State Senator Rachel Talbot Ross made a special appearance at the March 24 Board of Public Education meeting to recognize the Portland High School boys basketball team for recently winning the Class A boys basketball state championship.

The PHS Bulldogs beat Camden Hills on Feb. 28 to claim the state title. It was an amazing run for the Bulldogs, who went from being the sixth seed in the South regional to state champions. The win also gave coach Joe Russo his sixth state title in a 36-year career with the program.

“This is a team that really showed what it means to compete with heart to overcome adversity and to represent their school and community with pride,” Talbot Ross, a Democrat who represents part of Portland and Long Island, said at the meeting.

She said each individual player had a role in the team’s success. “To each of the players, your dedication, your discipline and your teamwork set you apart,” she said. “You didn’t just play the game, you elevated it. You trusted each other and when it mattered most of all, you delivered.”

Talbot Ross also thanked coaches “for their leadership and vision and for instilling the values that made this championship possible. You prepared these young men to not only win games but for success in life.”

She also praised Superintendent Ryan Scallon for supporting the team and also credited fans and the community for backing the team. “Your support made a difference every step of the way,” she said.

The team previously visited the State House in Augusta, where the 132nd Legislature also recognized them for their success.