Cony, EL, and Hampden geared to end Bangor dominance in boys’ A

A generation ago Bangor was the hub of the Eastern Maine Class A basketball world – with the likes of Presque Isle, Caribou, Houlton, Stearns of Millinocket, and Fort Kent battling the Rams and teams as far south as Gardiner for regional big-school supremacy.

Demographic trends have dramatically altered that landscape, with Old Town’s move to Class B this year leaving Bangor the state’s geographic North Pole.

But that’s just geographic. As far as program success goes, the Rams remain the hub, not only of Eastern Maine but all of Class A basketball from South Berwick to, well, Bangor.

Four titles in this decade alone, and seven gold balls in the last 14 years leave Bangor as the primary target of any other program with its eyes on the Class A prize.

“We know there’s a bulls-eye on us, that everyone wants to beat Bangor,” said senior forward Billy Zolper during preseason, “so we have to come out and play every night.”

Twice before during this current run Bangor has won two straight state championships, in 1995 and 1996 and in 2000 and 2001.

Now comes the chance for a third set of back-to-back titles after last winter’s 21-1 season that was capped off by a 56-39 romp over Portland in the state final.

Bangor appears well-armed to take on that challenge. Ryan Weston, a 6-foot-5 senior center, came on strong during postseason play and earned third-team All-Maine honors. Jon McAllian, one of the state’s purest long-range shooters, had trouble finding playing time during the team’s playoff run, but the 6-foot-5 guard already has accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Maine.

Lee Suvlu, a 6-3 senior swingman, is an explosive offensive talent, while the 6-5 Zolper, 6-4 Adam Bernstein and 6-1 Ian Edwards provide Bangor additional size and leadership on a team that numbers 11 seniors on its roster.

Much of the team’s preseason was spent modifying player roles to cope with the two biggest graduation holes from a year ago, first-team All-Maine forward Alex Gallant and guard Troy Jellison.

“Troy had been on the team for three years and Alex had been on the team for four years, and I’m not sure we have someone who’s going to be able to make all the big shots like Alex did, so we’ve got to find that out,” said 23rd-year Bangor coach Roger Reed.

“We’ve got good players, but some of those people have not had to perform in the big games, and there’s not going to be an Alex Gallant out there who’s started since he was a sophomore. We’ve got people out there who can play, we’ve just got to find out where they fit our needs.”

Teams considered high on the list of potential challengers to the Rams include Edward Little of Auburn, Hampden Academy, and Cony of Augusta.

Edward Little graduated 2007 Mr. Basketball Troy Barnies, now at the University of Maine, but returns the veteran guard crew of seniors Eric Prue, Ben Hartnett, and Kyle Philbrook. All three are motivated to help the Red Eddies erase the memory of last season when they finished the regular season undefeated and ranked first in Eastern A, only to be ousted in the regional quarterfinals by No. 8 Hampden Academy.

Hampden owns two Eastern Maine titles, one state crown, and three regional semifinal appearances in the last three years. The Broncos graduated a premier player in four-year starter Daniel McCue, but in guards Antonio Juco and Brad Haase and forward Justin Brown, coach Russ Bartlett’s club has an experienced senior nucleus.

That trio will be joined by a talented sophomore class that includes Noah Burditt, Jacob Moore, Nolan Turner, and Brad Hersey.

“We’ve got to develop a point guard who will value the ball,” said Bartlett. “If we can get into the flow offensively, then I think we’ll take really good shots. If we can make those shots, or if we can’t value the ball so we’re giving up extra opportunities to the opposition, then we’re going to struggle.”

Cony dropped a one-point decision to EM finalist Messalonskee of Oakland in last winter’s quarterfinals and will be led by one of the region’s top returning players in 6-6 Andrew Pullen.

The Brewer Witches boast one of the younger teams of coach Mark Reed’s tenure, with forward Ben Valley and center Tyler Belote the lone seniors. But the team has some promising upperclassmen, among them junior guards Billy Bissell and Coby Hutchins, and underclassmen including sophomore guard Tyler Bessette and sophomore forward Nate Carson.

Nokomis of Newport has a new coach in former Warrior standout Bill Brooks, who has considerable experience on the sidelines as the head man at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield and as an assistant at several schools, including Nokomis. The Warriors hope to improve on last winter’s 2-16 finish with a roster featuring Casey Reynolds and Jordan Woodbury.

Messalonskee suffered major graduation losses, but senior forward Orlando Holmes is a top scoring threat. Mt. Blue of Farmington will be led by juniors Ben Russell and Jamie Sawyer, while Skowhegan has its own top-notch duo in Eric Thistle and Jordan Taylor. Shaun Dostie provides solid pivot play for Mount Ararat of Topsham and coach Todd Hanson’s Brunswick club returns three impact players in Conner Breisacher, Taurean Easter and Dan Scully.