BANGOR- Jalen Reed had a game-high 15 points, and Bangor Christian used a solid defensive effort on Saturday afternoon to slow down the high-powered Schenck Wolverines for a 38-25 win in a Maine Principals’ Association Class D North boys regional championship game played at the Cross Insurance Center.
Bangor Christian never trailed. Jalen Reed had seven points in the first quarter and with the score tied at 4-4, a basket by Jesse Booker and a three-point play by Reed had the Patriots up 9-4 after eight minutes. They extended that 5-0 run to 9-0 early in the second period on another basket by Booker and Reed. Schenck clawed within 13-11 helped by a bucket by Mason McDunnah, a three-pointer by Owen Wyman, and Samuel Jacobs also scored to cap off a 7-0 spurt. Booker put in another hoop late as Bangor Christian held a 15-11 halftime advantage.
Bangor Christian outscored Schenck 9-4 in the third quarter, with the help of five points including a three-pointer by Elliot Straubel. Straubel had a steal and layup near the end of the period to make it 24-15, and the lead never went under nine after that. Jalen Reed and Rajon Reed combined to hit eight free throws in the fourth to ice it. The Patriots held the Wolverines to 38 points under what they had been averaging in their two games of the tournament (63), holding Schenck to just nine made field goals.
Jalen Reed added eight rebounds, five steals, and two assists to his game-high point total in the win for Bangor Christian. Booker had 10 points and five rebounds, Rajon Reed chipped in eight points and three steals, while Elliot Straubel finished with his five points. Wyman led Schenck in the loss with 10 points and 11 rebounds. McDunnah contributed seven points. The Wolverines finish a fantastic season at 20-1 and as the regional runner-up. Bangor Christian (18-3) will seek the first gold basketball in the history of their school in their fourth state championship appearance (first since 2003), when they take on South Champion Valley at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday, March 2nd at 2:45 p.m.
Photos by Anthony DelMonaco
