BANGOR – An earlier game this winter between the Bangor and Edward Little of Auburn boys basketball teams was as close an encounter as the defending state champion Rams have faced – a 56-53 survival that gave the rest of the Eastern Maine Class A ranks reason for hope.

The rematch? Not so close.

Bangor’s collective size and athleticism dominated Edward Little’s four-guard attack at Red Barry Gymnasium on Friday night, with the unbeaten Rams pulling away in the second half for a 57-42 victory.

The win was the 14th of the season for top-ranked Bangor, and extends the Rams’ winning streak to 24 games overall.

“We knew when they came up here that there was no way we could win by three again and have people still saying Bangor’s the best,” said Rams’ senior forward Billy Zolper. “We want to have people know that we’re the best, so we wanted to come out and put them away.”

That took some time, as Bangor led just 19-12 after a sluggish second quarter in which the teams combined for just seven points.

But Bangor asserted its inside superiority after intermission, and that combined with a defensive effort that kept the second-ranked Red Eddies pinned on the perimeter helped the Rams build a lead of as many as 24 points late in the game.

“We wanted to be stronger than we were down there,” said Bangor coach Roger Reed. “We thought we didn’t play well down there and they played very well. I just wanted us to play better tonight and we did.”

Zolper led the Rams with 19 points and seven rebounds, while senior center Ryan Weston scored 17 points – 15 in the second half – and grabbed six rebounds.

Senior guard Jon McAllian contributed 13 points and seven assists, while senior guard Lee Suvlu dished out six assists. Junior forward Corey Therriault led Edward Little with 13 points.

Bangor outrebounded EL 38-16.

“They used their size and we didn’t box out,” said EL coach Mike Adams, whose team hadn’t lost since its earlier defeat to Bangor in late December. “You think that you do something halfway decent, and then you see Weston or Zolper or whoever else come crashing in and put it right down your throats. We didn’t do a good job anywhere tonight, but it’s a learning experience.”

EL challenged Bangor with a talented group of perimeter players led by seniors Kyle Philbrook, Ben Hartnett and Eric Prue, all returning starters from last year’s team that went 18-0 before bowing out in the regional quarterfinals.

But Bangor’s defense, aware of the successful backdoor cuts to the basket that served EL well in their first meeting, limited that trio to just 11 points on 3-of-19 shooting from the field.

“We didn’t get anything from our guards,” said Adams. “We rely on our quickness and ability to penetrate and create offense, and we just dribbled around the 3-point line too much. Bangor used its height and size well, and when you have five guys 6-4 or bigger defending you at the 3-point line and we don’t use our quickness to spread them out it makes things tough.”

Zolper and Weston combined for 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting in the third quarter to help Bangor pull away.

After EL drew within 21-18 on a 3-pointer by Philbrook 90 seconds into the second half, Bangor scored eight straight points to take control. Twice McAllian fed Zolper for inside baskets, and he followed that with a lob to Weston for another close-range shot.

McAllian then made two free throws after Adams was whistled for a technical to give Bangor a 29-18 lead with 4:39 left in the third quarter.

“We said we wanted to come out and make a run in that first four minutes,” said Zolper. “We tried not to fire real quick, we tried to work it around and go inside instead of coming down and firing up a quick shot because we knew on the other end they would take their time and get a good shot, too.”

RAMS 57, RED EDDIES 42

Edward Little (10-4) Bangor (14-0)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

K.Phlbrook 3 9 1 2 8 R.Lrchlle 0 0

Hartnett 0 4 3 4 3 C.Lrchlle 0 0

Prue 0 6 0 0 0 McAllian 5 12 13

Tribou 1 1 0 0 2 Zolper 8 13 19

Ciriello 1 3 0 0 2 Edwards 0 0 0

Mariner 1 2 0 0 2 Suvlu 0 5 0

Thrriault 5 11 2 4 13 Bernstein 2 6

Daigle 0 0 1 2 1 Clrd-Segn 0 0

J.Phlbrook 3 3 1 1 7 Hall 0 0 0

Sharif 0 3 2 3 2 McDade 0 0 0

Gammon 0 0 2 4 2 Martin 0 0 0

Weston 7 11 3 17

Frazier 1 3 0 2

Cox 0 1 0 0

Totals 14 42 12 20 42 Totals 23 49 13 57

Edward Little 9 12 24 42

Bangor 15 19 38 57

3-pt. goals – Edward Little (2-14): Therriault 1-1, K. Philbrook 1-5, Hartnett 0-1, Ciriello 0-2, Sharif 0-2, Prue 0-3; Bangor (2-12): Zolper 1-2, McAllian 1-5, Bernstein 0-1, Frazier 0-1, Suvlu 0-3

JV: Bangor 65-44

Attendance: 650 (est.)