It’s that time of the season when the push to get into the tournament intensifies for teams vying for the final three or four playoff slots. It could be even more of a scramble this winter because of the parity of several teams.

That parity is evident in Class A, East and West, After the top two or three teams in each region, the next group of teams are basically in the same boat and are the ones who will fight it out to make the tournament.

One way for a team to ensure itself of getting in and avoiding the anxiety at the end is to “win early and often,” as Portland Coach Joe Russo said.

The young Bulldogs (4-4) haven’t been able to do that, but they did win a big game Tuesday night. Portland used a strong second half to pull away for a 71-46 victory against Windham, a team the Bulldogs are competing with for one of those last tourney positions.

Mike Herrick scored 20 points and Nate Smart added 15 to lead Portland. Herrick, a junior, leads the Bulldogs at 14 points per game. He and sophomore guard Nick Volger are the team’s best defenders. The Bulldogs outscored Windham 40-21 in the second half.

“I was very pleased with the effort,” said Russo. “Windham is very similar to us in terms of inexperience. They’re a middle-of-the-road team fighting for one of the last few spots, just like us.”

Portland’s inexperience showed in closes losses to Thornton Academy and Westbrook. The Bulldogs had chances to win both, but turnovers and missed shots denied them.

“The only game we’ve been blown out was at Marshwood. Marshwood shot the ball very well,” said Russo. “Our goal is to improve every game.”

The veteran coach saw progress in the Windham game and hopes it continues.

Cheverus, the only unbeaten team in Class A, is the best in the West, followed by Deering, Thornton Academy, Bonny Eagle, South Portland and Westbrook.

“We knew Cheverus was going to be good,” said Russo. “There’s a little lull in the SMAA this season. Several teams that were strong last year are down.”

This is the week that SMAA teams are playing three games. They had games Tuesday and Thursday, and will play Saturday.

The Bulldogs originally were scheduled to play Saturday at Kennebunk, but the game was rescheduled because the Kennebunk gym is being used. The game will be played Jan. 22.

Bangor, Hampden Academy and Edward Little are the best in Eastern Class A, with teams like Mt. Blue, Lawrence and Brunswick in the second group. None of the top three teams would envy playing Mt. Blue, Lawrence or Brunswick in the tournament quarterfinals.

THERE WAS A familiar face refereeing the junior varsity game between Cheverus and Thornton Academy on Tuesday night in Saco.

Doug Roberts, who spent 18 years as Sanford’s basketball coach, has been a member of the Western Maine Board of Approved Basketball Officials for three years and an active official for the last two, doing junior varsity and freshmen games. It’s his way of staying involved.

“I really enjoy it,” he said. “It’s been fun. I’ve missed basketball and the relationships you establish with the kids.”

Roberts, the assistant principal at Sanford High, last coached the Sanford varsity boys five years ago. After that he spent one season as an assistant coach for the USM men, then one season as the Sanford freshman coach.

Roberts ranks as one of Maine’s all-time high school players, sparking Rumford High to the Class A state title in 1974, then another state title and New England championship in 1976.

Roberts finished with 1,460 points. He played at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, then transferred to Clark University in Worcester, Mass., where he played his final two years.

As a referee, Roberts likes the fact he can leave the game behind and not have to analyze the outcome as he did as a coach.

EDWARD LITTLE and Brunswick played their rescheduled game Monday at Brunswick, and it turned out to be one of the best games of the season.

The Red Eddies led by nine at halftime, but the Dragons tied it after three quarters. The fourth quarter was wide open, the teams combining for 45 points. Edward Little (8-1) held off Brunswick (5-4) for a 64-63 win.

Bo Leary scored a career-high 34 points for the Eddies, and Brunswick point guard Mitch Black had eight baskets, including seven 3-pointers, and finished with 24 points.

“They couldn’t stop Bo inside and we couldn’t stop the Brunswick guards,” said Edward Little Coach Mike Adams. “We traded baskets in the fourth quarter.”

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

 

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