Through the years, the Class D boys high school basketball tournament has been host to some unforgettable title-winning streaks: Mount Desert from 1956 to 1958, Jonesport-Beals from 1970 to 1974, and Upper Kennebec Valley from 1998 to 2003.
This year, a new team could cement itself as an all-time boys basketball dynasty: the Southern Aroostook Warriors.
Led by 1,000-point scoring brothers Hunter (class of 2022) and Dylan Burpee (class of 2024), the Warriors have won the state’s most prized competition the last two years, and have a shot at winning a third straight this winter — despite the odds being stacked against them.
Graduating three starters this offseason, and with just two juniors and one senior remaining on their roster, the cracks started to show for the Warriors early this season, when their 41-game winning streak was snapped by the upstart Katahdin Cougars at home, 53-50. Flash forward to tournament time and Southern Aroostook is an uncharacteristic 12-6, and seeded third.
“Coming into this year, we knew things would be different. We’ve gone from being deep as heck and being in full-on ‘go mode’ to having five sophomores on the bench and being more calculated,” fifth-year head coach Brett Russell said.
“If we can make [another] deep run, I’d be so proud of this group. It would be very special, and on a personal level the most fulfilling for me. With Dylan, he can go off for 40 any given night — I’m not gonna sit here and say we can’t do it.”
Over the past few seasons Dylan Burpee has become the poster child for Southern Aroostook boys basketball, evolving from a catch-and-shoot guard playing behind his older brother, to a 6-foot-3, do-it-all team captain who was named 2023 tournament MVP by the Bangor Daily News.
In last year’s state championship game, Burpee scored 36 points in Southern Aroostook’s 83-56 win over No. 1 Forest Hills, and is averaging 21 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists through 16 games played this season.
“Once he comes over half court, he’s a legitimate threat to score. Inside, outside, off the dribble; he can score at all three levels. He’s a great passer in transition; he can see the floor as good as anyone I’ve ever coached — he’s pretty well unstoppable,” Russell said.
Burpee brings more than scoring to the Warriors.
“This year is where his leadership has really shone through,” Russell said. “It could have been Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, but he’s shown his maturation and shared the ball immensely, and taken on those 12 rebounds a game. He’s already etched his name in the books.”
Accompanying Burpee on Southern Aroostook’s tournament starting five will be junior guards Trafton Russell and Ethan Collier who are each averaging double-digit points, hard-working sophomore guard Lincoln Hardy and 6-foot-3, 250 lb. sophomore Kason Lawlor. Off the bench, sophomore forwards DJ Kuindersma, Dikki Chambers and Conner Lane are each around six feet tall, and will play some key minutes for Southern Aroostook.
A third title for Dylan Burpee and company would be a fitting final verse to a highly anticipated swan song, and the Warriors certainly have the pieces and leadership to make something amazing happen.
