Team concept working for Tigers
Sports Reporter
FORT FAIRFIELD – Since a loss to Central Aroostook in the third game of the regular season, the Fort Fairfield Tigers of coach Todd Alley have put things together and have reeled off 13 consecutive victories entering last night’s game against Hodgdon.
The Tigers are in third place in Eastern Maine Class D with their 15-1 record.
Alley said one key has been defense, which has jelled after it took awhile for the veteran group and the newcomers to mesh.
“I have been pleased with the growth we have shown throughout the season as a team,” Alley said.
Against Katahdin at home Thursday, the Tigers’ offense started quickly to accompany a sound defensive effort. Jahleel Williams, making his second start of the season (both coming against the Cougars), hit a three-pointer 3:03 into the period to cap a 10-0 run to begin the game. He also had the game’s first field goal before 6-5 senior center John McNamee connected on a conventional three-point play and followed that with two free throws which began the scoring run.
“He is capable of starting every night, but doesn’t because he provides so many options from the bench,” Alley said of Williams, who moved to the area from upstate New York early in the school year. “Even at just 5-foot-8, he can play four positions on the floor because of his body strength, positioning and speed. All of those attributes make him a big weapon off the bench.”
McNamee, who finished with 19 points and 12 rebounds in the 54-44 victory, did not have anybody on the Cougars who could match up with him, leading to his solid output.
“We make a concerted effort to give him the ball down low if he has a mismatch,” Alley said. “When he touches the ball, it opens up the outside for us.”
The Tigers took an 11-6 lead after a quarter and the margin remained at six at halftime and at the end of three. Josh Churchill had a team-high seven assists. Travis Noyes, who averages 15.8 points per game to lead the Tigers, was held to four after getting into early foul trouble.
Brandon Robinson’s 24 points led Katahdin.
In their other two games played last week, Fort Fairfield bested Washburn on the road last Tuesday, 58-53, and defeated Wisdom Friday in St. Agatha, 72-23.
McNamee’s 17 points led Fort at Washburn, with Noyes tossing in 15 and Josh Booth nailing four three-pointers en route to a 15-point total.
Noyes and McNamee both registered statistical double-doubles in the win over Wisdom. Noyes had 22 points, including a 6-for-6 effort from the foul line, to go along with 12 boards and McNamee 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers. Booth had 13 points and Dereck Dufour added eight.
Alley said the key through the first 16 games has been unselfishness.
“The players have shown great maturity in not caring who the big scorer is, as long as we are putting the right letter in the win-loss column,” Alley said. “We have had six different players scoring in double figures and most nights we have three in double digits. This can be attributed to unselfish play by all.”
Alley is particularly impressed with the performance of the point guard Booth (8 ppg, 5 rebounds per game) in this regard.
“He is capable of scoring in the high teens every night, but is more interested in making sure our offense is running smoothly,” Alley said. “That is a big sacrifice for someone with Josh’s shooting touch.”
Noyes also averages 10 rebounds per game to go along with his 15.8 ppg scoring average. McNamee checks in at 11.6 ppg and 12.2 rebounds per game. Churchill, Williams and Dufour all average at least 5 ppg.
The Tigers will wrap up their regular season Thursday at home against the Washburn Beavers. The game is scheduled to tip at 7 p.m.
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
KEY RESERVE — Jahleel Williams of the Fort Fairfield Tigers, looking to pass the ball during Thursday’s home game against Katahdin, has been an important player for his 15-1 Tiger squad.
