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STANDISH — After a loss at Kennebunk on Tuesday, Bonny Eagle boys basketball coach John Trull let his team know he expected more.

“It’s been pretty frustrating our last couple games and we kind of got after it in the film room. Kind of a silent hour there and they responded well,” said Trull. “They always respond well. They’re great kids. We just had to get after them.”

The learning and sweating paid dividends Thursday in a 72-47 Class A South win at home against Cheverus.

The Scots took a quick 12-3 lead and continued to extend it. As a group, they plastered their defense onto Cheverus star freshman Khaelon Watkins. Best of all, they got the ball to 6-foot-10 senior center Max Bouchard early and often.

Bouchard scored a career-high 25 points and collected 16 rebounds. He had 15 points at the half and then added eight in the third quarter, including a pair of powerful two-handed dunks.

A year ago when Bonny Eagle made a surprise run to the Class AA South final, Bouchard was primarily a force at the defensive end. This year, he’s carving space and finishing with an array of post moves. Bouchard’s father, Francois, scored over 1,500 points at the University of Maine. His older brother, Elliot, was a 2023 Varsity Maine All-State pick.

Asked why his scoring has taken off, Max Bouchard laughed a bit and said, “My family pressures me to (score) more. They tell me, go for the buckets.”

Bonny Eagle point guard Colin Moran said Bouchard’s increased production is because Bouchard is now “a guy who just goes in there fearless. That’s what we need.”

Both teams entered the game needing a win to keep pace in a deep Class A South race.

Bonny Eagle improved to 5-3 and will be at Sanford, ranked No. 2 in the Varsity Maine poll, on Saturday.

“Our record does not define what this team is capable of, I’ll tell you that,” Moran said. “We played in the regional championship game last year. We have a lot of returning players. We’re really confident to get further past that.”

Cheverus, which had won three straight, slipped to 4-6. The Stags were without senior center Jameson Fitzpatrick and forward AJ Lauture because of injuries.

That put a heavy burden on Watkins and guard Colton Jewett. Watkins had a rough start against Bonny Eagle’s switching defense as the Scots rolled to a 38-20 halftime lead. In the third quarter, he was called for a technical foul, apparently for comments after he followed Bouchard’s first dunk with a layup at the other end. Watkins finished with 18 points, 14 in the second half. Jewett scored 17. Joe Iaccarino, with eight points, was the only other Cheverus player with more than two.

In contrast, Bouchard had lots of help. Trevor Quincannon, someone Bouchard said always works hard in practice and makes the team better, scored 13 points off the bench. Lucas Klehn added another nine and some tough defense in his reserve role. Moran (six points) and Logan Sturgis (eight) were each able to get to the basket.

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