Central Aroostook boys basketball coach Tim Brewer says a one-point win in today’s Class D state championship game against Richmond would be enough for him.
Brewer may have been thinking back to 2008 when the same teams met in Augusta for the state title and his Panthers won by a point on a last-second shot. Today’s game, at least on paper, favors Central Aroostook.
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The Panthers return all five starters from a year ago and breezed through the regular season unbeaten. They beat high-scoring Jonesport-Beals in the Eastern Maine final 49-26.
“We pride ourselves on our defense,” Brewer said.
Central Aroostook, located in the town of Mars Hill in Aroostook County, also defeated Richmond in the 2006 state title game. In fact, Eastern Maine teams have won the last seven state championships in Class D after ending Valley’s run of six straight.
“Valley kind of set the bar and basically told us, ‘Eastern Maine teams, you’ve got to get better,’ ” Brewer said.
The Panthers have a 1,000-point career scorer in senior Caleb Kelly, as well as a solid big man in 6-foot-6 junior Mike McClung. Junior forward Brendon York, senior point guard Logan McLaughlin — who started two years ago against Richmond — and junior guard Dan Brewer round out the starting lineup.
“They’re extremely athletic,” Richmond coach Phil Houdlette said. “We have to take care of the basketball No. 1, and get back on defense.”
The Bobcats are playing in their fourth straight state championship game, having lost the previous three, as well as the 2006 contest. They’ve got the most this season out of their starting five, who in one tournament game last week played the entire 32 minutes.
All five contributed during the Western Maine tournament.
Senior Kyle O’Brien, the team’s 6-5 center, averaged 17 points and 15 rebounds and was named the tournament MVP. Seniors Tom Carter and Mike Christie are also returning starters with tournament experience while newcomers Wade Tuttle and Ben Carver each played well in the regional tournament.
“It’s going to be a good game,” Carter said. “They have a lot of different looks but I think we’ll be prepared for it.”
The Bobcats have a history of winning Western Maine titles then losing in state finals. Richmond snapped that streak last spring by winning the baseball championship then lost in the soccer final in the fall.
“If we keep going back something’s got to happen,” O’Brien said. “It’s a big deal to us. We kind of want it more.”
Houdlette used his bench sparingly in the regional tournament although he has a couple of reserves he can turn to if necessary. His team, he said, is in peak condition.
“If we have to go 32 minutes, we’ll go 32 minutes,” he said. “If the opportunity is there to run I want to run.”
Gary Hawkins — 621-5638
ghawkins@centralmaine.com
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