BANGOR, Maine — The boys basketball squad from Bangor High School concluded last season with only one win, ending the year at 1-18. This season, they’ve already secured a win. The Rams established a commanding 21-point lead with 2:21 left in the third quarter and withstood a strong fourth-quarter push from the Portland High School […]
BANGOR, Maine — The boys basketball squad from Bangor High School concluded last season with only one win, ending the year at 1-18.
This season, they’ve already secured a win.
The Rams established a commanding 21-point lead with 2:21 left in the third quarter and withstood a strong fourth-quarter push from the Portland High School Bulldogs, clinching a 65-60 victory at the Red Barry Gymnasium during their season opener on Friday night.
This game marked the first for Aaron Pinckney as Bangor’s head coach, and it was also the debut of former Calais High guard Philip Bassett in a Rams uniform, who sealed the win with two free throws with 6.2 seconds to go.
Bassett, a junior, came off the bench to share the top scoring spot with junior forward Josh Grunkemeyer. Both ended the game with 14 points.
Bassett scored 10 of his points in the second half.
Freshman point guard Nate Grunkemeyer, Josh’s sibling, contributed 12 points, six rebounds, and two assists; junior forward Harry Fitzpatrick scored 11 points and grabbed three rebounds, while senior forward Liam Vigue added nine points and two rebounds.
For the Bulldogs, who had a record of 16-5 last season and lost 43-34 to state champion Windham in the AA North championship, the only returning starter Cordell Jones missed the game due to a hand injury.
Last year, Bangor had lost to Portland twice by an average margin of 30 points.
Junior guard Lucas Legage led Portland with 16 points and two rebounds, while sophomore guard Maddox Meas tallied 14 points, five assists, and four rebounds. Junior guard Loic Ramazani added eight points and three rebounds, senior center Devin Walker managed seven points and four rebounds, and sophomore center Benilson Lumani also scored seven points along with four rebounds and a blocked shot.
“We played exceptionally well, especially considering our struggles over the last two seasons,” noted Vigue, addressing Bangor’s 3-35 record in the previous two years.
“We came out with enthusiasm, pushed the pace, and played our style,” Vigue elaborated.
The Rams overwhelmed the less experienced Bulldogs by netting the game’s first eight points, resulting in a 21-7 lead after the first quarter.
Bangor was ahead 33-23 at halftime and extended the advantage to 50-29 with 2:21 left in the third quarter.
Even with an 18-point lead and just four minutes remaining, the Bulldogs sparked a 14-0 run to cut the deficit to four points with only 1:18 left.
The Bulldogs pressured the Rams into multiple turnovers, converting them into points on the fast break. Lumani scored five of those 14 points.
Fitzpatrick halted the run with a layup just over a minute remaining, pushing the score to 63-57, but two free throws from Ramazani with 24 seconds left and a foul shot from Ricardo Cango just 12 seconds later brought it closer at 63-60.
However, the Bulldogs had to foul Bassett, who made both free throws.
“I was focused on making the shots. I had no other thoughts,” Bassett stated, adding that his mindset in the second half was to “attack the defense.”
“I was focused on driving to the hoop, looking for my teammates, getting them open, and creating good shot opportunities,” Bassett said, utilizing his speed to reach the basket.
“He made it happen. He was impressive (at the free throw line),” remarked Vigue.
“The players came out strong. They displayed confidence,” noted Pinckney. “It’s a work in progress, but I felt they performed admirably. They fought hard on every play.
“There are areas that need improvement. It’s a long journey ahead. But getting this win feels great for them,” he added.
“It feels fantastic to get this first victory after last year’s struggles,” stated Josh Grunkemeyer. “This team has potential, and performing that well for three quarters and four minutes is really satisfying.”
Bangor made 10 three-pointers, while Portland managed only four.
Longtime Portland coach Joe Russo expressed satisfaction with his team’s comeback effort.
“This is primarily a junior varsity squad. We fielded no players with significant varsity experience last year,” Russo explained. “Yet, they really battled hard in the second half, and if they maintain that effort, we’ll become a competitive varsity team.”
Both Bangor and Portland are set to play again on Tuesday.
Bangor will welcome Oxford Hills of South Paris at 6:30, while Portland will travel to Scarborough for a 7 p.m. matchup.
