STACYVILLE, Maine — Is this the season that the Katahdin boys make the leap and re-emerge as a playoff contender?
After losing just one player to graduation, the Katahdin boys basketball team has almost its full complement of players returning this year for second-year varsity coach James McNally. As such, the coach is hopeful the Cougars will experience their fair share of success on the hardwood.
“Our outlook is very positive for this season,” coach McNally said. “We feel that we should be competitive and challenge for a spot in Bangor and hope to make a run once we get there.”
A change in Katahdin’s schedule should help in that regard, as last year the Cougars, who compete in Class D North, played a number of tough Class C schools. Katahdin finished with a 2-16 record and did not make the postseason.
“We did not make the playoffs, which we were disappointed in,” the coach said. “That being said, we had a very demanding schedule last season with 11 games versus quality Class C opponents and six of our seven Class D games were against Greenville, SACS, and Bangor Christian, who were all serious Class D State Championship contenders.”
Still, the Cougars were competitive in many of those games, including a buzzer-beater loss to Fort Fairfield, who finished 17-1 and was No. 2 in Class C North. “We hope that last year’s tough schedule will help pay off this season,” McNally said.
Katahdin has moved solely to the Aroostook League after being a member of the Penobscot Valley Conference (PVC) the past two seasons, and now has a primarily D schedule for this season, except for two games each with Madawaska, Hodgdon, and Fort Fairfield.
“Our team strengths include added quickness and athleticism for this season along with having six seniors anchoring the team, four of whom will likely start most games and two of whom will see meaningful playing time,” the coach said.
Members of the Katahdin squad include seniors Hunter Craig, Andrew Cummings, Cooper Drew, Brody Guiggey, Rig Otero and Chase Tapley; juniors John McNally and Paul Young; and sophomores, Caleb Giles, Blake Howes and Bryce Sinclair.
The Cougars have decent size with most of its players at, or close to 6-feet in height.
Guiggey and Craig were the leading scorers from a year ago as Guiggey (a 6-foot, 2-inch forward) averaged 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while Craig (6-0 guard) averaged 15 points, four rebounds and three assists.
“Guiggey and Craig are both athletic quick players that can bring a lot of intensity,” the coach said. “Otero (5-10, guard) is also very quick and has been getting better with his shot. McNally (6-2 center) will be a steady inside presence and a strong rebounder, while Drew (6-0, forward) will bring a lot of strength, athleticism, and energy on the court.”
Katahdin graduated one senior from the team last year — Devin McGraw, who was selected to play in the PVC Senior All-Star Game.
Being patient on the floor is the one thing the coach plans to stress early this season.
“We hope to become more and more disciplined and patient on offense as the season progresses,” coach McNally said. “We also need to improve our overall shooting and free throw percentages, box out better, and communicate more defensively.”
Coach McNally said he feels Class D North could be wide open this season.
“In general I think there is as much parity in Northern Maine Class D heading into this season as there has been in a long while,” he said. “That being said, I personally feel that Bangor Christian, with the quickest guard around in the division in Dean Grass, along with Woodland may be two tough teams to beat. I think other top contenders could include Schenck, who just dropped down from Class C; Machias, who will still bring a winning mentality and all-around quality team athleticism/shooting ability; and even though they lost some significant talent, Easton, and Jonesport Beals will be tough.”
