RUMFORD – The Mountain Valley Recreational Basketball League capped off the long winter with its annual invitational tournament.

Once again a huge success, the three-day event attracted 13 teams – seven in the ‘B’ division, and six in the ‘A’ ranks. The ‘A’ division was designed for more competitive and skilled teams, while the ‘B’ group reflected recreational or veteran teams. This provided parity of competition and increased the interest of the competitors.

“The tournament can hold 16 teams,” MVRBL commissioner Ed Paterson said. “Still, the event was a success and there was certainly plenty of basketball for both the players and fans to see. We raised nearly $3,000 to benefit The American Lung Association of Maine.”

Each team played a minimum of three games on Friday night and Saturday. The playoff round on Sunday was comprised of the four top teams in each division. SAD 43 athletic director John Bernard and Building and Grounds director Tom Sinclair made both Mountain Valley High School and Middle School gyms available throughout the weekend.

The ‘A’ division was won by Class Acts Basketball of Portland, led by team organizer Bill Simpson. They defeated River Valley Merchants, led by Scot New and including fellow Mountain Valley graduates Todd Wheeler, Shawn Spadea, Craig Milledge, Kevin Gallant and Eric Canwell, Scott Bessey out of Jay, and former Telstar and Rhode Island College star Kinsey Durgin.

Jason Levesque of Class Acts, a University of Southern Maine product, was voted the ‘A’ MVP. All-stars for the top division were Durgin, R.J. Jenkins of Ranor Inc., of North Jay, Robert Pilsbury of Skowhegan’s Above Average Joe’s, and Elbie Murphy of Class Acts.

The Amigos, a group of local players sponsored by Rodney Canwell of Laid Back Installers, also played well against the more experienced competition. Players were UNE’s Issac Stickney of Mexico, recent high school graduates D.J. Gerrish, Trevis Knapp and Matt Lyons, and current Dirigo and Mountain Valley standouts Colby Knapp, Enrico Ross, Dean McCrillis, Owen Jones and Bryan Canwell.

Carmine Ferrante, assistant commissioner of the MV rec league, was instrumental in organizing all teams, referees and attendants. Officials included timekeepers Chelsea Paterson and McKenzie Paterson; scorekeepers Kendra Anderson and Bill Southwick; and referees Ferrante, Eddie Paterson, Steve LaPointe, Paul Mingo, Chris Gorham, Dave Verrier, Mark Pare with an assist from Rich Allen. All worked games at a discount to help the charity cause for the ALAM.

Ed Englehart (E&E) donated several awards., and Tommy Tompkins of Tommy Gun’s Pit Stop and The Shak provided food, drink and entertainment throughout the weekend for the players and guests.

There were also shooting, foul shooting, 3-point and slam dunk contests, with preliminaries on Friday and Saturday and finals on Sunday. The foul shooting contest went to Kevin Gallant of River Valley Merchants. C.J. Vose (Class Acts) won the 3-point contest by outgunning Gerrish. Class Acts’ Derek Lovely of South Paris won the dunk contest despite being the shortest player entered.

Other ‘A’ teams were Run ‘N’Gun (Leavitt Men’s League), led by Josh Berard and including Rumford’s Kevin Bean. The ‘B’ division included The Franklin County Boys, led by Rand Richards of Phillips, who has played in every tournament since the original in Rangeley in the early 1980s.

Pike Industries included local flavor with John Koris, Tim Pomerleau and Rich Allen. Dan’s Automotive, organized by Mark Cyr, included Dan Thibeault, Rev. Dave Wilhoyt, Brian Carrier, Dave Ryerson, Rory Dupuis, J.T. Taylor, Adam Curato, Scott Haines and Daryl Whitney. FOE Eagles, organized by Rodney Leach, featured Mike Brennick, Roger Viger, Randy Gunther, Ryan Parent, Brandon Burgess, Ben Belanger and Seth Carey.

Shooters (Leavitt Men’s League) lost to Anchor Accounting of Bath in the ‘B’ championship. Josh Tuplin of Anchor Accounting was MVP, and all-stars included Anchor’s Drew Colby and Chris Hughes and Shooters’ Zeth Reilly and Dane Pomerleau.

The 2009 tournament is slated for March 27-29. Contact Paterson at 364-2595 or 364-9352 or ehpnef@exploremaine.com for further information.

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