FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — The 2018-19 Tigers will face another huge challenge this season as they are once again the smallest Class C school in the state, while still playing a largely Class D schedule. Despite graduating seven players, they will look to improve on last year’s 12-6 regular season record and keep their 20-year streak of making the playoffs alive.
Larry Gardner begins his 21st year as the team’s head coach, and plans to challenge his players to give maximum effort each day while trying to blend the returning players with the younger, newer players on the team. The goal is to return to Bangor and the Cross Center for a tournament appearance in February.
The returning players from last year’s team include four juniors — Riley Clough, Cammi King-Demerchant, Bailee Mallett and Amber Sherwood. The roster boasts seven sophomores in Brenna LeVasseur, Kourtney West, Kennedy Bencivenga, Hunter Perkins, Shantelle Simon, Olivia Langner and Caijsa Benson. New players on this year’s team are freshmen Camryn Ala, Sarah McShea and Eva Callioras.
“We always expect to compete with everyone we play against,” Gardner said. “This young team, and I can’t remember ever having a team with no seniors, will work hard and want to return to Bangor once again, but will have to learn each other’s strengths and build team chemistry to be able to compete.
“I like our chemistry and our competitiveness so far but we still have a lot of areas to
work on and we will continue to try to improve each practice and game,” he added. “I do
like our athleticism, attitude and work ethic and we do have some quickness, along with some players who can shoot the ball, some who can rebound the ball and some good ball handlers as well.”
Exceeding expectations each practice and game is one of Gardner’s points of focus.
“Our long-range goal is to make the playoffs and earn a trip back to Bangor,” he said. “We will have to have huge contributions from all our players in order to compete in Class C.”
In a scheduling twist this year, the Tigers will play Washburn at the Cross Center in Bangor on Dec. 27 in a 1:30 p.m. start as part of a Maine Basketball Hall of Fame Christmas Classic that will see 26 teams playing 13 games over a two-day period in countable games.
“This is certainly a great opportunity for not only us, but all the teams competing in the event, to be able to play at the Cross Center,” Gardner said. “I know all our players are excited for this opportunity and look forward to the challenge.”
The veteran coach said Central Aroostook, Katahdin, Fort Kent, Washburn, Shead and Ashland will provide the strongest competition for his team during the regular season.
“We’ll take it one game at a time and try to get better each game,” he said.
