PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Presque Isle Wildcats varsity boys basketball team had a very solid 2016-17 season. After a 13-5 regular season, good for a fifth-place finish in Class B North, they were victorious in their home prelim round contest against Ellsworth before the season ended in the quarterfinal round against Orono.
The Wildcats lost four players off that squad in Brad Kinney, Patrick Cash, Jake Kinney and Marcus Ouellette, and with them go a lot of quality minutes on both ends of the floor.
They do, however, have a solid nucleus back which should put them right back in the tournament mix.
Leading the way for the returning players will be senior guard Griffin Guerrette, according to Coach Terry Cummings. Guerrette has been a mainstay over the past three years and is considered one of the top players in the Class B ranks. Solid defense and the ability to score from anywhere on the floor not only make him a threat, but make the rest of the team better as well. He could face some gimmick defenses to try to impact his performance.
Junior Jonah Hudson was a shutdown defender a year ago and could have a breakout year on the offensive end this season. He has range and quickness that make him a tough defensive assignment.
Junior swingman Jason Dumais is a blue collar player with the work ethic to get things done on both ends of the court. Junior center/forward Trace Cyr saw limited action a year ago but should be in the mix all year.
Senior guard Jack Bonville has worked hard on his game in the off-season and has looked good in the early going. Senior guard/forward Jack Beaulieu is another “do whatever you ask” player, according to Cummings He is currently recovering from an ankle injury but should see quality minutes.
Carter Rice, a junior forward, is a threat to score double digits on any given night, while senior Adam Paterson returns after a year off and can help in a number of areas on the floor.
Newcomers to the squad include junior forward Jacob Sjoberg, junior guard Cole Paterson and sophomore Caleb Wheaton. These three are working hard to learn the system, and they have both a solid work ethic and a skill set that could get them quality minutes. Cummings said each should become more of a factor as the season progresses.
Junior Nagoo Morey, senior Jordan Bonville and senior exchange student Justin Wei round out the squad. They are working hard and will push for playing time. Managers are Emma Willett, Libby Boone and Meghann Collins.
Cummings, who begins his seventh season as coach, is excited about the season in front of him.
“I am really looking forward to this season as we have a great group of hard working guys who are fun to be around,” said Cummings, who will be assisted by Greg Whitaker, Ron McAtee and Dave Whitaker.
Offensively, look for the Wildcats to be an up-tempo squad. They have quickness and the ability to get to the rim that should keep pressure on opposing defenses.
Defensively, they will use a variety of looks to include man-to-man, half court pressure, and trapping all over the place.
“We aren’t very big this year,” explained Cummings, “so everyone will have to do their jobs boxing out.”
This squad has the look of a blue collar hard working team, and with maximum effort, success should follow.
“I know we have a team that has a goal and is willing to work as hard as they can to achieve it,” explained Cummings, “and as a coach that is all I can ask.”
