Podcast: Week 1 Overreactions with Mike Mandell

With Week 1 in the books, Mike Mandell from CentralMaine.com joined me to overreact to everything that happened around the state, including Leavitt's win, Cony's blowout of Messo, Kennebunk knocking off Falmouth, and so much more.

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Transcript (auto-generated)

0:02

Welcome to the Maine basketball rankings podcast.I am your host, basketball data nerd, Lucas McNelly.Well, week one of the football season is in the books.Had a lot of fun scores, a lot of crazy scores, 11 shutouts statewide, which feels like a lot to me, but it is what it is.

0:19

We, you know, we'll see.Mike Mandell is here today.We're going to talk about the week 1 overreactions from all the games we did this last year.Every week we did week 4 overreactions, Week 7 overreactions.

0:34

So each week going to get a new media person in here and we're going to wildly overreact to what we saw on Saturday or what scores we saw pop up on Friday.And it's super fun and always fun to talk to Mike Mandell.Some housekeeping for the website.

0:51

The rankings are up for football, soccer and field hockey.A note on the rankings.So you're going to start at last year's ranking and then go from there because you got to start from somewhere and teams tend to start.

1:09

Good teams tend to stay good, bad teams tend to stay bad.You have some movement, obviously, but it's a good starting point.So one thing you'll notice is that Leavitt is a great example of this.They're way down in the 50s or they might be 60th, which is way too low for Leavitt.

1:26

We I know this, you know this, Levitt knows this.So what's happening there is Levitt was way down from last year and they actually dropped further because the problem is, and let's see if I can explain this correctly, the problem is they won by too much.

1:42

So they beat Hampdon 50 to 8.And So what happens now is Hamden got zero.It's for each game you get anywhere from zero to 100% of the Val, the win percentage of the game.And then you get points based on what percentage you get.

1:58

So Hamden got 0 because when you lose 50 to 8, that's 0%, you get nothing.Good day, Sir.So they got 0%.So Hamden is now worth basically nothing because the starting point is very small is just to give you a starting point and then to keep the thing from overreacting wildly in like week one or two or whatever.

2:20

But it's a very small number for a starting point and then so it goes away pretty quickly.So but Hamden now has has no value.So Levitt got 100% of Hamden, but Hamden is not worth anything to think of it.It's built like heel point.So think of it like heel points and you know, Levitt effectively gets no points because they played A-Team.

2:41

That's not worth anything.So if you beat AO and 17 team, it's not helping your hit points out very much.So what's going to happen though, is Hamden is way better than this.So Hamden's going to win and then their value's going to go up, and then this Levitt score is going to go up and Levitt's going to shoot up the rankings.Which is all to say that right now it's a mess and it's going to take 2, three games to sort itself out because that's how these things work.

3:04

They take two or three games to sort themselves out and it's fine and you don't need to yell at me about it.But anyway, football soccer rankings are up and field hockey rankings are up.And then I added, because I don't have the newsletter every day during football and during fall and spring like I do in basketball.

3:25

So you don't see the spreads.You don't see the spread for a Tuesday or a Wednesday or whatever.So I added a page that just has the spreads.That's all obviously behind the paywall, but then it's also convenient so that if you're at a game, you're like, what's the spread?You don't have to find the newsletter in your e-mail or whatever.You can just go to this page and they'll all be there.

3:42

Super handy.And the spreads are of course a little bit messy right now, but the model, even with the mess of the early season the model got is running at like anywhere from 62 to 77% accuracy already.

4:00

So when I say it's a mess, it's all very relatively speaking.It's in pretty good shape.And I was supposed to write down what the football model did for opening weekend, but I forgot.But I think it's in the 60s, somewhere in the 60% range.Yeah.

4:16

So if you haven't, if you haven't turned your subscription on to get the spreads because you you want to know if you're favored or not and by how much you're favored, even if you don't agree with it at all, you still want to know that.So you want to turn your subscription on so you can get that and then quick reminder to subscribe to the podcast right here on the YouTube or if you're watching on YouTube, if you're listening on Spotify or on Apple podcast or whatever it is you podcast, subscribe there.

4:46

If you're watching this on Facebook, then like the page, I don't know, whatever you need to do on Facebook, share it, maybe share it, share it with your friends and like, look at this idiot or hey, this guy is this is pretty fun.I enjoy this.They're talking about high school football.Not a lot of places talk about high school football, especially not in Maine anyway.

5:04

So I think that is all that we need to do about that.So let's go to my conversation with Mike Mandel.OK?

5:20

Mike Mandel is here from centralmaine.com/thekennebecjournal/themorningsentinel/varsity Maine slash.I don't know what else.The main trust for local news now, Yeah.That's for local news.Yeah, the whole conglomerate you've got over there.

5:35

And yeah, so we're we're gonna do Week 1 overreactions to the high school season because people love it when you freak out about them losing a game on opening week.Are you ready?That's, I mean, that's that's kind of what it is, was we're going to see the same we we're probably going to see the same thing in the NFL.

5:55

And it's the week one in Maine high school football, too.Yeah, but first I want because I know you being an impartial journalist and everything, don't have favorites, but I know that you were very high this upcoming basketball season on the Gardner boys, so make the case.

6:12

Well, you know, I, I think we take a look at them.Last year, they made the tournament for the first time in a while.They only lost to Hamden Academy.Well, I, I shouldn't say that, but a big reason they lost to Hamden Academy is because one of their one of their best players, Brady Atwater, did not play in that game.

6:32

They went to, they went to the championship in summer in the Coney Summer league this year.They look really good.And a lot of people are wondering if we could have, if Coney Gardner are, are the two top teams in Class BN.Of course it'll be interesting, interesting for those two teams to go to Bangor after they obviously 'cause they're they're used to being in Augusta and in Coney's case is literally a couple miles from the Civic Center.

6:59

Those two.And I think Ellsworth will also be strong and BN.So a lot of people are wondering could, could we get a Coney Gardner match up at at the Cross Insurance Center next year for regionals?And they met in the semis this year.I know everybody excited about Carter Brathwaite.

7:17

They got Parker Moore and a lot of their players back.So yeah, it's going to be, it's going to be an exciting year.I think Gardner's going to have a great year and I know they haven't.I know they haven't won a tournament game.I think in I it might not have been since the current group of players have been born, but this could be the year to do it.

7:36

They went to a regional final, I want to say 10 years ago, something like that, 'cause they played madomic in a regional final a while ago, so.I think last year was their first tournament appearance, just like 8 or 9 years.

7:54

Yeah, Yeah.So you were saying you think it might be their best team in a very long time.So that's very exciting.Yes, Yeah, no, yeah, absolutely.Brady Atwater, Brady Peacock.They've got some.They've got, they've got some good bigs.

8:09

They they they moved, they moved the ball.They moved the ball well, they lost to that very good Camden team in the regional final.So again, it's hard to prognosticate a season that's not going to start for three months from now.But you know, I think if you look at summer league or something that that's a team to watch.

8:26

I mean, Coney League is always a thing where I'm like, you know, you want to pay attention to who does well there because that's something, not nothing.Yeah, yeah.I mean, madomic dominated the league last year and then that was kind of the precursor to the very good season they had.And I know Meselonski did well there last year and that was a precursor to the great season they had.

8:44

So it doesn't always translate, but it can usually be a telltale sign of what's to come.All right, now, Speaking of Kony and Parker Moran, you got, let's say, not the two best games.This past weekend you covered the Kony Meselonski game.

9:00

Kony won 47 and nothing.Did you guys have that as your game of the week?Did I see that correctly?We did have it as our game of the week.It was it.Was a very good, I think I think the two best games in the Central Maine area were seen last week as being Koni Mesolonski and then Winthrop Oak Hill and Winthrop Oak Hill also crosses over as both of those are Sun Journal schools as well.

9:23

So that that ended up being the Sun Journal game of the week.And then we did Koni Mesolonski our as our Central Maine game of the week.So you're able to do both.And yeah, Coney just looked like a team on a mission.Parker Moran was unstoppable.They didn't do much in the run game 'cause they didn't need to.

9:39

I mean, that was I I've seen Parker Moran play a lot of football.That was the best he's looked.I think his passes are perfect.Every time the receivers got, the receivers got separation, the pass blocking was on point.They just were able to do everything they want against the Meselonski team that I think is going to win, is going to win some games down the stretch.

9:57

So yeah, can't, can't, can't script to much better starts of the year for be a Leopard squad than what we saw on Friday night in Oakland.And see, people think it's easy to pick a game of the week or a game of the day and have it pan out.And sometimes it just doesn't pan out for you.It's just you get a.

10:13

Yeah, no, I mean, absolutely.And I think, you know, it's obviously like, you know, you might, you might say, well, it's not fun to cover game.It's 47 to nothing.And I, I think I, I, I, I think, I think you'd certainly rather have from, well, maybe not for deadline purposes, but for excitement purposes to cover a game that goes right down until the end.

10:33

But, but sometimes you, sometimes in a blowout, what happens is you is one team plays great and it's fun to watch.And that's what we saw with Tony on Friday.It could have been worse, it could have been like 9 to nothing and raining, you know?Yeah, that was a that was a I've covered a I've covered a few games like that, I think last year on no comas.

10:53

But there was a Monday game that I forget.I think, I think they, I think they played.I forget who they played, but it was really sloppy.It was 2 years.It was two years ago against Winslow is what it was.It was a ugly game in the ugly game in the rain.They moved it from Saturday to Monday because it was too wet.

11:11

It was too wet Saturday and then it was raining again on Monday.So it didn't do a whole lot.Of good, that's the worst, but and then the other game you got was Winslow Moranicook, which was 50.Is that a 454 to nothing?Yeah.I think with, I think with that one, I kind of, I think with, I think with that one, I kind of had a feeling going into it that it might not be super competitive.

11:32

At the same time, Winslow is one of our core schools, big sports town and Miranda Cook is Miranda Cook is also up there.So it was a, it was a game worth covering kind of regardless of how the score was going to shake out.And it was great, too, because we got a great a a great rookie first game performance from Michael Rubier, 10 rushes for 213 yards and and four touchdowns.

11:57

Almost all that was in the first half.And yeah, Winslow looks like the overwhelming favorite And DN maybe I think I think the other two are maybe John Babster MCI who play each other Thursday night.So we'll get another intuition there of what's going on and maybe see who Winslow's biggest threat is.

12:13

But I don't think it's an overreaction to say that they're the favorite to come out of the North and play for a gold ball.Yeah, I read your article on that Winslow game and this.So the kid, like, finds out how?Like how?How much notice did he have to find out he was starting as a freshman in his very first game?

12:30

I think he I think I think he had AI think he had a few days.It, it, it, it was known what the situation was going in going into the week.And of course, Liam Fortin, as I wrote, who was their kind of their 1A and 1B along with us on hobby last year.He switched that he he's still running the ball as much as ever, but he's doing out of the quarterback spot this year.

12:51

And so Michael Lubier was starting running back, and he broke three biggest ones and three, three or four big ones, including that 96 yarder.Wow, that's like what?Like a wait, what do I start your like high school career?It's all downhill from there really.

13:07

You'll never beat that.Yeah, yeah, so and Hassan will be back this week.It was just a, it was just a, a family situation where he couldn't play.But he's back and that Winslow, that Winslow rushing back's going to be good.They've got a good line, they've got good linebackers.They're physical.

13:24

You will never see a Winslow team that is not physical.That's just kind of built into the DNA of the program, and this year is no exception.So we'll pivot on that a little bit.And the reason you're on here is because you texted me about the thing we're going to talk about now.And then I was like Ethan's as I was going to have Ethan Snow on for week 1 because somehow I always end up starting with Ethan Snow.

13:44

But Ethan has gone AWOL.So Ethan, if you're watching, what the hell, man?Like, answer your like, like Facebook messages and like or like reactivate your Twitter account or something, you know?Anyway, so the game I went to was the madomic Old Town game.

14:01

And we show up and Jaden Ruiz, who's 1 of varsity Maine's 30 players to watch in southern Maine, has got a big old thing on his hand.And it's like, oh boy.So he's out a couple weeks.He just injured his hand, you know, But then you texted me, you're like, what's going on with that?

14:17

But similar to the Winslow game, Seamus Pees finds out that morning, hey, good news, bad news, you're starting.And he had three touchdowns, 217 yards on 12 carries.So it's another example of next man up I guess.

14:36

Yeah, So that that doesn't surprise me.I covered I I I covered that I covered Madomic's Week 2 game against Nokomis last year in Newport and I seem to recall that a piece might have even out rushed Ruiz on that day.So it does not surprise me to all the.Seasons but.Yeah, and I had, I had heard good things about Old Town.

14:54

I've heard they look good in their scrimmages and exhibition.I really don't put too much into the scores of exhibition, but just from what I've been hearing was that they looked good.And so I can't say I'm super surprised.Of course David Gross is coaching them now and he he's, he's gonna have them boys ready to play.

15:11

I'm curious to see how they do against a good gardener team this week.That will be an interesting.One so miss, miss, miss with Ruiz out it it, I can't say it didn't surprise me that they didn't that they didn't hold their own against the what should be a good Madonna team again this this fall.Yeah, Old Town's quarterback was really impressive.

15:29

Threw the ball more than I expected.He's short, like short little guy, like can't be 5-6, but really shifty, really hard to bring down.And if you got him in any space at all, it was it was dangerous.Yeah, it's it's funny.It's funny.

15:45

You it's funny you bring that up because I was just at Lawrence talking with their quarterback for a story I'm writing, a junior named Colt Robinson, and he's like, yeah, at 57, it's a bit tough to see over my lineman sometimes.So I don't know, maybe maybe that's the theme in Central.Maybe that's the theme he made in high school football this year.

16:01

Short quarterbacks.Maybe, yeah.I mean, you, you saw him and he's just running around and you're like, OK, this is just gonna be a a running quarterback.And then he dropped back and was throwing threw four or five times in a row, but had some really nice completions.I was impressed with them.They were down 18 at two different points and didn't give up and they got it to within two at the end.

16:24

I will blame Mick LaBelle for that because after they scored one of their touchdowns to get it within, to get it within 12, he goes, you know, they can get a, they're going to get a turnover here 30 seconds later on sidekick.They recover it and he's like, Oh no, I've changed them.

16:42

This is bad.Yeah, don't, Don't tell anyone.Yeah, classy fascinates me this year.I know there's a lot of people who are frustrated with the statewide rather than regions.I could go here or there on that.I think if there's only I, I, I was, I, I, I, I was.

16:59

I was kind of miffed last year when they went with the five team region in the South.Yeah, that's 6.In the North, so I don't really have a preference on that.What is interesting though, is OK, so Freiburg wins Class C and goes up to B, so you're gonna have a new state champion no matter what you get Wells and Foxcroft.

17:19

That Foxcroft score was one that caught my eye this week, because they have.Pretty.Much most, most of their team returning from the 11 and one class DN championship team a year ago.And I mean Herman kind of Herman.Herman kind of put it to them. 26 to 6.

17:35

Yeah, as kind of AI guess, I guess it's a welcome back to Class C moment.But I have, I have no doubt that Danny White's boys will be back and will be a factor in November.They always are.And yeah.And then so you got Wells I was impressed with.I was, I was impressed with Gardner.

17:54

You know, Oceanside's been a competitive team in CI, Know obviously it's different without Zip Foster, but still 30. 1.Nothing.Yeah, yeah, 31, nothing still caught my eye.I know it was an emotional day for them too, with the tributes to Wolf Graham, where he where he was an iconic figure in that community, which is already a big sports community to begin with.

18:14

And then old Town's interesting.I meant this no comas backfield.I know, I know they kind of I know they got kind of bullied by Wells, but I still think with that, with the with that backfield they have of Seth Boden and Stephen Ross, that they can be a good team.You got you got that Madame team.

18:30

When Ruiz comes back, you've you've got Herman.I'm really, I'm really intrigued to see how Class C shakes out come October, late October and November.I think, yeah, I think Class C looks really fascinating so far.And we didn't even mention Levitt.Oh yeah.Hurt.Yeah.

18:46

But absolute beat down on Hamden, Yeah, which that was, yeah, that was a score that I went, oh, OK.Yeah, well, they and they shut down Gavin Maniac, who I watched torch Lawrence for 350 yards and five touchdowns last year in the regular season finale, so that caught my eye.

19:06

Levitt had inexperienced an injury problems last year and you can expect Mike Levitt voice Mike Hathaway's voice excuse me to be back this year and to be a a factor in Class C if not one of the two or three favorites.Yeah, I sent in my pics to Andrew Hart from mainehighschoolfootball.com at for the thing and I just used what the model spit out and it said it had Hamden winning and I went, I just wrote after oh, Oh no, this is not going to go well.

19:32

I don't think this model has gotten a Levitt game right in since they won the state championship game.It's gotten every single game wrong.Yeah, Well, I mean, last year, last year they were, they last year was interesting because they beat a good Coney team and they lost to a, a, a Cape Elizabeth team that they probably should have beat.

19:51

But and yes, they were, they were, they were kind of up and down inexperienced.Injuries can do that.But they, I think I, I think you'll, I think you'll see them on the winning side more often than not in 2025.Yeah, I think they're going to start climbing the rankings.Yeah, the Herman score was one.If you told me Herman beat Foxtroff, I'd go OK, But 26 to 6, I was like, oh, OK, that's that's really interesting.

20:15

And then I started thinking, well, maybe Foxtroff doesn't have as many people back as I thought they did, but you're saying they do, so who knows?They lost to Polsky, who was a great player, but outside of that, I mean, I'm I unless, unless they had like a bevy of gift transfer that I just haven't heard of.

20:33

But I by all means, it's Foxcroft.They're always good.They they should have a lot of returning starters back.It's one of those programs you just assume.Yeah, and then and then Herman and then Herman turns around right week and then and then plays Wells.

20:48

So that'll be another telling game in Class C.That'll be a really that's on my list of games to watch for next week because this whole Foxcroft and Wells coming up to SEA is like this.It's a great added thing 'cause there's just so much going on in SEA.You got the one class like you said you've got.

21:05

It's really looks to be really deep.I don't.Are there really any bad teams?There's probably got to be one or two who are going to be pretty bad, but it seems pretty wide open.I can't really think of any like bad teams and one team we didn't talk about is Greeley, who's new to 11 man football after going an 8 man and they they put a hurt, they put a hurt on a York team that's usually pretty decent or decent.

21:28

That was another one that jumped out of me 42 to nothing.Yeah, in the first game.So you wonder as you wonder as the season goes on and those guys become even more and more accustomed to the 11 man game, if they're just going to get better.And they play Levitt this week.So we'll find out a lot more in Class C as well.

21:45

Yeah, that will be a fun one.But part of the fun of Week 1 is like, I remember one year in basketball, I think it was it was either Cape or Falmouth boys got blown out opening night.And I was like, yeah, I think they're probably going to be fine.And they were, you know, and they went like 15 and three or something.

22:05

So you part of this is you go, Oh my gosh, is York broken?And then you're like, well, maybe they'll be fine.They might just bounce back next week and be just whatever.It's it's, it's weak.It's, it's, it's weak, it's weak one for a reason.You can come out, you can.You can come out flat and sometimes it can spiral, but sometimes you just turn it right around.

22:25

Yeah, OK, so the one game that really jumped out at me was the one I should have probably gone to Kennebunk, Falmouth, because it looked like Falmouth had this one in hand.They were up 10 nil.And then Kennebunk comes back and and knocks it out.Avengers, their loss from the playoffs last year.

22:43

Like so that's the game of the of the week, right?That's gotta be.Yeah, it has to be.I mean, you know, it's from Steve Craig covered that for us from all, from all accounts, from what I've heard.What what?From what I read in his article, it sounds like it was a great game that went down to the wire.

23:00

It'll be interesting to see how Falmouth bounces back.You know, this is Spencer's, Spencer Emerson's first lost with them.And that's crazy.You go, you go 11 and O and then and then you start off the season by finding out that oh, you lose.

23:16

You lose sometimes.So it'll be interesting to see how they bounce back.I I you know that they're going to be a factor in B in in in in Class B South and obviously Kennebunk and obviously Kennebunk is establishes themselves as one of the favorites with this win if they and they already were one of the.Favorites.It's like that scene in Pleasantville when the basketball team loses and they're like, what do you mean we lost?

23:37

It's like, well, they do have that saying.You can't win them all.Yeah.They're like, yeah, that must be where that comes from.Yeah.No, yeah, absolutely.And, you know, you take, you see teams like like Wells did last year, like Falmouth did last year, like Levitt did in 2022 and 23, where they just run the table.

23:56

And yeah, it's you, you, you take for granted how difficult that is because injuries can happen.A lot of different things that can go on with kids, you know, eligibility, which has been an issue for some coaches that I've been talking to.

24:14

That was.Fun.This this fall can can take can take players out over the course of the season.You can run into a team that lost you the first time and is super motivated to beat you and they and they can.There's just so much had to go right to go undefeated, which is why it's impressive when it when it happens in any, in any high school sport.

24:32

You get the flu in your locker room during the playoffs and like that's what happened to Madomic this past year.The whole team got sick and as you know.Especially right now as COVID is kind of making its resurgence.I know so many people who are sick.Fortunately, fortunately, it doesn't sound like the high school kids have caught the same bug, at least not to the same stretch that many of my adult friends have.

24:56

But yeah, it's a hopefully, hopefully everybody could stay of good health and on the football field.Well, luckily we're outside when we're covering the games, so it's less likely that we get it while covering the games, so that's good.

25:11

Yeah, right.That was kind of that was kind of the that's kind of the problem when COVID like hit like right during basketball season was in 2021-2022.All right, so another game that jumped out at me, Old Orchard Beach and Orno.Orno is up in this game, 1816 after one, and then Old Orchard Beach scores 44 unanswered to put it away, which is kind of nuts.

25:38

I mean, so the Orchard Beach, they score a lot, but for it to be that close and then just to take off, that's crazy.Yeah, I mean, sometimes it's about finding a rhythm.I think we saw that in a few games the other night.Diego was struggling early against Wells.

25:53

I think they were down 12/6 to them.I think they ended up winning by four or five touchdowns.So it can it can just be a matter of, you know, first game jitters.Not that not that Orono isn't a good team.They've been one of the they've been one of the predominant teams in eight man football over the past two or three years.

26:13

And by all means should be again this year.But that's what Dean Plant's true that that's what Dean Plant's team can do.And I know people are talking about some of the guys they lost, but they still have W gallants and.And yeah, you have 4 touchdowns.Yeah, something, something like that.So yeah, OOB, they're they're a menace.

26:31

And you know, they kind of had to reclaim their clown last year.They were kind of on a mission after Orno put put it to put it on them in that battle of unbeatens in the 2023 state final.And I think we're back in the position where they're the Champs and they're they're the overwhelming favorites in that eight man small school class to win a gold ball until somebody knocks them off.

26:54

Yeah, I have this thing where I I kind of want to see them play, but I think the only time they get anywhere near me is Boothbay, and I don't know that I need to see them win 80 to nothing.And so I'm like, yeah, you know.Yeah, it's it, Yeah, it's tough.

27:10

You want to see every team in the state, but it's a it could be tough, especially, especially down, especially down in the Mid Coast region.It's kind of a don't quite have the football presence that we've got up here in central Maine or down in the Portland area not.That it's a little to get anywhere.Not that there's not, not that, not that there's not some very good programs down there, but this, it's not the same level of concentration with them.

27:32

And you're right.It's and you're right.It's gonna be a pain to get to Portland OR up to my area and Waterville and Augusta.You know, I had this thought experiment once.I was like, I wonder if you wanted to go hit every gym in the state, how and like catch a right, catch a game, how long would that take?

27:51

Because you know you've only got so many dates.Years.I don't know.It would, it would probably, I think it would take years.I think that's why I landed is that it would probably take years, like it would be a lot of driving.Like trying to think I'm, I'm trying to think how many schools off the top of my head up basketball programs, I think it's in the one 20s or one 30s.

28:11

It's 130, roughly a. 130 OK, so you'd.Have to catch double headers.You'd have to really work the schedule, you know?Right.And the season and this and so like, all right, so like you start in you start with the first games in early December and you end you end in February and half of the February is at is tournament time.

28:34

So you won't you won't get a chance to stay in the gym.So yeah, 90 days, it would probably take 3 or 4 years.I think if you really crunch the numbers cause and consider the travel and all the factors.Unless you cheated and only did like partial things like the time my brother and I like showed up at a Gardner Lawrence game in like the fourth quarter, which I think we saw you there for that.

28:56

That was a good game.Wow, was that the was that the girls game where they were both Yeah, powerhouses?Yeah, 2023.Yeah, yeah.It was like Lizzie Gruber's senior year, I think.Yeah, Yep, there was Lizzie's senior year, and then Lawrence had Hope.Bouchard, Liz.

29:12

Kromit, Ali.Higgins, Bree Poulin.They had Provost.Two yeah, Provost was a freshman.Yeah, yeah, 222 great teams.It's unfortunate that they had to run into each other because they were both gold ball worthy.Well, those and that game at Lawrence that we saw was a great game and then the tournament game was a really good game, so.

29:34

All three, all three, all three games.Are probably the first one was.Good, Yeah, yeah, yeah.There's nothing like a good, there's nothing like a good game at there's nothing like a good game at in Folsom gym.It's so yes, it's cramped, but if, but if, if you're there, it's like so loud, you're right near, you're right near.

29:50

It gets loud.It gets probably louder than any any gym I can think of offhand.It's one of the louder ones that I've been in.Yeah.Yeah.And you got your nice Cindy Blodgett shrine there.You can pay tribute.To Yeah.So that's always nice.No for real God I can't.I still can't believe they didn't win class Class A this year.

30:09

It's like.One of those things.Yeah.I had that up on my on my computer like in at the Expo, and people were leaning over my shoulder going, wait, what's the score there?Yeah, there's a lot of that.Yeah, no, it's on, on, on one, one of one of those, one of those games where it's like, yeah, I think I think you come across those like once there, there are those few games you cover as a reporter where you think them back years later.

30:32

It's like, man, how did that happen?Whether it's a big, whether it's a big comeback or an unexpected result or just something crazy that happened, Yeah.Like the end of the Caribou Biddeford girls game, for example, with that finish.Yeah, that was just crazy.Like even thinking back to like, wait, is that really how that worked?

30:50

Am I remembering that correctly?Because that's insane.Yeah, yeah.No, yeah.It's crazy.And our, my colleague Drew Bonifan just won.My colleague Drew Bonifan wrote that game story, which is one of the greatest, best game stories I've ever, I've ever read.

31:09

And yeah, yeah, that's, yeah, that's that's crazy.It's awesome too.It's awesome too when you get.It's awesome too when you get places from just totally completely different parts of Maine meeting together, both packing.Yeah, that was, that place was packed.

31:25

There was like just a lot of people, a lot of energy cause Caribou travels as well as anybody in the state.And Biddeford was so hyped for that, for that game and for that program.And jeez, they'll probably be right in the mix this year too.So that was a really, I think I just saw Jordan Crump is going, oh, where is it?

31:48

Is it Colgate?Did she just announce?It just seems early because she's only a soft.She's well now she's a junior, I guess.Well, I guess that's not that early.Yeah, yeah, commits before junior you usually, usually, usually you're going to come later.

32:05

But I mean, but I mean, we saw some like, I know, I know, I know Michigan just added a bunch of 2027 class of 2027 commits in football.So it's not crazy.Not too crazy.All right.OK, so one more score I had written down that jumped out at me was Bonnie Eagle, 48, S Portland 6.

32:23

Yes.I thought South Portland was going to be better than that this year.I had Bonnie Eagle winning a close game.That that is definitely is an eye is is an eye-catching one.What I can, what I can tell you is that that is not going to happen to an Aaron Philio team twice.

32:41

I expect them to bounce back this week against Noble.Yeah, Noble, I guess.Steve Craig had the article on the Noble Wyndham game.He was a bit of a slog.It sounded like it's like 5:50 or something.Yeah, for sure.Noble definitely has.Trying to find a new identity after Jamere Rose that any, any, any that's going to happen anytime you lose the 50 winner.

33:04

Like wait, wait, what do we have to do now?And and.And and that was one of those games where I really didn't know what to expect.I think I picked Wyndham, but it was after like 20 minutes.It was like all right, basically, basically a coin flip.So I'm just going to pick the home team or I'm just going to pick the team that sounds picked.I'm just going to pick AI.

33:21

Don't know the team that I I think might be might have a slight edge for whatever reason, which I guess in this case wasn't much but.How?How did your picks go?Eight and three in central Maine, 25 and 11 overall.OK, I think I think you did better than the spreadsheet did.

33:38

Yeah.So I think I, I think if you can get like, I think it's crazy that I remember this, but I think the first year I was here, I, I was crazy.I think I was like 99 and 26, which is, which is close to 80%, which is remarkable.

33:56

Yeah, that's really good.I think, I think 2023, I was 94 and 29, still very good.It's not the same number.Last year we picked more games, so I was 113 and 33 basically as like if you can keep it above that 3/4 number, that's pretty good.Yeah.

34:13

So 25 and 11, not quite there, but it's also week 1 and.It's week 1.There's there's going to be some teams you think are good that it just aren't, and there's going to be some teams that you aren't thinking about that are going to blow your mind.And that's part of the that's part of the fun of covering high school football.

34:29

And it's part of the fun of looking at the scores coming to go.Whoa.Yeah.OK, What's going on here?It's like, Yep, then that's exactly what we do.It's like, that's something I'll it's like, I'll see something that's like, oh, guess I'll be calling that coach Monday to see to, to, to, to, to see what's up.

34:45

And you know, you can rehash it the next week.It's always, it's always, it's always fun when a new team comes out of nowhere and gives you something to talk about and add something new to the high school football scene.I remember two years ago for me, Meselonski coming off a two and six season where they ended up with 27 kids to to starting six and O and making the playoffs and.

35:09

Then last year was Falmouth.Yeah, last year's Falmouth goes from 2:00 and 6:00 and not even being eligible for the post season to an undefeated first ever state championship.Which is crazy.So yeah, so I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm curious to see who that team is going to be this year.All right, well, let me put you on the spot.

35:26

Who do you think it could be?Do you have any like anybody you're sort of eyeing?Yeah, I don't, I don't, I don't know, maybe somebody in that class.I, I I think you'd have to look at that class CI.Think.Not that, not that, not that it can't come from anywhere else, but I think I think you're going to see Class C be a little bit more unpredictable than chalkier regions in Class B and class D, And even in class AI, mean Class A is usually always the usual suspects.

35:55

You know, you got your Thornton, your bonnet Eagle.Portland's going to be in the mix again.Oxford Hill's lost to Portland but should have a strong team this year.So I think, I don't know, I could see it.Could it, could it, could it be a Greeley or a guard or a, or a gardener maybe?

36:13

Of course, Greeley obviously did just want a gold ball, but I think you can.Kind of.I don't know if that counts as being out of out of nowhere.Yeah, but I think I think anytime you go to 11 man it can be a step up.Although we did see it with Dirigo last year.Dirigo went from 8 man to Class D and they went seven and two and ended up losing to I think their.

36:37

I think their only losses were to Wells in Winthrop who were the 2 best teams in Class D this year.What did Gardner go last year?They were five and 55.And five, so that I mean there's a case there for that being an out of nowhere team.I mean, I have a little bit of a theory that when a school is good in one sport, it might try to raise the level of the other sports because, you know, it's just athletes and they, yeah, you know, it's the the basketball players play football.

37:08

And that was, that was Falmouth football last year.It was like, and I, I, I, I watched Falmouth and it wasn't, and this is no disrespect to Falmouth there, the skill level wasn't that much different from anywhere from from some of the other teams they were playing and in fact, probably fact was quite similar.

37:27

But they were bigger and faster and when they got the ball to their guys in space, you weren't catching them.And they want to say championship.Yep.And, and, and that's why what that coaching staff and, and they had a coach who knew how to do that.And I mean, yeah, and you saw the same kids.

37:45

And Speaking of results, I can't believe that Falmouth lacrosse team losing to Thornton in the in the state championship game.I thought that was the best they that Falmouth team.That Falmouth team was my vote for Varsity Maine Team of the year in any sport until they lost that game.

38:03

Then you have to change your vote.Yeah, yeah.I think I ended up voting for Falmouth football, but I think Wyndham boys basketball ended up winning in the end.Sure.Yeah, that sounds right.Yeah, but yeah, no, so, yeah.And the, and the thing about a team that comes out of nowhere is that they come out of nowhere and you don't see them coming.

38:22

So I don't think you're going to see it in Class D this year.I think.I think the I think Winslow is your kind of your top team in the North, followed by John Baps and I think in the South.I think everybody kind of knows that your BIG4 of Winthrop, Deargo, Oak Hill and Freeport.

38:45

I don't think any I don't I don't think if if any of those four were to win the state championship or to win the regional championship, I don't think anybody, I don't think any of those seems to be a sneak up on anybody.I think everybody knows they're good and and and coaches and players across the you're going to take all those teams seriously.Maybe you see a team like a Poland do it.

39:03

They they really broke through against Morris.Damon Martin's one of the best athletes in the state.We'll see them against dear ago on Friday, which is going to be a fun match up for folks in the Sun Journal region.So that'll and that'll be a good test to see, you know, both those two teams that were both off to slow starts last week but eventually pulled out to Lopsider wins.

39:23

How is that game going to go?I think that's going to be we're going to find out a lot about Class D this week.I think we're going to find out who's Winslow's biggest challenger in the north between MCI and Bapst and we're going to find out, OK, Freeport plays madomic.

39:39

That's a game that I think could go either way, especially with your ease out.Interesting.Poland and Dirigo.Poland and Dirigo Winthrop against Mountain Valley, who lost to Freeport.What's what's, what's Mountain Valley got?Can they can they go into Winthrop on a Thursday night game and pull an upset?

39:58

So I think I, I, I obviously, obviously you're not going to have any playoff picture figured out after Week 2, but I think you're going to find out a lot about Class D this week.As we hit the quarter, as we hit the quarter way mark of this regular season.Are you saying I should go to the Freeport madomic game?

40:15

Because I was thinking of not going to that.I think it's an interesting game.You know, Freeport lost a lot from last year.But every coach I talked to says watch out for Freeport.I don't think, I don't think people realize how good these guys still are.And they, they, they, they, they won, they won against, they won against Mountain Valley.

40:35

And I think that's one of that's, that's one of those, it's one of those games where I'm probably going to flip a coin as to who wins.And that net pick is going to be wrong.Is, is, is, is how that game's going to go.Like I'll probably pick one or one Like what's going to happen?I guarantee it is I'm going to pick one of those two teams.

40:50

And whoever that is is going to lose by 20 points, so.I hope the coin flip doesn't go a certain way.So whoever I pick, so whoever I pick among Free Porter Madamek, I'm sorry to that team in advance because because that that game is a total enigma to me, which is why it's so intriguing.

41:10

Yeah, especially with Ruiz out.Yeah, for sure.And that that'll be and that'll be a fun game for Coast.That'll be a fun game for folks in the Mid Coast area too.You know who actually impressed me on Madonna other than Peas?Owen Dossey, who I don't think played last year but is a basketball player.

41:26

And I have this little bell that goes off in my head.That's a basketball player right there.Had an 80 yard touchdown reception, almost had a pick 6 at the end of the first half doing the whole wide receiver defensive back thing, but he seems to be pretty effective in that in that role for them.

41:46

Yeah, Madonna's one of those teams that in the in the in the three years that I've kind of covered them, you know, I saw them against, I saw them against Winslow three years ago.I saw them, I covered their game against Snohomish last year.They won both games easily.I think I maybe cover them one or two other times.

42:03

And they always seem to have guys who can beat you in multiple ways.And this year's team, this year's team with Ruiz in peace and also a passing game.I don't know if they have quite the size they did last year, but they still have some big kids.I don't think they do.Yeah.But still, they're a tough team to beat in the trenches.

42:22

They pride themselves on that.And that's the You talk about a team that any anybody out of this Class C is gonna have to be prepared to beat in the playoffs.It's always been Wyoming Valley, even as a program that hasn't been around very.Long them them and Herman.They seem to be on this collision course for each other every year.

42:40

Yeah, no, yeah, absolutely so.And they get, I think, I think, I think they, I think they do play each other this year.I'm pretty sure.I was very disappointed.Of course they don't.It's interesting.It's interesting you bring that up because I was talking, I, I was talking with Jake Rogers at the Nokomis coach and he's like, and I was like, Jake, you and Gardner are the only Central Maine teams in Class C and you don't play each other.

43:08

So you there's some so some.So some of the non match ups this year are as interesting as some of the match ups.Yeah, like, why aren't we playing them?Like, why wouldn't Nokomis and Gardner play each other?Yeah, that doesn't make any sense.I.I don't know they and The funny thing is they played each other last year when Gardner was in B and Nokomis was in C.

43:26

Huh, that's weird.So that's weird.I.Think that was, yeah, that was the game that Nokomis running back.That Nokomis running back duo is going to be fun to watch as this as the year goes on.It'll be a bit.They'll play York this Saturday, so one of one of the one of the two teams that lost in Class C in Week 1 is going to get back on track with a big win in Newport.

43:50

Cool, cool.One thing, one other thing I wanted to mention, this Sanford Biddeford game, it's a little more emotional.They had Sanford won.They were down early against Biddeford, but it was their first game since the Johnny Hunter suicide back in May.

44:06

And so I just wanted to touch on that, you know?Yeah.It's a terrible thing, but it's, you know, yeah, it is what it is.Yeah, I I mean 11111 of the things about sports is that like they're it's so much more than stuff that it's it's so much more than stats and box scores and play by plays and you know, who, who threw what to who and who's and who who team XY ZS good players are.

44:34

It's it's that emotional and that human side to things.And that's kind of like where and and that's kind of like where it it's kind of what makes us.It's kind of what makes us keeps us in love with the games we watch is how we can find great stories through stuff like that.

44:54

I remember, I remember, I think it was not this past season, but the year before Ryan parent, who was you might remember as Meselonski boys basketball team, one of was one of their stunt 3 point shooters.His mom, his mom passed away in 2023 and on his and on his mom's birthday, her his first on the her what would have been her first birthday after she passed away, he hit the game-winning three pointer to beat Scott Higgin at the buzzer.

45:25

Wow.And and I, I, I, I talked to Sam Smith, their coach, and he was like Mike.I cried the whole bus ride home.Yeah, I bought.It's, it's stuff like that that's just amazing.You know, I know there's a lot I know, I, I know there's, there's, there's, there's, there's so many like bad things and bad headlines we see out there in the world.

45:49

But then you have, you see stuff like that and it's kind of why it, it, it, it's kind of why we why I do this job as a sports writer and kind of why, why we come out and in these big numbers to see these big games, whether it's state championships at Fitzy in November for football or packing the Civic Center or the Cross Center or the OR the 2 Portland arenas in in in late February or that first or that first Saturday in March.

46:22

Yeah, it's one thing I always like about your game stories when I read them, is that there's always the human element to it.It's not just like, well, they won by 15 and this guy scored a bunch of points and blah, blah, blah, blah.You always seem to find some angle, even if it's something really small and that sort of connects to something larger and more human than if we were just watching robots play each other.

46:43

One of my fav, one of the favorite.I've covered.I've covered a lot of, I've covered a lot of teams that I've really enjoyed over the years.One of my favorite groups to cover was that GSA boys basketball team when they were on their 3 peat run with Taylor Shield, Roth, Max Matson and Stephen Simmons.Jared Chase, 'cause it wasn't it, it, it wasn't just that they were good, it's that they were good in a way that both their personalities and their and their play on the court entertained you.

47:10

And another one was Skowhegan football 3 years ago, that little run, that run that they went on, you know, just the personalities, the enthusiasm, the, the, the guys on that team, the way they kind of the way they kind of rallied.

47:29

You know, they started at six and O they lost two games, one of which they probably shouldn't have lost.And then they bounced back for playoff time to and and put and put and put it together and put together their first state championship in 44 years.They dedicated to one of their teammates who had played with them through a freshman year and died in ATV accident.

47:49

I I remember it would have been it had it had been 44 years.It had been 44 years since Skowhegan had won A state championship.And guess what his jersey number was?I'm gonna go. 42 it's 44.I didn't I don't even have to tell you right.So it's I mean it's it's it's it's it's stuff like that.

48:07

And, you know, that was the story is covering from that team.Like, I remember, I remember Ryan.I remember Ryan Libby, who was the coach at the time.His his daughter would always run, just run around in the field after games.And then I, I, I, I, I remember they they were playing Falmouth in the Northern Maine Championship that year.

48:31

And she runs up to she runs up to Ryan.And it's like, Daddy, we won.Can you believe it?And it's like, all right, there's your story lead.Like, come on.Yeah.So it's always, it's all it's, it's, it's always memorable when a team like that comes along and their stories and who they are as not just as players but as guys kind of touches you like that.

48:53

And you never know when a team like that's going to come along next.And that's what keeps, and it's what keeps doing this job and what doing what you and I do entertaining.I think one of the teams I really remember, not really the personal side of just watching them play, they were just so much fun.Was that Kony team under TJ Mains that had McCormick and they would just run, it was run five in, five out, and they would just run, run, run, run you ragged for the entire game.

49:22

And I'm just sitting there and it's really hard for scoring on an iPad.You do all those substitutions.But other than that, they were just so much fun to watch and just, you know, and you're just like, woah, this is this is something different.Yeah, no, yeah, you, you, you get, you get, you get teams like that who just have so many of those guys.

49:43

MDI basketball, when they won their only gold ball the first year I was in eastern Maine, I didn't cover them.I didn't cover them that closely because the Islander actually had their own sports reporter at the time.And then I took over the job, took over that job as well, my second year in 2017.

50:02

But I did get to see I, I think I got to see both Ellsworth games.I think I saw one of their scrimmages.And it's like, wow, these guys, their depth and like, like there are some guys in this team that have no business being on the bench but have to be because of how many other good players are on this team.Yeah, that's always fun.

50:20

You're like, well, so and so is having a bad game.We got these other three guys.They're fine.Yeah, they'll, yeah, they can do it.Yeah.All right, so let's look forward to this week.What's the game?What are the games that like, jump out at you as like the must watch?I got a list here of Bangor at Thornton Academy, Levitt, Greeley, Wells, Herman, obviously Camden, Mount Air at and then Windham, Portland.

50:43

Madomic Freeport I think, which I've been trying to sell you on, is also on that list.I.Think I see.I just try to not go to all the madomic games because then I feel like it's like it's a little homerism and I want to get her out and see other people and I assume people are at home going another.

50:59

Geez.Yeah.No, no, they probably don't care.Yeah, no, yeah, no, absolutely.Those are two.Do you recall Poland like I?Like I said, you know.I'll write that down. 221 and O teams, if you're if you're out in the if you're out in the Lewiston, western Maine, Auburn, Lewiston, Oxford County area, I'd recommend going out to see that one.

51:23

Both quarterbacks you you talk about a quarterback battle Hudson Lufkin, Hudson Lufkin great quarterback.Probably also the best pound for pound wrestler in the state of Maine.By the way, I've I've had I've had multiple wrestling coaches tell me that he's their quarterback is awesome.

51:39

And then Damon Martin of Poland is a machine that's going to be that's going to be a fun one, though.That's going to be a fun one to watch between two teams where maybe they struggled early in their games in Week 1, but they ultimately they were clicking at the end.I think that's going to be a fun one to watch.I'm curious, I'm covering, I'll be in Fairfield on Friday at Kai's Fields to cover Fairfield and Skowhegan.

52:02

And what while that might not be a barn burner, I'm curious about the Skowhegan team.It's by all means it sounded like they played well against a Friber Academy team that was obviously the defending champion in Class C and is now up up in Class B.

52:20

Lost by 16 points from what I've been hearing.Didn't accurately portray how that game went.Scout Heegan played very well against Brunswick, against a Lawrence team that doesn't have maybe that dominant running back like they had in Colton Carter last two years or Parker Higgins the two years before that, but has a lot of talented kids.

52:41

And who is running behind a a program that kind of like wins, though it always prides us up on physicality and it's line.I'm against what's also a big Seattle Higgin team.I'm very interested.That's one of those games that I could see playing out in a number of different ways, and none of them would surprise me.

52:59

So I'll be curious.I'll be curious to see.I'll be curious to see that one as well.All right, And so let me get you to get yourself on a bulletin board here.Who's Give me a pick for a state champion.

53:14

Pick any, any region or any class you want.Give me a state champion that people would go, huh, you know?Yeah, man, man, you put me on the spot here.Yeah, that's what we do, man.

53:32

How about Lake Region?Oh.In eight man large school, you know, huh, that that Ellsworth team that they beat on Friday.This is the great of Ellsworth kids that had that I think was were like undefeated in 5th and 6th grade or close to it and they beat they beat that Ellsworth team handily by a lot.

53:55

They have a lot.Of players.The defending state champion Greeley is is not is not in that is not in that division anymore.Mount Ararat's still very good, but doesn't have Ferrell, at least I don't think.I'm not sure.Yeah, and they are building off A7 to three season.

54:17

You might not think of Lake Region as a football school.I don't think of them as a football school.Yeah.Yeah, Most, most, mostly.Mostly.Mostly basketball.Yeah, they.I think of them as the team that has the Lakers logo on their court and I'm like every time I see it in a streaming, I'm like, Oh no, what are we doing here?

54:38

That that could that, that could be your team.Because I think class DI, there's so many teams in class DI really do like Winthrop.I think people talk about what they lost in offense, but they're deep that the 8 of 11 back on defense.

54:58

They're so they're so they're so mean in the trenches.They've got their their their front 7 is as good as front as good as a front 7.You could assemble in class DI like deer.I like deer ago too.Don't rule out O killer Freeport, but I I I I I I do like I like Winthrop, I guess a little more than I like those other teams.

55:20

And I'm sure, I'm sure there will be players without listening to this who, who, who, who might have a thing to say or two about that.And by all means and, and but, but, but that, but that's but the hey, listen, we make picks and you got to pick somebody, right?So.You got to pick someone to win and you got to pick someone to lose, and it's usually nothing personal, but sometimes it's something personal.

55:42

He's like, I can't tell you how many times after the games, it was like it was like, Mike, you picked against us this week, Come on, what are you doing?But but, but, but but but really guys, it's all, it's all, it's all, it's all in good fun.And when you see an upset like that, it's, it's like, oh.

55:58

I always love it when a coach comes over to me.I love when a coach comes over to me after the game and goes, hey, we beat the spread.I'm like, you sure did.Yeah.It's like, yeah.But they never, they never know the spread ahead of the game.Thanks for reading.Yeah.

56:14

If you ask them before the game, they have no idea what the spread is, but magically during the game somewhere they learn what the spread is and only if they beat it.If they don't beat the spread, then they don't.They don't know it.Yeah, yeah, no, it's funny how that works.

56:33

All right, I've taken up enough of your time.Centralmaine.com is where you can read Mike Mandel's Great Game Stories and Other stories and in 18 different print editions scattered in grocery stores around central Maine.

56:50

Yep, do.You have anything you want to promote?Yup and I also Yup and I also want to I also want to tell our viewers and this is a great time to plug this that you can get live updates from Varsity Maine on Friday night by signing up for text messages if.

57:10

You.I signed up for that.If you text Maine Football to 207569381 Nothing 3810 or sign up on the Press Herald website you will get messages from my wonderful editor Lee Horton about standout performances, live updates, key matchups and more in the lead up to the week and on Friday nights to keep you in the know about anything you need Maine high school football related.

57:36

I signed up for that and I will cosign that endorsement.And if Lee, if you're watching Slash listening, are we going to do this for basketball too?I, I, I, I he, Lee is the Lee is the Lee is the live blog man.

57:52

He is so good at running the show, keeping, keeping you in the loop, whether it's the Oxford 250, whether it's, whether it's Maine high school football.He he is a genius and I'm sure he will take that to heart.Perfect.

58:09

Yes, definitely for basketball too, but definitely sign up for the football version of the text message.So thank you so much, Mike.Yeah.And I will see you on the sideline pretty soon.Yeah, absolutely.Thank you, Lucas.Have a good night.OK, that's going to be the show.Thanks again to mikemandelcentralmaine.com.

58:26

And definitely sign up for those text messages from Varsity Maine.They're super helpful.Always nice to get a text message in your in your in your phone that isn't about some extended car warranty or some scam about the tollbooth or I don't know what the toll the scam is.

58:45

Now there's some I don't know, I get weird Coinbase ones.Anyway, it's nice to get some text messages that you actually want to read.So that'll do it.This has been a production of Maine basketballrankings.com, your source for the most comprehensive coverage of Maine high school basketball from Ashland to York and everywhere in between.

59:01

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59:17

And yeah, tell your friends, tell your enemies.Thanks for listening.