Tocci’s late game performance helps Bangor pull off a huge upset over the Red Eddies

Written by Matt Schilmoeller for RK Sports Productions

Matt Schilmoeller is a regular contributor to RK Sports Productions

Bangor - Senior guard Sean Tocci came off the bench and scored nine points in the final quarter to lead the Bangor Rams to a huge upset over the Edward Little Red Eddies 43-41 at Bangor High School on Friday night.

Bangor came into the game in fifth place in the latest healpoints standings and Edward little was seeded second with a couple games left in the regular season.

Edward little was missing their starting point guard Ian Meliekis who was out with Mono.

Bangor and Edward Little played a great game especially after playing a close game earlier in the season where Bangor lost on the road in overtime by two.

The Rams got off to a hot start with junior point guard Alex Campbell scoring 10 of his 11 points in the first quarter giving them a 17-11 edge.

Edward Little made it close as they held Bangor to only three points in the 3rd quarter. The  Red Eddies kept the game close for rest of the game.

Bangor boys basketball coach Ed Kohtala’s (former University of Maine’s assistant) squad got a huge spark with Senior Sean Tocci coming in off the bench. Tocci scored all nine points including a clutch three and getting fouled in the 4th quarter.

“Right from the get-go after the timeout (towards the end of the game) coach told us that this was our game to win,” said Tocci.   

Other players that stepped up for Bangor were seniors Matt Cosgrove and Tyler Kenney on the defensive end of the floor. Junior center Connor Adams gave the Rams an inside presence all night.

“We have different guys step up at different times throughout the season,” said Kohtala.


Tyler Kenney and Adams each scored eight points, Tyler Laplante had four and Matt Cosgrove chipped in with three points.  

The Red Eddies played tough as well and have a great coach in Mike Adams, who got his start the same way Kohtala did breaking in as freshmen coaches at different times under former Mt Blue coach Jim Bessey.

Sophomore Lew Jensen led Edward Little with 11 points. Sean Ford had 10, Mahad Mohamed added, Quinn Leary with five and Kaleb Main and Nate Alexander both chipped in with four points.

Edward Little struggled at the free throw line and was the main reason why the came up short.

The Red Eddies shot less than 15 percent from the line. Bangor did not shoot the ball well from the free throw line either getting to the charity stripe six times and making two for 33 percent.

Tocci and Kohtala talked about how having two tough games to finish the season with Lawrence and then finishing up with a cross town rivals Brewer at the Auditorium will help them.

Edward Little will finish the season with Oxford Hills and Lewiston.

Ryan Kimball contributed to this story.