FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — Logan McLaughlin has put up a pretty impressive resume in his first three seasons as coach of the Tiger boys basketball team.
Fort Fairfield won a Class D regional championship his rookie year of 2014-15 and after losing in the Class C quarterfinal round the following winter, made it all the way to the regional finals in Class C again last February.
“I have been very fortunate since I have started coaching here,” McLaughlin said. “I have had some great athletes over the past three years with an endless work ethic. They have made my job much easier and have really boosted the confidence in our program.”
Year No. 4 may present McLaughlin’s most difficult challenge after the loss of seven players, many of them key performers, due to graduation.
“They were very well rounded and I really believe coming into this year, we really lost something at each position, both offensively and defensively,” McLaughlin said. “They were a very talented group that had a lot of experience.”
Ryan Player, Chris Giberson, Landen Kinney, Jon Bernard and Carter Bruce all were either starters or quick off the bench, so their absence will be particularly felt.
Nevertheless, Fort Fairfield has some strong players returning and will lean heavily on Isaac Cyr, a senior who has played significant roles in the last three post-season runs. He is one of the top players in Aroostook County, regardless of class, and is primed for a big season.
“Isaac has been a well rounded player throughout his career and will have a few adjustments to make on the offensive end with us graduating multiple guards from last year’s team,” McLaughlin said, “but we are hoping for him to have a good year in the scoring column and as a team leader.”
Jared Harvey is another senior who joined Cyr in the starting lineup last year. “He played well for us last year and will continue to improve to fill the voids from last year’s team,” McLaughlin said.
Malcolm Langner, another senior, turned in some key minutes off the bench throughout the regular season and in last year’s tournament and McLaughlin is counting on him to be one of the leaders on the defensive end.
The remainder of the all-senior starting five consists of Alex Sprague and Liam McNamee. Sprague is a transfer from Limestone who McLaughlin said has been a great fit in the program and will take on an important role at the guard position. McNamee will be the Tigers’ top inside presence and will need to control the rebounds on the defensive end, according to the coach.
Dawson Watson and Wyatt Keegan were on the team as freshmen and they will serve as the top players off the bench to begin the season. Colby Langner, Chase Griffeth and Grayden Griffeth are other sophomores who will be situational players for McLaughlin.
Freshmen Avery Cormier and Kobe West, another Limestone transfer, round out the roster. Veteran assistant coach Andrew Forsman returns and McLaughlin calls him “a great asset to the program, on and off the court.
McLaughlin said that despite the heavy roster turnover, Fort Fairfield has a chance to be one of the top teams in Class C once again if everything falls into place.
“We have a lot of improvements to make for us to get to that level, but one of our biggest keys to success over the years has been our defensive intensity and ‘never quit’ mentality,” he said.
“It’s going to be a very deep and competitive class. George Stevens Academy is a standout and Houlton, Fort Kent, PCHS, Central and Lee Academy are among others who will be tough,” he added. “It should be a fun season and a competitive tournament.”
