The absence of Jordan Heath from the Bangor boys basketball lineup for three to five weeks due to a bout of mononucleosis leaves the Rams not only without their starting point guard but also their top long-range shooter.

Heath, whose natural position is shooting guard, was shifted to point guard last season out of necessity. But once the 5-foot-10 senior sets up Bangor in its half-court offense, the Rams often work the ball around to set up Heath as a scoring option from beyond the 3-point arc.

“We’re going to miss him,” said Bangor coach Roger Reed, “because we don’t have anyone who can hit 3s like he can. He’s probably the purest shooter we have on the team, and there’s probably nobody on the floor out there who can stand with him and shoot it.”

In Bangor’s first four games this season, Heath made 8 of 15 attempts from beyond the arc, including a 5-of-7 performance in the Rams’ season-opening victory against Old Town.

“Jordan doesn’t have streaks where he hits a shot here and there,” said Reed. “He hits shot after shot after shot. He’s just a pure shooter.”

Bangor employed a point-guard-by-committee strategy in its first game without Heath in the lineup, a 67-53 loss at Oxford Hills of South Paris last Friday. Seniors Anthony DeRosa, Mike Francis, and Aaron Gallant and sophomore Troy Jellison all had turns at bringing the ball up the court against the Vikings.

“We don’t have anyone who runs the offense as well as Jordan,” said Reed after the loss. “That was noticeable tonight. We got mixed up on some of our calls, but that’s all part of the game. We’ve always been able to plug someone in when we need to, so that’s no excuse.”

Tracy leaves Eagles’ nest

The Ellsworth boys basketball team, already coping with the loss of sophomore guard Corey Dewitt to a broken wrist, now will have to do without junior forward Andy Tracy, who has left the team for personal reasons, according to Eagles coach Dan Clifford.

Tracy, who earned second-team All-Big East Class B accolades after averaging 15.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game last winter, left the squad shortly before its 35-30 loss to Hermon on Saturday.

Clifford said he believed Tracy planned to transfer to Portland High School.

Sabers make brief return to road

Calvary Chapel of Orrington has had to alter its boys basketball schedule while additional work is done on the school’s new basketball court.

“We’re redoing the floor,” said Sabers coach Ross Bradford, who explained that the sealant covering the court began peeling.

Bradford expects his team to be able to resume its home schedule on Jan. 22 against Searsport.

As a result, Calvary Chapel has switched the sites of its games against Lee Academy, with the teams now set to play at Lee on Saturday and then in Orrington on Jan. 25.

Calvary Chapel is 6-0 after a 74-55 victory over Shead of Eastport at Eastern Maine Technical College in Bangor on Saturday, a game originally scheduled for Orrington.

The defending Class D state champions, one of just six undefeated boys teams left in Eastern Maine, took a 28-game winning streak into Tuesday night’s road game against the Hyde School of Bath.

“We’re getting on track,” said Bradford.

Free-throw shooters to take stage

The northern Maine qualifier for the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches free-throw shooting contest will be held Sunday from 9 to 11 a.m. at Washburn District High School.

Each northern Maine boys and girls varsity team may send its best free-throw shooter to compete, according to Washburn High boys basketball coach Larry Worcester.

Each contestant will shoot 50 free throws, with the male and female winners advancing to the state finals to be held March 26 at Husson College in Bangor in conjunction with the MABC/McDonald’s Senior All Star Games.

Pony pair earn 100th mat wins

Foxcroft Academy senior wrestlers Caleb Pelletier and Randy Briggs share several common successes.

Each is a two-time Class C state champion, Pelletier at 152 pounds and Briggs at 171.

Each helped the Ponies win the school’s first team state title last winter, capping off a 22-0 season that also included Penobscot Valley Conference and Eastern Maine Class C championships.

Last Saturday Pelletier and Briggs shared another milestone: Each earned his 100th career victory during a meet at Dexter. Pelletier defeated David Richardson of Dexter 18-3 to improve his career record to 100-25, and Briggs pinned John Smith of Dirigo of Dixfield for a career record of 100-26.

Pelletier is 18-0 so far this season and Briggs is 17-1 for the Ponies, who are considered one of the favorites to win the Class C state championship again.

Bowen, Study reach milestone

Brewer High wrestler Justin Bowen reached a notable milestone last Saturday, his 100th career victory during his junior season.

Bowen, son of Brewer coach Joe Bowen, earned win No. 100 during a home meet Saturday against John Bapst of Bangor, Old Town, and George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill.

Bowen, who wrestles in the 275-pound class, is 24-5 this season and 102-22 over his three years with the Witches heading into Wednesday’s meet at Hermon.

Earlier this season, Bowen won his weight class at the Noble Invitational and placed second at the McDonald’s Invitational at Mountain Valley High in Rumford.

“A lot of his improvement has come from having a better understanding of body mechanics,” said coach Bowen.

Bowen was joined in the 100-win club Saturday by teammate Ricky Study, a 135-pound senior.

Study, also a football player for the Witches, improved his career record to 102-48 with three victories during the quad meet.