HOULTON, Maine — A year ago, the Houlton boys basketball team tasted what playoff basketball felt like as the team achieved its goal of qualifying for the playoffs. Now the Shires are hungry for more.
Veteran coach Tim Brewer is in his second year with the Houlton program, and 17th overall in his varsity coaching tenure. He spent 15 years with Central Aroostook and also had two years as a junior varsity coach in Mars Hill.
“The guys have set a goal for themselves of winning a state championship,” Brewer said. “You have to like that (mentality). I think we should be one of the top five teams in the region.”
A change in class could aid that cause. Houlton will compete this year in the Class C North region, after spending the past two years in Class B. With that change comes a new slate of opponents, including the return of the well attended rivalry game with neighboring Hodgdon.
“The drop from B to C will definitely help us,” coach Brewer said. “We also have a fairly good returning cast of players.”
Members of the Shire boys roster for the 2017-18 season include seniors Cameron Cleary, Jeremy Cook, Devin Ivey and Nick Perfitt; juniors Nick Brewer, Ryder Graham, Ben Grant, Tyler MacDonald and Nolan Porter; sophomores Cameron Callnan, Jaron Gentle and Keegan Gentle; and freshmen Drew Foley and Hunter Sennett.
Among the losses to graduation were Cameron Graham, Jacob Worthley, Jared Fox, Dylan Johnston and Zach Quint.
“We’re missing a little bit of production from those guys, especially Graham, Worthley and Fox, but we have five returning players who logged significant minutes for us,” coach Brewer said. “We will need to work on developing our bench.”
A year ago, the Shires finished 11-7, which earned Houlton the No. 10 seed in the Class B North playoffs. The Shires traveled to No. 7 Belfast, where they fell 65-51 to the host-Lions.
Coach Brewer said he likes the talent that this year’s squad brings to the hardwood.
“I think we will be a better perimeter shooting team this year, and I also think we will be just as good defensively,” he said.
At 6 feet, 8 inches, Cleary gives the Shires one of the tallest players on the floor most nights. The four-year varsity player could be poised for a tremendous senior season. “He came into the season this year in much better shape,” the coach said. “I have seen a big difference in his work ethic and play so far. We will need him to pick up some of the scoring and rebounding load.”
Keagan Gentle was the team’s point guard last season and brings stability to one of the key positions on the floor. “Keagan is very good off the dribble,” the coach said. “He showed me last year as a freshman that he can score, as he averaged about 12 points per game.”
Porter has worked hard on his jump shots in the offseason, the coach said, and could be one of the team’s brighter surprises this year. Brewer was a spark plug for the team last year. “Nick does a lot of things well,” the coach said. “He is just a great all-around player.” Perfitt came off the bench as a shooting specialist for the Shires. “I am hoping we can expand his role this year,” the coach said. “I would like to see him get to the rim a bit more and post up too.”
Brewer said until somebody shows they can beat them, two-time defending state champ George Stevens Academy remains the top squad in Class C.
