Class Acts wins rec league title

RUMFORD - When the Class Acts team finally decided it was time to pull together, their efforts proved fruitful to win the ‘A’ championship game in the Mountain Valley Recreation League Basketball Tournament.

Andy Bedard scored 18 points and sparked a late surge, while Matt Clement led the defense in Class Acts 65-52 win over Liberty Mutual at Puiia Gymnasium.

Class Acts found itself trailing when Bedard converted a conventional three-point play on the front end of an 11-0 run. Class Acts scored 18 of the final 21 points in the game.

“We simply made a commitment to play defense,” said Bedard, a former Mountain Valley standout. “We raced back and got in the passing lanes. But those Rumford guys (Liberty Mutual) are scrappy.”

Liberty Mutual erased a double-digit deficit to win the 2010 crown with a 75-61 triumph against Run-n-Gun. The Gunners had upset two-time defending champion Class Acts in the semifinals.

LM had tied the score three times in the second half on three pointers by Kinsey Durgin (20 points) and Andy Shorey (10 points) and a Durgin runner. Craig Miledge’s kiss off the glass gave LM a 49-47 lead.

It was shortlived because Bedard was fouled on a driving basket and John Furbush (11 points) and Clement (MVP) each made two free throws. Bedard and Brian Wohl (10 points) each added baskets.

“Matt is the best big man I’ve played with,” said Bedard, regarding Clement’s strong rebounding which limited LM to one shot. “Matt is long and it’s nice to know he is back there.”

The insurance team was shut out until Miledge drained a three pointer with 2:25 left in the game. Isaac Stickney added 10 points.

LM had started slow but didn’t panic and started to climb back following a couple of treys. The score was tied or changed hands seven times in the first half. Durgin put back an offensive rebound and Kevin Gallant buried a jumper to tie the score 32-all. A Clement free throw put Class Acts ahead 33-32 at halftime.

“Some calls didn’t go our way,” said Shawn Spadea, from the LM bench. “But the bottom line is that we have to make our free throws.”

In B title game, Urbain Achievers (Kennebunk) beat Shooters (Auburn) 88-82 in triple overtime.

Leading the Shooters were Deon Cheers (22), John Cadman (20) and Dan Coleman (15). The Achievers were led by Jessie Robbins (23), Pat Hackleman (19) and Dan Finnie (15).