In the dimly lit basement of the 111-year-old Portland Exposition building, Loic Ramazani stands outside the Portland High boys basketball locker room explaining how Portland has gone from a 10-6 team with a revolving lineup to the Class A championship game.
The senior guard, quick with a smile, faster on the court, prone to starting affirmative answers with the phrase “a hundred percent, hundred percent,” leans against the padding of the battered trainer’s table with a torn top.
“I feel like it’s a chemistry,” he says.
When Ramazani pronounces chemistry he gives the word special, almost mystical emphasis. Ramazani, his teammates, and even head coach Joe Russo, who is in his 36th year leading the program and has coached five Portland state championship teams, aren’t quite sure how to describe this newfound juice. But, boy, they feel it.
Portland (16-6) will play Camden Hills (20-1) for Maine’s Class A boys basketball championship across town at the Cross Insurance Arena at 7:45 p.m. Saturday.
After a season of setbacks that included senior forward Cordell Jones missing the first six weeks with a shoulder injury suffered in the Thanksgiving Day football game against Deering, Portland is at its peak at exactly the right moment.
“The chemistry is getting better and better each game, and as soon as we step on the court, we get an eight-point lead and, wow, it feels amazing, and to keep it, it’s just amazing,” said Ramazani, a 5-foot-11 “with shoes” ball-hawker who averages five steals a game and is viewed by area coaches, his peers, and himself as the best defensive player in Maine.
“A hundred percent. I’m going to be a little, um, … Yes, I think I’m the best defender in the state,” Ramazani said. Ramazani said Jones likes to tell him that “he’s the second-best defender after me.”
When No. 6 Portland upset rival South Portland, the No. 3 seed, and then No. 2 Sanford in the A South tournament, Ramazani and Jones led a relentless man-to-man defense. Portland held those teams’ four all-conference performers to 22 total points — 44 less than their combined season averages.
“That’s the goal. Hold them under their average. Hold the team under their average. Hold everyone under their average,” Ramazani said.
Camden Hills star Nolan Ames will be Portland’s toughest challenge. When the teams played a preseason game, Portland led by 17 points, “and we gave up a big lead and Nolan does Nolan things. He dropped 25 points in the second half,” Ramazani said.
Jones called Ames “a tremendous athlete,” who is a strong ballhandler and shooter, and has ability to finish at the rim at a high level. Ramazani praised Ames’ passing and ability to make teammates better.
“I think it will be a really fun matchup,” Jones said.
Inside the arena, the rows of blue seats are pushed back, revealing the old indoor track markings on the wooden floor. The sounds are as old-school as The Expo.
Squeaking shoes. The bass thump of basketballs. No music. Very little conversation. As the full-court warmup continues, junior guard Maddox Meas takes his crack at explaining how Portland went from mid-pack threat to A South champion with another suffocating defensive effort in Saturday’s 48-30 win against Cheverus.
“I feel like we’re all back healthy now,” said Meas, who had his own dislocated shoulder from football to work through. “Now we’re just back in the groove, playing a lot, and we just come ready.”
Jones, a powerful 6-foot-3 forward who will play football at the University of Maine, agrees with Meas. The injuries, illness, and absences that plagued Portland throughout the season are a thing of the past.
“Now it’s come full circle and we’re really prepared for everybody,” Jones said. “I think I’m at full strength now. It took me awhile, as would be expected being out for six weeks — no sports, no nothing. My legs were going, but it’s not the same as running up and down the court, throwing the ball, shooting it. That was a struggle. Now I’m finally back and I feel more confident and I trust my teammates to be in the right spot.”
Jones’ play has elevated. Russo raves about how Jones repeatedly battled multiple Cheverus players for a rebound and came down with the ball. Jones has made tough shots. He’s repeatedly been the first person on the floor to grab a loose ball.
“It’s the best Cordell’s ever played for us,” Russo said.
Meas, Jones, and several Portland basketball reserves were on the wrong end of a state championship score in football this past fall.
“It would mean a lot. Really want to win,” Meas said. “Just to be able to win with this team especially.”
Meas wants to win for Russo, too.
“It would be nice. He does a lot for us. He’s just a very good coach. It’s good to have him with us.”