FARMINGTON – The University of Maine at Farmington men’s basketball team is scheduled to open its season by hosting the Hight Chevrolet Tournament on Nov. 16-17 at Dearborn Gymnasium.

Opening action is tabbed for Nov. 16 with Southern Maine vs. Trinity College (Conn.) at 5:30 p.m. and Farmington vs. the University of Maine at Presque Isle at 7:30 p.m. Games continue on Nov. 17 with the consolation game at 1 p.m. and the championship game at 3 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students and senior citizens. Children under age 6 and UMF students are admitted for free.

The Beavers were chosen to finish fourth in the North Atlantic Conference preseason coaches poll. Preseason poll results

Farmington head coach Dick Meader is carrying a deep roster of 18 players with a large senior and freshman classes. The Beavers graduated only 6-foot-2 guard Tyler Tracy – now an assistant coach – from last year’s squad that finished 10-16 and lost in the North Atlantic Conference quarterfinals to Lasell College.

“Guys that are seniors now have a lot of experience,” said Meader, who is in his 15^th season at the helm of the Beavers. “We have good depth. We’re hoping to turn it into making a run at the conference championship.

“We have a veteran team that needs a point guard to develop,” added Meader. “We also must work on our defense. We have the offensive components to compete for a conference championship.”

Headlining the returnees is 6-4 senior forward Sean Fry (Jay, ME). An All-NAC Second Teamer a season ago, Fry led the squad in points per game (14.7), rebounds per game (7.8) and 3-point shooting percentage (.361).

Fry is one of the tri-captains of the Beavers along with classmates 6-0 guard Matt St. John (Wayne, ME) and 6-3 forward Isaac Hutchinson (Oakland, ME). Hutchinson was second on the squad in scoring average at 12.9 ppg with a team-high 30 steals. St. John was third in scoring average at 8.9 ppg.

The remaining seniors on the team are 6-5 center Matt Nichols (Portland, ME) and 6-8 center Tom Labrie (Lewiston, ME).

Former Mt. Blue High School standout Ted Neil (Strong, ME) returns as a junior after finishing fourth on the team in scoring last season. The 6-5 forward posted 7.4 ppg. Classmates 6-1 guard David Kerschner (Oakland, ME) and 6-2 forward Pat Howell (Nobleboro, ME) also return for the Beavers.

Sophomore 6-4 center Josh Tanguay (Gorham, ME) put up 6.7 ppg and 7.7 rpg as a freshman. Tanguay, Fry, Hutchinson, St. John and Tyler Tracy were frequent starters for Farmington. The sophomore group includes returnee 6-0 guard Eric Lelansky (Portland, ME) along with newcomer 6-3 forward Tut Diang (Portland, ME).

Meader has a large freshman class this season with seven newcomers, including 6-0 guard Shane Tracy (Sangerville, ME), 5-10 guard Andrew Dean (Gorham, ME), 5-11 guard Mike Gingras (Winthrop, ME), 6-5 forward Roy Burdin (Guilford, ME), 6-5 forward Kevin Leary (Manchester, ME), 6-5 forward Eric Taylor (Oakland, ME) and 6-5 forward Henry Armstrong (Minatare, NE).

Taylor, Gingras and Burdin were representatives at the Maine McDonald’s Senior All-Star Games, while Dean was the Southern Maine Athletic Association’s Most Valuable Player.

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