Streak’s end weighs on Calais boys

AUGUSTA – The reddened eyes and general sadness were to be expected, for nearly all of these players had never lost a game in a Calais varsity basketball uniform.

Not since the 2005 Eastern Maine Class C quarterfinals had the Blue Devils lost a countable game, a streak that produced back-to-back state championships and 63 consecutive victories.

That streak ended Wednesday night, when Winthrop avenged a state-final loss to Calais in 2006 with a 72-62 victory over the Blue Devils in this year’s championship game at the Augusta Civic Center.

“There’s some heavy hearts,” said Calais coach Ed Leeman. “They’ve put a lot of time and energy into what we do, and some of the boys are really hurting.

“We’re all going to be hurting for a while, but that’s a part of any sports-related activity, that somebody’s going to win and somebody’s going to lose. We’ve been fortunate to this point to come out on the right end of most of those situations, but it happens. That’s a part of the game.”

The Blue Devils never led after midway through the first quarter, and while Calais closed to within two points at 46-44 on a basket by senior forward Nathan O’Neill late in the third period and was within three early in the fourth quarter, Winthrop withstood the challenge and won by a comfortable margin.

“Coming into the year I don’t think a lot of people thought this team would be where they’re at right now,” said Leeman. “I think we had a shot at Eastern Maine, and we played very well there, but I don’t know that people thought we’d be 19-0.

“There were a lot of close ballgames in there, and some of those came down to the last possession or the last two possessions and the kids did a nice job in those situations. Tonight it didn’t come down to that last possession. Winthrop outplayed us from the tap, and that’s the way it goes.”

Calais will graduate six seniors, a contingent led by four-year varsity player Sam Bell, O’Neill and forward Rod Tirrell, most valuable player of this year’s Eastern C tournament.

But some key players will return next winter as Calais attempts to start a new streak. Junior forward Cal Shorey and junior guard Jordan Leeman both will be returning starters, while freshman forward Cam Shorey figures to play a more prominent role after serving as the team’s sixth man this winter. Sean Cavanaugh, a junior guard, also will be back after seeing considerable duty as the primary backcourt reserve.

“They not used to losing, but I’ve lost a lot of games in my time,” said Leeman. “A lot of people made a lot of the streak, and it was a nice thing. But it’s over with now, and we’ll just go back and regroup for next year hopefully.”

Ramblers tie 3-point mark

Winthrop made seven 3-point goals against Calais on Wednesday night, equaling a Class C boys basketball state final record shared by two other teams.

Washington Academy of East Machias made seven 3-pointers in a 67-66 loss to Winthrop in the 1992 state championship game, and Falmouth tied the mark in 1997 when the Yachtsmen topped Narraguagus of Harrington 83-56 to claim the first of their three consecutive state titles.

Winthrop senior guard Sam Leclerc had four 3-pointers against Calais, one shy of the Class C state final individual mark of five set by Matt Pokrywka of Penquis of Milo during the Patriots’ 58-45 championship game victory over Boothbay in 2000.

Ramblers’ junior guard Zach Farrington added three 3-pointers, including two within a span of 91 seconds midway through the first quarter that helped Winthrop erase two early deficits.

“Farrington in the first quarter hit a couple of threes to get us going,” said Winthrop coach Dennis Dacus. “They got the juices flowing, they got us believing. Against a 63-0 team, you’ve got to believe a little bit.”