AUBURN — He stands a head shorter, but Edward Little center Bo Leary inspires the same fear that gripped KVAC opponents when they ran into one of his recent predecessors, current University of Maine captain Troy Barnies.

That means the Red Eddies must be prepared to digest a steady diet of junk defense. Good as the 6-foot-3 Leary is, how much EL gets from the supporting cast may determine whether or not it gets a crack at the Eastern Class A title for the third straight year.

EL enjoyed its best team game of the season at both ends of the floor Friday night, drilling Messalonskee, 56-29.

Leary lowered the boom with 23 points, seven assists and six rebounds for as long as the Eddies (13-1) needed him, which was midway through the third quarter.

Those seven assists hint at what happened all night long: Leary dishing to teammates for open jumpers and hearing swish after swish.

“Not to bring back bad memories, but it kind of reminds me of the tournament game against Hampden a few years ago when we saw that triangle-and-two on Troy,” Adams said.”We had open looks all night. They just wouldn’t go in. We’ve seen that (strategy) all this year, and lately guys have been stepping up.”

Bo’s sophomore brother Quin Leary and senior Brandon Giguere each hit a 3-pointer in the first quarter against Messalonskee, a sign that EL is trending in the right direction with three weeks until the tourney.

Timmy Mains added a 3-pointer to the first-quarter barrage. Together with Bo Leary’s nine points, it was good for a 22-5 lead.

“I don’t think Timmy scored a point in either of our last two games,” Adams said. “And how many did he have tonight?”

Eleven, to be precise, including two more 3-pointers in the third period.

“And I bet he still probably had five assists,” Adams guessed.

Bingo. Three of those were second-quarter dishes to Leary, who was 6-for-7 from the floor for 12 points in that period. The lead grew to 36-5 before the Eagles scored the final six points of the half.

EL shot 61 percent from the field in the half and 59 percent through the third quarter, at which time Adams gave his starters an early recess.

“This was definitely our best game of the year,” Leary said. “We’ve been playing very well, especially on defense.”

Messalonskee was 3-for-18 from the field in the first half, when it committed 13 of its 22 turnovers.

Justin Meader led the Eagles (5-9) with six points. The tri-captain was nursing an injury and played limited minutes. Messalonskee also was without 6-4 center Andrew Wilson.

Giguere and Quin Leary each finished with seven points. Omar Haji-Hersi (six rebounds) and Ben Armstrong (four blocked shots) gave EL production off the bench.

Adams was honored prior to the game for breaking the school’s all-time win record Tuesday against Brewer. The Mt. Blue graduate and former Maine Mr. Basketball now has 144 victories in 10 years, two ahead of Bill Skinner, who coached the Eddies from 1912 to 1925.

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