In Maine boys basketball, Class B North is shaking up to be more competitive than anybody could have expected.
On Tuesday night, the Old Town Coyotes beat reigning state champion Orono in overtime, simultaneously improving to 9-0 and handing the tournament favorites their second consecutive loss.
Underestimated by coaches and the media alike, the success of Old Town (as well as Caribou, who is 8-2 and beat Orono on Jan. 6) in the first half of this season is challenging the supremacy that Orono and Chance Mercier’s Ellsworth Eagles appeared to establish in Class B North last year.
“It’s a lot of hard work from our returning players. They’ve put the time in, and have all been along for the ride we’ve had for the last couple of years,” Old Town head coach Garrett Libby said. “The experience has given them more maturity on the court, and [helped us] play how we like.”
In 2022-23, No. 4 Old Town was knocked out by the undefeated Eagles in the regional semifinal, completing a season sweep for Ellsworth. Against archrival Orono, Old Town split the season series, but the No. 3 Red Riots outlasted everyone else come tournament time.
Flash forward to this year, Ellsworth (8-2) and Orono (8-2) have returned their star players, yet Old Town has defeated both teams, as well as the upstart Caribou Vikings. Old Town’s captains and de facto Big Three of senior point guard Grayson Thibeault, junior forward Emmitt Byther and senior forward Brendan Mahaney have been especially vital to the Coyotes’ resurgence.
“These three are our leaders, and they lead the team very well,” Libby said. “As a whole, there’s great camaraderie, the kids push each other every day in practice and they find energy in cheering each other on. It’s a special group of kids.”
Through nine games this season, Thibeault is averaging 12.7 ppg, 5.0 assists and 1.6 steals; Byther is averaging 14.5 ppg, 9.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists; and Mahaney is averaging 11.1 ppg, 8.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals. Old Town’s Big Three are also the team’s most efficient shooters, converting a combined 58.8 percent of their field goals and scoring 62.1 percent of Old Town’s points.
As a team, the Coyotes are also playing Class B North’s best defense; their 42.5 points allowed per game is the best of all 17 teams in the conference.
“We put a heavy emphasis on defense,” Libby said. “We have great energy, and when we play good team defense our positioning and length can make shots difficult for opponents.”
Fortunately for the rest of Class B North, Old Town has to play seven of its final nine games on the road, including rematches with Orono, Ellsworth and Caribou away. But benefiting from home court advantage or not, the Coyotes have undoubtedly put northern Maine on notice, and are Class B North’s newest team to beat.
“This is one of the most competitive divisions across the state of Maine,” Orono’s all-Mainer, 1,000-point scorer Pierce Walston said. “We have four state championship contenders. It’s gonna be a battle to the end.”
