By Ernie Clark, Special to the BDN
As Bangor Christian boys basketball coach Charlie Colson and star guard Jalen Reed talked strategy in advance of Saturday afternoon’s Class D North final against top-ranked and undefeated Schenck of East Millinocket, the worst-case scenario had to be addressed.
Or so the coach thought.
“I said, ‘Jalen, this is what we’re going to do if we get behind,’” Colson recalled, “and he looked at me squarely in the eyes and said, ‘Coach, I don’t plan to play from behind.’”
Turns out Reed knew what he was talking about.
Second-seeded Bangor Christian never did trail in avenging two regular-season losses to the Wolverines en route to capturing its first regional championship in 21 years with a 38-25 victory at the Cross Insurance Center.
The win advances the Patriots (18-3) to next Saturday’s 2:45 p.m. state final against Valley of Bingham at the Augusta Civic Center. Valley defeated St. Dominic of Auburn 45-36 to win the South regional.
Schenck ended its season with a 20-1 record.
The North finalists entered postseason play with the two stingiest defenses statewide regardless of class, with Schenck allowing just 33.2 points per game and Bangor Christian yielding 34.4 points per contest during the regular season.
Their third meeting of the winter produced a combined scoring total even lower than its predecessors, Schenck victories of 41-24 on Dec. 14 and 44-35 on Dec. 9, but in this game Bangor Christian was the team celebrating victory.
Reed, a senior who recently was named Penobscot Valley Conference Class D player of the year, scored seven of his game-high 15 points during the first quarter, and his pass to sophomore center Jesse Booker for a baseline jumper midway through the period snapped a 4-4 tie and ignited a 9-0 run that enabled Bangor Christian to take take the lead for good.
Reed’s younger brother, freshman guard Rajon Reed, played a pivotal defensive role with his work against Schenck senior guard Mason McDunnah. McDunnah, who averaged 20 points per game in the Wolverines’ first two tourney victories, was kept in check by the rangy Reed and managed just two field goals and seven total points.
“Coach asked me if I wanted to take McDunnah,” Jalen Reed said, “but they have some great post players so I told him I’d take (Owen) Wyman because I trust in Ray to guard McDunnah and I’m proud of him, he did a great job.”
Jalen Reed also contributed 10 rebounds as BC battled the taller Schenck squad to a 27-27 stalemate on the backboards, as well as six steals, three blocked shots and three assists. Booker contributed 10 points and five rebounds while Rajon Reed scored eight points on an 8-for-10 effort from the free-throw line.
Brothers Conrad and Elliot Straubel also came up big on the defensive end as well as helping Bangor Christian control the ball in the team’s halfcourt sets. The Patriots committed 12 turnovers compared to 15 for the Wolverines
Wyman, a junior forward, led Schenck with 10 points.
Bangor Christian’s lead grew to 13-4 by the end of the first period, and while Schenck scored the first seven points of the second quarter on McDunnah’s first field goal, a 3-pointer by Wyman and a Samuel Jacobs layup, a late layup by Booker enabled the Patriots to maintain a 15-11 halftime edge.
Bangor Christian inched further ahead during the third quarter, with two Rajon Reed free throws and a steal-layup by Elliot Straubel during the final 80 seconds of the period stretching its advantage to 24-15.
BC led by at least eight points the rest of the way.
“Rebounding was key,” Colson said. “But, listen, holding that team to 25 points, that’s a defensive effort.”