1957 Easton Bears

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 Corinth16.67

Bridgewater14.37

Searsport13.32

Carmel  12.67

Mt. Desert12.05

Columbia Falls10.00

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.