Easton Bears
1956-57
State Champions
This season was one of the most successful by an Easton basketball team. They were the first Easton team to win an Eastern Maine and State Championship.
The Bears completed the regular season with an 18-1 record. At the Class S Northern Maine Regional held in Houlton they were the top seed. In the semi-final round they defeated Sherman which allowed them to play St. Martins of Tours (from Millinockett) whom they defeated 77-49 in the final. Bridgewater defeated Mattawamkeag 52-34. The wins put both Easton and Bridgewater in the Eastern Maine Class S Tournament to be held at the Bangor Civic Center. Barry Tapley, Russell LaPointe and Mickey Perry were chosen to the All-Aroostook Class “S” Team.
Seedings
East Class S
Easton 19.44
East Corinth 16.67
Bridgewater 14.37
Searsport 13.32
Carmel 12.67
Mt. Desert 12.05
Columbia Falls 10.00
Beals 9.52
In the quarter-finals Easton was matched up against defending champion Beals Beavers. The “Bears” had to battle for their basketball lives before eventually coming away with an 83-82 win. Offensively the “Bears” were led by Mickey Perry with 27 points, Russ LaPointe 26 and Barry Tapley added 14. The Beavers outscored Easton from the floor hitting for 34 field goals while Easton had 33. The foul line was the difference in this game as the “Bears” went 17 for 25 from the charity stripe while Beals was 14 for 23.
Easton moved on to play Carmel in the semi-final who had defeated Searsport 54-27. In the semi-final game roared out to a 42-32 half time lead and never looked back. They continued their fine shooting in the second half and defeating Carmel 80- 51. The hard driving “Bears” scored 34 points from the foul line drawing many fouls with excellent penetration to the basket. Dale Grant led the “Bears” in this game with 22 points (14 coming from the foul line), Barry Tapley added 17, Mickey Perry 13 and Gary Lynch 11. Russ LaPointe was outstanding in the rebounding department against the much taller “Bobcats.” Easton was 34 for 49 from the foul line.
In the Eastern Maine Class S final played at the Bangor Civic Center they were matched up against Mt. Desert who had defeated East Corinth in their semi-final game 61-53. Both the “Mustangs” and “Bears “ put on an amazing shooting exhibition. Easton eventually raced out to a 79-75 win for their first Eastern Maine Championship. Their 79 point performance gave them a total of 242 points in the three game tournament,t for an average of slightly better than 80ppg., a tournament record. When the smoke had cleared from this record setting performance Barry Tapley had connected for 26 points, Mickey Perry 27, Gary Lynch 15. Lynch, LaPointe and Tapley dominated the rebounding action for Easton. The “Bears” were 19 for 32 from the foul line.
Selected to the Eastern Maine All Tournament first team were Barry Tapley and Mickey Perry; 2nd team selections were Russ LaPointe and Dale Grant.
The “Bears” played Western Maine Champion Rangley in the State Final at Colby College in Waterville. They dominated the Western Maine Champions using a pressing man-to-man defense in the opening quarter and broke out to an early lead which they never relinquished winning 66-38. Easton moved the ball well offensively allowing them to shoot 40% from the floor and connecting on 22 of 39 free throw attempts. Mickey Perry tallied 17 points, Barry Tapley 15, Gary Lynch 11 and Dale Grant 10.
The “Bears” overall record including tournament action was 24 wins and 1 loss. Mickey Perry was the high scorer for the season with 476 points, Russ LaPointe had 432, Barry Tapley 381, Dale Grant 207 and Gary Lynch 144. Barry Tapley was selected to Maine All-State Second Team.