Just a few days ago, the Bangor boys basketball team resided in last place in the eight-school Class AA North, and the sixth-place finish needed to qualify for postseason play seemed a long way off.
Yes, the Rams had been largely competitive in defeat, being outscored by an average of just 11.5 points in their 11 losses against what is considered the state’s toughest schedule.
Opponents to date on that schedule have a combined record of 116-49 and include the top five teams in Class AA North (Deering of Portland, Portland, Oxford Hills of South Paris, Edward Little of Auburn and Cheverus of Portland), the top two teams in Class AA South (Thornton Academy of Saco and Gorham) and the top two teams in Class A North (Hampden Academy and Brewer).
Yet a 2-11 start wasn’t causing anyone to buy advance tickets for the Class AA North boys quarterfinals set for Feb. 11 at the Augusta Civic Center.
But things have changed dramatically for the Rams.
An overtime victory over Class A North second seed Brewer (13-2) on Saturday afternoon — barely 16 hours after a 10-point loss to undefeated Hampden — was followed Tuesday night by a 68-59 victory at Class AA North third seed Oxford Hills, 11-4.
Suddenly Bangor is solidly in sixth place in its division and closer to fifth place than the seventh spot that would end its season next week.
Senior point guard Ethan Dorman has been pivotal to the turnaround. In addition to strong perimeter defense, he scored 23 points in the 75-69 win over Brewer as Bangor ended a seven-game losing streak and then had 25 points against Oxford Hills — the Rams’ first road victory of the winter.
Much of Dorman’s offense has come thanks to accuracy from the free-throw line. He made 15 of 17 attempts against Brewer and 10 of 13 in the fourth quarter alone against Oxford Hills.
Classmate Justin Smith also has played a key leadership role. The Rams’ top scorer for the season, the 6-foot-4 forward averaged 15 points in the two wins.
Another factor has been the emergence of a third scorer for the Rams in junior guard George Payne, who scored 16 points against Brewer and 15 against Oxford Hills.
Bangor, 4-11, has a Heal point tournament index of 40.3704, well ahead of seventh-place Windham (18.9506) and No. 8 Lewiston (18.5802).
Fifth-place Cheverus (8-7) is just ahead of the Rams with a Heal point tournament index of 42.8395.
Bangor has three regular-season games remaining to protect its tournament status, the home finale against Class A seventh seed Lawrence of Fairfield (7-7) on Saturday night followed by games at Class A fifth seed Messalonskee of Oakland (10-5) next Tuesday and at Lewiston (2-13) on Feb. 4.
