Defending Class AA champion Windham has repeat potential.

PostedDecember 2

UpdatedDecember 5

Steve CraigPortland Press Herald

6 min read

Windham celebrates after winning the Class AA boys’ basketball state championship in March. The Eagles return three quality players from that team and hope to contend again. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer
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1. Windham: The Eagles are the defending Class AA champions after beating Gorham in overtime to win their school’s first boys’ basketball title. Three high-quality players – 6-foot-2 senior Creighty Dickson and juniors Tyrie James and AJ Moody – return from that 19-2 team that was known for its unselfishness and ball movement. “They’re all extremely skilled in multiple areas. It’s just a really good thing to have three dynamic guards, and they’ve all gotten better,” said Coach Chad Pulkkinen. Dickson, the team’s top rebounder, averaged a double-double. James came off the bench and led the team in scoring at 11.4 points per game, upping that to 15 per game in the playoffs. At 6-2, Moody (10.5 ppg) easily elevates above the rim and is a ballhawk on defense. Sophomore Colin Janvrin is a 6-3 shooter who will be looked to replace some of the graduated 3-point marksmanship.

2. Cheverus: The Stags were right with Windham all season in the AA North chase, finishing a 16-4 season with a one-point overtime loss to Portland in the regional semifinals. They return league player of the year Leo McNabb, an electric guard who contributes in every category and averaged over 16 points; starting guard Sammy Nzeyimana (5.5 ppg, 4.3 assists), junior center Jameson Fitzpatrick (8.6 ppg, 4.1 rebounds) and sophomore Nicola Plalum. Seniors Shema Rwaganje, last year’s sixth man, and forward Aaron Goodman are captains along with McNabb. With Portland entering the season as a very inexperienced team, look for Windham and Cheverus to finish above the rest of AA North by a solid margin.

3. Noble: In its first season moving down to Class A, Noble rolled to the South final before falling to eventual state champ Gray-New Gloucester. The Knights return their dynamic and high-scoring backcourt of Mr. Maine Basketball candidate Jamier Rose and Bryce Guitard, along with 6-7 senior center Andrew Marzolli and senior Chase Dodier, who was injured for parts of last season. Mark LaPointe (6-5) and Evan Ballard should help with rebounding for a team that likes to play at a fast pace. Brady Tucci can add shooting off the bench. Noble and Falmouth appear to be slightly above the other Class A contenders that include Kennebunk, Greely and Westbrook.

4. South Portland: After winning consecutive Class AA championships, South Portland went 9-9 in the regular season and lost its regional quarterfinal to Thornton Academy. But young players like 6-4 Darius Johnson, who grabbed a AA South-best 9.9 rebounds per game, and guard Gabe Jackson (5.4 ppg) played a lot, and Manny Hidalgo showed he could take his 5-7 frame into the trees and pick points (17.8 per game). All-defensive guard Tom Maloji and potential shooting threat Carmine Soucie are also back. There’s not a lot separating the top seven teams in AA South, especially with defending champ Gorham graduating 80% of its scoring. The Red Riots, a veteran Deering team and Thornton Academy, featuring AA-leading scorer Wyatt Benoit and Trey Eldred, are the coaches’ consensus top-three.

Deering’s Evan Legassey averaged 16.4 points for the Rams, who reached the Class AA South semifinals last season. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
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5. Deering: The Rams moved from the North to the South last year and went 8-12, losing to Gorham in the Class AA South semifinals. After a 4-8 start, the Rams picked up late-season wins against Gorham and at Thornton Academy. A strong core of seniors returns, featuring experienced guards and size. Shooting guard Evan Legassey (16.4 ppg) is a four-year starter, and point guard Justin Jamal (11.1 points, 1.9 assists) has started since his sophomore year. Tavian Lauture, coming off quarterbacking the Rams to the B South final in football, is a defensive specialist. Mogga Yanga, Tayshaun Cleveland and David Otti are each at least 6-4 and will look to be stronger on the glass. Ronan Wing adds shooting and passing. A season-opening game at Cheverus will be a good test.

6. Falmouth: David Halligan, Falmouth’s varsity coach since 1986-87, enters the season with 598 wins. Only two Maine high school coaches – Dick Barstow and IJ Pinkham – have reached 600. In classic Halligan deadpan, he said, “I don’t know if we’ll win a game.” His peers don’t believe that and expect the Navigators, shocked by Westbrook in last year’s Class A South quarterfinals, to be at the top of the standings per usual, with 12 seniors and two returning starters in guards Davis Mann (7.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and Billy Birks (9.9 ppg). Mann has taken over the go-to role after a strong summer, showcasing 3-point ability and strong finishes at the rim. Birks is also capable of big offensive nights. Halligan believes this year’s team will be less prone to turnovers. The Navigators need to get 6-4 Tyler Simmons and senior twin forwards Nick and Luke Roediger consistently involved.

7. Kennebunk: The Rams, 12-6 before a quarterfinal knockout last season, feature one of the area’s top returning players in 6-3 guard Theo Powe, who averaged 16.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.8 steals and has honed his outside shot to complement a strong transition attack. Getting three-sport standout Max Andrews back after he missed his junior year because of an injury is another plus for Coach Paul Maguire’s group. Cole Perkins is a top 1-on-1 defender, and Isaac Jensen is a strong rebounder who can defend opponents’ big men. Expect Greely, with nine returning seniors, and an athletic Westbrook squad to also vie for a top-four finish in A South.

8. Medomak Valley: With two-time B South champ Oceanside graduating the Galley twins and having promising sophomore center Trevin Ripley transfer to Belfast (where Ripley’s dad is the new head coach), look for perennial contender Medomak to rise to the top of the Midcoast, and perhaps all of B South. The Panthers return four starters from a 16-4 team that lost to Oceanside in the regional semifinals, including 6-6 center and ace defender Gabe Lash. Mason Nguyen, who has grown two inches to 6-3, has been the team’s leading scorer in the preseason, when Medomak Valley played tough against AA powers Windham and South Portland. Guards Kristian Schumann, a 3-point threat, and Luke Cheesman are also back. Transfer Rocco DePatsy, who played last year at Cheverus and is Coach Nick DePatsy’s nephew, adds another quality 6-6 player to a deep rotation.

9. York: The Wildcats, also a 16-4 B South semifinalist a year ago, are the top southern team in a division that includes teams from the WMC, KVAC and MVC. York has a new coach in Matt Regan (formerly at Old Orchard) and returns three key players in senior center Lukas Bouchard (12 ppg, 13.4 rpg), smooth-shooting junior wing Reece MacDonald (12 ppg, 4 rpg) and senior playmaker Ryan Cummins (WMC-best 6 assists per game). If the preseason is an indication – wins against Class A Noble and Biddeford and Class AA Bonny Eagle – York will be tough to beat.

10. Waynflete: The Flyers were 14-4 in C South but were bounced in the regional quarterfinals. They figure to once again be a factor in a deep league that includes many quality teams, among them Old Orchard Beach, Traip Academy and Sacopee Valley in the southern area. Waynflete expects to have three quality scorers in junior guard Malcolm O’Wril, sophomore forward JJ Carlo, and junior forward/center Jed Alsup, a 6-4 player who runs the court well and can get off the ground. Mercy Nkulu is another player to watch. Getting senior captain Lucas McChesney back from injury will help offset the graduation of four-year starter and all-around stabilizer Nico Kirby.