybody expects a Bangor team to win,” said Reed, a Maine Sports Hall of Fame inductee who is closing in on 500 career coaching wins. “These kids have played under that pressure all year, and Bangor teams always have played with that pressure. They were just great kids all year long, and I can’t say enough about them.”

Bernstein most defensive

Adam Bernstein had a unique perspective as the Bangor High student fan section approached the Augusta Civic Center floor after the Rams’ 56-39 state championship game victory over Portland on Saturday night.

A year earlier, he was one of them after opting to sit out his sophomore season.

“It feels good to have the crowd crashing toward you instead of you crashing toward them,” said Bernstein, a junior forward. “I can’t wait to do it again next year.”

Bernstein, who came off the bench for the Rams during the regular season, was a defensive stopper as a starter during postseason play, and in the state final he helped hold Portland standout guard Andrew Duncanson to 13 points.

“We told Adam to keep him under 15 and we’ll win the game,” said Bangor senior forward Alex Gallant.

“Adam Bernstein had the toughest assignment,” Reed added, “because we felt the ball was going to be in Duncanson’s hands and everything was going to flow through him.

“I thought Adam just went out and did a wonderful job. The only times [Duncanson] really was able to score was when he went off a ball screen or we didn’t hedge quickly enough and he got a few 3s off, but other than that, Adam was up to the task.”

The defensive challenge was unique for Bernstein, who was asked to contain someone in Duncanson who was 7 inches shorter but ranks as one of the state’s quickest guards.

“To limit him to 13, it seemed like more because he was getting by me whenever he wanted to,” said Bernstein. “I didn’t play too much help-side defense, and when I did he made it count and hit shots in my face. He deserves all the credit for getting the hype he’s gotten all season.”

Jellison’s play jells

One of the unsung heroes during Bangor’s tourney run was senior point guard Troy Jellison, who contributed seven points and six rebounds to the Rams’ win over Portland in the Class A state final.

More important than those numbers was his steady ballhandling, enabling Bangor to withstand Portland’s pressure and set the stage for the Rams to attack the interior of the Bulldogs’ defense.

“Troy’s best games have come in the tournament,” said Bangor coach Roger Reed. “He was marvelous [Saturday night]. With all the pressure of this game, his leadership was awesome.

“He saved all of his greatest games for last, and I’m happy for him and proud of him.”

Jellison is now 2-for-2 during the current school year, as he and reserve guard Christian Larochelle also won a state championship in soccer last fall.

“In soccer we were under the radar, we had to come up as the underdog,” said Jellison. “This is totally different, but I don’t know which one is better. They’re both amazing. It’s the best senior year I could ever ask for.”