B South Boys' Preview: Phoenix hope to end WMC streak

Class B South

Players to watch: Sr. C Alexander Medenica, Yarmouth; Jr. F Nolan Hagerty, Yarmouth; Sr. G Austin Darling, Spruce Mtn.; Sr. G Noah Preble, Spruce Mtn.; Sr. G Owen Berry, Wells; Sr. C Marcus Bailey, Oak Hill; Sr. F Cody Tozier, Lincoln Academy; Sr. G Kyle Wilbur, Maranacook; Jr. G Jonah Sautter, Lisbon; Sr. G Tyler Walker, Lake Region; Soph. G John Martin, Gray-New Gloucester.

Favorite: Yarmouth

Despite graduating eight seniors from last year’s regional runner-up team, the 16-2 Clippers emerged from the deep Western Maine Conference as the cream of the crop among the league’s Class B teams. Both of their losses were to Greely, the unbeaten No. 1 seed in Class A. One was in triple-overtime. Medenica (6-foot-7) and Hagerty (6-6) are formidable twin towers, although both typically do most of their scoring from the perimeter.

Darkhorses: Spruce Mountain, Maranacook

In a tournament historically dominated by the WMC, KVAC teams are always wild cards. The Phoenix have been on a mission to prove they are among the region’s best teams all season, and went 4-0 in crossover games against WMC teams. They make up for their lack of size with athleticism, 3-point shooting and a lead foot on the accelerator.

Maranacook likes to play at hyper speed, too, and Wilbur is tough to stop when he and the Black Bears get it in gear. They split two regular season games with Spruce Mountain. A potential semifinal matchup between the teams would be a very entertaining track meet.

Overview:

Mountain Valley was the last non-WMC team to win the region in 2007, so history is on the side of Yarmouth, Wells and the other southern teams. Some argue, however that the conference was down this year and the door is more open than it has been in a while for someone from the KVAC or MVC to take the region.

Nevertheless, Yarmouth has compiled an impressive resume. It beat two of the top three teams in Class A South, Falmouth and Cape Elizabeth, and took a Greely team many consider to be among the best in the state to the brink of its first loss. The Clippers will be tough to beat.