There are plenty of quality teams in the boys Class A tournament, but the Camden Hills Windjammers of Rockport stand out from the pack.
Not only did the Camden Hills squad win its first 13 games of the season, it also boasts one of the best players across the state in senior guard Nolan Ames.
Ames leads a high-energy Windjammers offense that likes to run-and-gun, getting out on the fast break while knocking down shot after shot. Camden Hills was leading all Class A schools in its conference by averaging nearly 68 points per game through the first nine contests, with Ames leading the conference by averaging more than 26 points per game.
The prolific senior can knock down three-pointers and attack the rim for highlight-reel dunks, making him one of the most dominant forces in Maine basketball this season. If that continues in Augusta during the regional tournament, Camden will be tough to stop.
“They’re a good club. They’ve got an elite player with Nolan Ames, and then they’ve got a really good supporting cast that plays well together,” Bangor coach Jay Kemble said after the Windjammers ran away from his Rams in a 62-34 game earlier in the season.
Camden Hills went 17-1 during the regular season, with its only loss coming against Cony of Augusta.
Edward Little of Auburn played Camden Hills incredibly close at the start of the season, losing by just two points in early December. The Red Eddies will also loom large in the Class A tournament, with senior guard Akol Maiwen right behind Ames scoring nearly 24 points per game through 11 contests.
Bangor and Hampden Academy should be on people’s radar for a potential upset. The Rams in particular have enjoyed an impressive turnaround this season, rebounding from a pair of one-win seasons and transforming into a .500 team through the first 14 games. If sophomore guard Nate Grunkemeyer can get going during the tournament, Bangor could make some noise in the playoffs.