Rec tournament raises $5,500 for boosters

RUMFORD/MEXICO -- The Mountain Valley Recreational Basketball League hosted their 10th annual invitational tournament and raised approximately $5,500 for the Mountain Valley Athletic Boosters.

There were 14 total teams, eight A and six B Division teams, with games played at the high school and middle school.

“This was our best tournament ever,” said organizer Eddie Paterson. “It was by far the most competitive in both divisions and several of the games went right down to the wire. The top teams competing in the ‘A’ are comparable to Division III college teams.”

The ‘A’ champion was Class Acts (Portland), led by team owner Bill Simpson and players Matt Clement, Brian Wohl, and Andy Bedard, a Rumford native.

They beat Liberty Mutual by 65-52, led by Shawn Spadea and Andy Shorey, both Rumford natives and Kinsey Durgin of Bethel.

The B Division was won by Urbain Achievers by 88-82 (triple overtime) against Shooters (Auburn).

The tournament was originally in Rangeley some 27 years ago and Paterson relocated it to the River Valley where the event has continued to flourish.

“Several teams return year after year,” said Paterson. “As far as the fundraising, it represents a majority of the (athletic boosters) annual operation costs. I have some ideas to increase participation and I believe it will continue to grow.”

All-tourney teams in A Division included former Bates player Rob Stockwell (Agren Appliance); Liberty Mutual- former Rhode Island College and European league Player, Kinsey Durgin, and Andy Shorey; Class Acts- Brian Wohl, Andy Bedard (Boston College, UMaine and in Europe) and MVP Matt Clement, who has played at Maine Maritime, professionally in Europe, and a brief stint with the Maine Red Claws.

From the B Division: Deon Cheers and Shawn Cadman (Shooters) and Urbain Achievers- Scott Craig and MVP Jessie Robbins.

In the free-throw shooting, Wohl made 25 of 25. Durgin won three-point shooting and Clement won the dunking contest.

Referees were Dave Verrier, Jim Ladd, Mark Pere, JT Taylor, Chris Gorham, Steve LaPointe, Rich Allen, Aaron Cummings and Paterson. Scorekeepers were Pam Kaubris, Delaney Paterson, Jeremy Myles, Ryan Palmer, Dave Radcliff, Bre Roberts, McKenzie Paterson, and Rodney Leach. Also, Matt Kaubris, Pam Kaubris, Tim Giasson and Cameron Kaubris, who filmed and commentated games for public access local Channel 7, MV Athletic Boosters and Boosters President Leanne Virgin.

Title sponsor was Franklin Savings Bank. Individual sponsors included Oxford Federal Credit Union, River Valley Chiropractic, New England Financial, Andover Automotive/Rumford Auto Sales, Big Daddy's Buff and Wax, Murphy Accounting, Nicols Brothers Logging, Carlisle's, Bangor Savings Bank, Puiia Lumber, Maine Press, Ink Plaza, Laid Back Installers, White's Yardworks, Done Right Carpentry, Davis Florist, Area Youth Football League, River Valley Grill, E&E Awards, Ranor Incorporated, Wal-Mart, and Brian's Bistro.