MARS HILL, Maine — The Central Aroostook boys basketball team comes off a highly successful season, in which it went 15-3, and dominated much of the competition.
Yet, the only thing on fifth-year coach Jason Woodworth’s mind is winning big: the state championship. The team was not able to accomplish that goal last season, where, as a top seed in Class C, it lost in its first game in the playoffs. Sumner barely took down the Panthers, winning at the last moment by just a point.
Central Aroostook has certainly gone all the way before. Historically, they have been one of the most successful boys basketball teams in The County, having won six state championships in the last 25 years. Woodworth was not exaggerating when he said Mars Hill has been “spoiled” with boys basketball championships.
His championship mindset also weighs on his decision-making as he looks at what needs improving. Woodworth said his team had a robust and experienced offensive that should have no problems putting points on the board. But, he said the ever-elusive defense greatness was a somewhat different story. In fact, it may be the team’s “one weakness.”
“Defense is hard work. It takes a lot more thought process. It takes a lot more being into the game,” Woodworth said. “That’s why defense wins championships.”
As he looks to improve aspects of their play, Woodworth said the sportsmanlike attitude of his players made his job far more manageable. While he had coached teams in the past that he said were rife with unnecessary competition between teammates, he did not see that in this team.
“There’s no internal competition here,” Woodworth said. “They are glad to see the next guy down the line succeed.”
Woodworth, who played basketball at Central Aroostook High, relishes both the athletic and mentoring aspects of his job. He hopes to teach kids both how to play basketball and real-world skills that students “don’t get in the classroom,” such as handling conflict.
He said he never had any interest in giving up on basketball after graduating from high school. For him, it wasn’t a question of if he was going to be involved, but how.
“You weren’t able to play after four years, so the only thing they had was to be a referee or a coach,” Jason said. “I had no interest in refereeing. So this is the only way to stay connected to the game at the local level.”
Senior Brayden Bradbury said he hoped this year’s team could continue to be offensively strong, working on getting the best possible shot every time they get possession, while remaining “intense” on defense.
He said this is far from the first time he has played with many of his teammates; much of the team had been playing basketball in Mars Hill since they were in the first-grade.
“We’ve played together for a long time,” Bradbury said. “Everyone has their hobbies, and this has been ours.”
The members of the 2019-2020 Central Aroostook boys basketball team are seniors Drew Belmain, Brayden Bradbury, Jacob Carvell and Hayden Kingsbury; juniors Josh Dahl, Malachi Fitzherbert, Zaylan Johnston, Cody McCrum, Stetson Nicholas and Joshua Thoms; and sophomore Lucas Haines. The managers are Nickie Deschaine, Mackenzie Honeycutt and Frankie Pierce.
