Having already set a new school mark for wins in a single season, the Oxford Hills Vikings can make a case that their 17-1 record speaks for itself.

The Vikings also know that few people will care to listen to anything about their record if they don’t tag a few more wins onto it at the Bangor Auditorium when the Eastern Class A quarterfinals commence tonight.

Holding the top seed in the tournament speaks to Oxford Hills’ consistency during the regular season, but means little else to the team as it makes the long journey to “the Mecca” this weekend.

“Our goal was to get a bye and get into the KVAC championship game, and we accomplished those two things,” said Vikings coach Scott Graffam, whose team lost to Brunswick in that conference championship last Saturday. “Those things (earning the top seed and setting a new school record) were icing.”

They may be icing, but will the Vikings ultimately take the cake. Here’s how it looks from here:

Favorites: Oxford Hills and Brunswick. Fans from both schools are anticipating the rubber match between these two teams, who hooked up in the game of the year back on Jan. 2 in South Paris. The Vikings won that thriller, 50-48, on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Matt McDonnell. The Dragons then drubbed the Vikes in the KVAC championship, 58-40.

Brunswick is led by two-time KVAC Player of the Year Ralph Mims, a Division I prospect averaging over 28 points, 11 rebounds and five assists per game. The key for the Dragons, though, will be Mims’ rapidly-improving supporting cast, led by junior forward Jesse Kaplan.

Oxford Hills boasts the deepest team in the field, with McDonnell or twin brothers Leif and Thomas Kothe capable of picking up the slack if Corey Tielinen is having an off night. While scoring won’t be a problem, the Vikes’ defense has been spotty, though more consistent toward the end of the season.

Darkhorse: Bangor, Cony and Mt. Blue. If you buy into the concept of defense winning championships, these are your teams. Bangor has bounced back from a 1-4 start to win 13 of its last 14, including its last 10 in a row. Not surprisingly, the Rams are always tough to beat at “the Mecca.”

Cony handed Oxford Hills its only loss of the season back on Jan. 23. The Rams aren’t flashy, but they are experienced, deep and tough on defense. They also have a heady backcourt in Adam Vachon and Tyler Hunt, which can take them a long way in Bangor.

Mt. Blue played its best game of the year in its 58-45 quarterfinal win over Brewer. The tenacious Cougars have held their opponents to less than 50 points in 15 of their 19 games. They’re big, deep, and athletic, and they may be the most dangerous 10th seed to make it to Bangor in awhile.

“We’ve played every one of these teams (in the final eight) and with the exception of Oxford Hills, we’ve competed against everybody, which means if we play well, who knows what can happen?” said Mt. Blue coach Jim Bessey. “We may be a 10th seed, but I wouldn’t want to play us.”

Players to watch: Oxford Hills – C Corey Tielinen, G Matt McDonnell; Brunswick – G Ralph Mims, F Jesse Kaplan; Messalonskee – G Joe Beaudoin, F Isaac Hutchinson; Bangor – G Aaron Gallant, G Jordan Heath; Cony – F Doug Joerss, G Adam Vachon; Lawrence – G Nate Lambert, F Trevor Woods; Mt. Blue – F Brian Wells, C Ted Neil; Mt. Ararat – F Tyler Bode, G Andy Cantrell.

Best quarterfinal: No. 1 Oxford Hills (17-1) vs. No. 8 Lawrence (13-6). All four games have the potential to keep fans on the edge of their seats. This one stands out because it will be interesting to see how long-time Lawrence coach Mike McGee adjusts his defense to handle Vikings’ standout center Corey Tielinen. Tielinen recorded a triple-double (29 points, 14 rebounds, 12 assists) against the Bulldogs back on Feb. 10 on Lawrence’s home floor. Lawrence still hung in there before falling, 68-60, thanks to an excellent 27-point performance by Trevor Woods.

Overview: Oxford Hills and Brunswick have been on a collision course all season. Having Bangor, Cony and even Mt. Blue still hovering around would make any prognosticator nervous, but the Vikings and Dragons have both been dominant at times this season. The belief here is that they

will indeed meet in the final, and it will come down to the two best players in Eastern Maine. Mims will be able to contain Tielinen, but not vice versa.

Prediction: Brunswick

rwhitehouse@sunjournal.com

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