The Big Time Hoops Starting 5 — Presented by Town & Country Federal Credit Union

This week’s episode of The Big Time Hoops Starting 5 dives deep into a loaded stretch of Maine college basketball across every level.

We start with UMaine women’s basketball, breaking down a statement three-game win streak highlighted by Adrianna Smith’s 29-point, double-double performance vs. Bryant, her climb into the Black Bears’ all-time scoring list, and what this stretch means moving forward.

From there, we spotlight big-time individual performances around the state, including Logan Brown’s historic week at Saint Joseph’s College, where she earned GNAC Player of the Week after setting a program record with 10 made threes, and Eric Ahlers’ dominant run for Husson, continuing one of the most consistent scoring stretches in the NAC. We also break down breakout nights from Nate Hebert and TJ Blackmon at Thomas College, and Charlie Houghton’s career-high outing for UMaine Farmington.

We hit key updates across the conferences:
• CNE: UNE women surging up the standings and the Nor’easters men gearing up for a massive test against Endicott
• GNAC: Saint Joseph’s men and women continuing to climb, fueled by elite guard play and depth

We close the episode by breaking down this week’s Power Rankings — explaining who’s rising, who’s sliding, and why results, trends, and timing matter as the postseason approaches.

🏀 Insight. Context. Big-time performances.
 This is The Big Time Hoops Starting 5, presented by Town & Country Federal Credit Union.

he regular season finish line is finally in sight! In this high-stakes episode of Northbound, Tom Bard and Steve Carmichael break down the chaos of the final week of the Maine high school basketball regular season. With only a handful of games remaining, the "Heal Point Scramble" is in full effect, and the margin for error has officially disappeared.

This week on The Big Time Hoops Starting 5 Presented by Town & Country Federal Credit Union, we break down one of the busiest and most revealing weeks of Maine college basketball, with power rankings, statement performances, and conference races heating up at the perfect time.

We opened in the Yankee Small College Conference, where the men’s side delivered fireworks. Will Duke powered CMCC’s offensive explosion, Chance Mercier stayed red-hot as SMCC kept stacking wins, and a stunning result on the women’s side sent shockwaves through the rankings.

From there, we explain our latest Power Rankings, digging into who’s rising, who’s holding firm, and what actually matters beyond the win-loss column. Then we spotlight one of the best stories in the state: Maine United shining at the next level. Ace Flagg, Gabe Lash, and Landon Clark all earned Rookie of the Week honors across three conferences, while Cooper Flagg continues to make national headlines.

The NAC women’s race is officially on fire, with Maine Maritime, Husson, and UMaine Farmington locked at 11–2, and Husson’s back-to-back wins over top teams flipping the conference on its head. We also dive into UMaine Presque Isle’s surge, as the Owls prove their slow start was just a setup for a strong second half.

We close with the Big Time Town & Country Game of the Week, as No. 25 Southern Maine controlled the night in Gorham behind Lucy Wiles and Jaycie Christopher, rolling past UMass Boston and reminding everyone who sets the standard in the Little East.

The Starting 5, presented by Town & Country Federal Credit Union, is back with a full breakdown of a busy week across Maine college basketball and this episode features Trophymode as this weeks guest.

We open with the Border Battle at The Pit, as New Hampshire shuts down Maine’s offense in the Big Time Town & Country Game of the Week. From there, it’s a tour around the state, including the UMF–Bates in-state clashes on both the men’s and women’s sides, highlighted by a late comeback win for the Bates men and a dominant, nationally ranked performance from the Bobcats’ women.

We check in on UNE men’s basketball, where Adam Lux continues to establish himself as one of the Conference of New England’s top all-around players, surpassing 1,000 career points and leading the Nor’easters through a wild double-overtime win.

On the women’s side, USM sits atop the Little East Conference, riding an 11-game winning streak behind Jaycie Christopher and Lucy Wiles, as national attention continues to follow the Huskies.

We then wrap with Trophymode covering the biggest storylines and moments from Class A & B South on the boy's side. 

Rivalries, milestones and standout performances all packed into one episode.

Northbound: The Girls’ Class A–S Breakdown The stretch run is here, and the contenders have officially separated themselves from the pack. This week on Northbound, presented by Katahdin Trust Company, hosts Tom Bard and Steve Carmichael shift their focus to the girls’ side of the hardwood. From the dominance in Class A to the wide-open race in the new Class S, we’re identifying the teams with the best path to a Gold Ball. Is anyone stopping the powerhouses in Class B and C? Tune in as we rank the "Real Deals" in Northern Maine.

Northbound: Contenders vs. Pretenders With just over three weeks left in the regular season, the Northern Maine basketball landscape is coming into sharp focus. This week on Northbound, presented by Katahdin Trust Company, hosts Tom Bard and Steve Carmichael go through the ranks of Classes B, C, D, and the new Class S. Who is a legitimate Gold Ball threat, and who is just making noise? We’re separating the real contenders from the pretenders as the road to the Cross Insurance Center heats up.

The Starting 5, presented by Town & Country Federal Credit Union, delivers another packed week of Maine basketball, highlighted by a statement performance from one of the top teams in the country.

We open with the Big Time Town & Country Game of the Week, as No. 13 Bates women’s basketball stays red-hot with a seventh straight win, breaking down what continues to separate the Bobcats in NESCAC play and why their upcoming clash with Bowdoin carries national implications.

Saint Joseph’s men make history with a dominant GNAC win, as two players reach the 1,000-point milestone in the same game for the first time in program history. We dive into how the Monks overwhelmed New England College and what it means moving forward in conference play.

Rivalry energy takes center stage as Colby men knock off Bowdoin behind a strong second-half surge, with Dan Civello continuing to emerge as one of the most impactful players in the NESCAC.

We also spotlight a jaw-dropping performance at Central Maine Community College, where Hunter Hartsgrove rewrote the record books with a historic shooting night that deserves statewide attention.

Plus, we look ahead to a huge week for UMaine men’s basketball as TJ Biel continues his scorching start to America East play and the Black Bears gear up for the Border Battle with UNH.

To close the show, we’re joined by University of Maine at Farmington Head Coach Quinn Newton for a conversation on his program, the Beavers’ approach, and the bigger picture of basketball development in the state.

A full episode of wins, milestones, rivalries, and insight from every level of Maine hoops.

The Starting 5, presented by Town & Country Federal Credit Union, breaks down a busy week across Maine basketball with storylines at every level of the game.

We start with Saint Joseph’s men’s basketball, as the Monks deliver a dominant second-half performance to close out the holiday tournament and freshman Davis Mann continues his standout season with yet another GNAC Rookie of the Week honor.

From there, I highlight conference recognition for Maine-connected players, as Princeton freshman Landon Clark earns Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors and Saint Anselm’s sophomore Will Davies is named Northeast-10 Player of the Week after a career performance in a ranked win.

Conference play is officially underway in Orono, and we break down opening games for both UMaine programs, touching on defensive growth, late-game moments, and the search for consistency as America East play begins.

The Maine Celtics provide the drama at the Portland Expo, erasing a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to earn an overtime win, with former UMaine Black Bear Chris Mantis returning to Maine in a Capital City Go-Go uniform.

I wrap things up with NESCAC updates, including Bowdoin’s first loss of the season, Colby women battling back toward the national picture, and Bates men responding with statement wins as conference play approaches.

Plus, an interview with Brady King closes out the episode as we take a deep look into Maine high school basketball here in Southern Maine. 

The Starting 5, presented by Town & Country Federal Credit Union, delivers a full recap of the week across Maine hoops.

This week’s episode breaks down a loaded slate of college basketball action, highlighted by a dominant Big Time Town & Country Game of the Week performance from unbeaten Bates, as the Bobcats continue their red-hot start.

We also dive into the women’s side of the NESCAC, where Bowdoin, Bates, and Colby are all nationally ranked, reinforcing the conference’s reputation as one of the toughest in the country.

Freshman standout Davis Mann continues to shine at Saint Joseph’s, earning multiple weekly honors and delivering in clutch moments, while Maine natives Ella Pelletier (Stonehill) and Addisen Sulikowski (New Haven) make noise at the Division I level with standout performances and conference recognition.

We close the Starting 5 with a statement win from the UMA Moose, who head into winter break after knocking off the top seed in the USCAA behind a balanced, gritty team effort.

Plus, we’re joined by Mark Haskell, Sports Editor for the Midcoast Villager, for a conversation on Maine high school basketball.

A packed episode featuring big wins, breakout performances, and Maine basketball making headlines at every level.

Northbound: Episode 2 – Early Takes & The D-North Logjam

Hosts: Tom Bard & Steve Carmichael

Presented by: Katahdin Trust Company 🛡️

The season is officially in full swing! Two weeks in, the landscape of Northern Maine basketball is starting to take shape, and Tom and Steve are here to break down the early-season noise.

In this episode, the guys dive deep into a crowded and competitive Class D North, where every night feels like a playoff battle. The headline of the week? The Bangor Christian Girls' statement win over Penobscot Valley. Tom and Steve discuss how the Patriots handed the defending regional champs a rare loss and what it means for the hierarchy of the North.

On this episode:

Whether you're a player, coach, or fan, join us for the pulse of Northern Maine hoops.

Listen now and stay Northbound. 🏀🌲