Amir Moss was quite capable of dominating games, according not only to his own coach, but to several opposing coaches.
He just didn’t need to, such was Portland High’s balance and Moss’ willingness to sacrifice his own stats for the benefit of the team.
TELEGRAM BOYS' BASKETBALL ALL-STATE TEAM
Milo Belleau, Waynflete senior, guard: Led a balanced, veteran team to the Class C South title while averaging 14.2 points. The 6-foot-1 lefty made game-winning plays three times during season, including in an upset of Falmouth. Named the WMC’s Butler Award winner.
Thomas Coyne, Falmouth senior, guard: Capped his career with a brilliant playoff run to the Class A championship. Averaged 25.3 points, 5.1 assists and 2.9 steals, and made 47 3-pointers in the regular season.
Nicholas DePatsy, Medomak Valley senior, guard/forward: A Mr. Maine semifinalist, DePatsy led his team to a 17-4 season, averaging 19.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists while making 47 3-pointers and 83 percent of his free throws. Scored 1,313 career points.
Andrew Fleming, Oxford Hills senior, forward: The Maine Gatorade Player of the Year who signed a letter of intent to play at Maine, he averaged 28.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 4.1 steals for the 15-5 Vikings.
Nick Gilpin, Hampden Academy senior, point guard: Gilpin, chosen as Mr. Maine Basketball, capped a standout career by averaging 17.6 points, 7.4 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 steals. He will join Thomas Coyne at Bates.
Jackson Lesure, Lake Region senior, forward: The emotional leader of the Class B champions, he was known for his savvy and toughness and averaged 15.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 56 percent from the floor.
Amir Moss, Portland senior, guard: The leader of the Class AA state champions averaged 18.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.6 steals and made 58 percent of his shots as Portland went 20-1 to win its second state title in three years.
Matt Pushard, Brewer senior, center: The 6-foot-4 Pushard plans to play baseball at the University of Maine, but he was Brewer’s basketball MVP for three years and a Mr. Maine semifinalist. He averaged 19.8 points, a KVAC-leading 13.4 rebounds and a team-high 4.6 assists in a 15-5 season for the Witches.
Riley Robinson, Dirigo senior, forward: A Mr. Maine semifinalist, Robinson scored 1,974 career points. The three-time Mountain Valley Conference player of the year averaged 28.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists as a senior.
Tyus Sprague-Ripley, Massabesic senior, forward: An athletic, high-jumping post player who transferred from Oxford Hills, he averaged 19.5 points, an SMAA-leading 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.5 blocks while leading the league by making 64 percent of his shots.
Jack Tilley, Thornton Academy senior, guard: A first-year senior from New Brunswick, the 5-10 Tilley impressed with his ability to score in a variety of ways and set up teammates. He averaged 15.3 points and 4.8 assists and earned All-SMAA first-team honors for a 16-3 team.
Shyheim Ulrickson, Mt. Ararat senior, guard: The KVAC Class A South player of the year averaged 20.5 points, 4.6 assists and 6.5 rebounds. He also made 45 3-pointers and scored more than 1,500 career points.
COACH OF THE YEAR
David Halligan, Falmouth: After starting the year 8-3, Falmouth just kept getting better and peaked with a dominating win in the Class A final against Oceanside. While star guard Thomas Coyne and his brother, Colin, were known commodities, the key to success was the development of a dependable front court.
– Steve Craig
With Maine’s first Class AA state championship hanging in the balance, though, Moss stepped to the forefront. He scored all 10 of Portland’s fourth-quarter points, the only two in the first overtime, and finally the last of his five go-ahead baskets in the second overtime of Portland’s 52-50 win against South Portland.
“I put that game on tape and I get goose bumps,” Portland Coach Joe Russo said. “Amir had to make like five game-winners.”
Moss, a strong, 5-foot-11 senior guard, finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds, doing most of his damage inside against South Portland’s much taller front line. His ability to raise his game when needed the most as the leader of the state’s best team is why he’s the Maine Sunday Telegram boys’ basketball Player of the Year.
“He stepped up on the biggest stage,” said Deering Coach Todd Wing. “He took over the game in the state championship game. He made big shots, and he’s the team leader. If you’re talking about the player of this year, it’s Amir Moss.”
Moss was a consistent force throughout the season, averaging 18.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.6 steals. He made 58 percent of his shots and often guarded taller opponents.
Also receiving strong consideration for player of the year were seniors Thomas Coyne of Falmouth, Andrew Fleming of Oxford Hills and Nick Gilpin of Hampden Academy. Fleming was named Maine Gatorade player of the year, and Gilpin was Mr. Maine Basketball.
“It’s an honor,” Moss said. “Especially with all that good talent around the state.”
Moss, who is undecided about college, played in three state championship games. He helped Portland win the Class A title as a sophomore sixth man in 2014. He suffered one of his three career losses to Hampden in the 2015 Class A final.
“Personally, I feel like I could have scored more, but I really didn’t have to or need to, and when I’m playing I try to put the team first,” Moss said. “I realize it’s not about me scoring a whole bunch more points every night.”
But when asked to score in the Class AA final, Moss obliged. “I did feel I needed to step up a little more than the past couple games and Coach Russo kept saying ‘If Amir’s open, get him the ball,’ ” Moss said. “My teammates did it, and I was trying to come through as much as I could.”
TELEGRAM ALL-STATE TEAM
Milo Belleau, Waynflete senior, guard: Led a balanced, veteran team to the Class C South title while averaging 14.2 points. The 6-foot-1 lefty made game-winning plays three times during season, including in an upset of Falmouth. Named the WMC’s Butler Award winner.
Thomas Coyne, Falmouth senior, guard: Capped his career with a brilliant playoff run to the Class A championship. Averaged 25.3 points, 5.1 assists and 2.9 steals, and made 47 3-pointers in the regular season.
Nicholas DePatsy, Medomak Valley senior, guard/forward: A Mr. Maine semifinalist, DePatsy led his team to a 17-4 season, averaging 19.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists while making 47 3-pointers and 83 percent of his free throws. Scored 1,313 career points.
Andrew Fleming, Oxford Hills senior, forward: The Maine Gatorade Player of the Year who signed a letter of intent to play at Maine, he averaged 28.2 points, 14.0 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 4.1 steals for the 15-5 Vikings.
Nick Gilpin, Hampden Academy senior, point guard: Gilpin, chosen as Mr. Maine Basketball, capped a standout career by averaging 17.6 points, 7.4 assists, 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 steals. He will join Thomas Coyne at Bates.
Jackson Lesure, Lake Region senior, forward: The emotional leader of the Class B champions, he was known for his savvy and toughness and averaged 15.9 points, 10.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 56 percent from the floor.
Amir Moss, Portland senior, guard: The leader of the Class AA state champions averaged 18.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.6 steals and made 58 percent of his shots as Portland went 20-1 to win its second state title in three years.
Matt Pushard, Brewer senior, center: The 6-foot-4 Pushard plans to play baseball at the University of Maine, but he was Brewer’s basketball MVP for three years and a Mr. Maine semifinalist. He averaged 19.8 points, a KVAC-leading 13.4 rebounds and a team-high 4.6 assists in a 15-5 season for the Witches.
Riley Robinson, Dirigo senior, forward: A Mr. Maine semifinalist, Robinson scored 1,974 career points. The three-time Mountain Valley Conference player of the year averaged 28.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists as a senior.
Tyus Sprague-Ripley, Massabesic senior, forward: An athletic, high-jumping post player who transferred from Oxford Hills, he averaged 19.5 points, an SMAA-leading 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.5 blocks while leading the league by making 64 percent of his shots.
Jack Tilley, Thornton Academy senior, guard: A first-year senior from New Brunswick, the 5-10 Tilley impressed with his ability to score in a variety of ways and set up teammates. He averaged 15.3 points and 4.8 assists and earned All-SMAA first-team honors for a 16-3 team.
Shyheim Ulrickson, Mt. Ararat senior, guard: The KVAC Class A South player of the year averaged 20.5 points, 4.6 assists and 6.5 rebounds. He also made 45 3-pointers and scored more than 1,500 career points.
COACH OF THE YEAR
David Halligan, Falmouth: After starting the year 8-3, Falmouth just kept getting better and peaked with a dominating win in the Class A final against Oceanside. While star guard Thomas Coyne and his brother, Colin, were known commodities, the key to success was the development of a dependable front court.
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