DANFORTH, Maine — A small squad of just eight players will look to carry the load for the East Grand boys basketball team this season.
Matt Day returns for his second season coaching the Viking boys – and is once again also pulling double duty coaching the varsity girls squad too.
“Basically we are a young team,” he said. “I would like to work solely on the fundamentals and improve on those qualities. We are looking to improve from last year as some grew and improved through the summer.”
Several of the athletes joined Hodgdon this past fall to form a cooperative soccer squad. Day said that experience could wind up paying dividends for the young squad.
“Many are coming from playing with Hodgdon for soccer and they are coming off a competitive sports season, so that experience should help their approach,” he said.
Members of the 2022-23 varsity squad are senior Jathaniel Lindsey; sophomores Caleb Waldahl, Nathan Frye, Cameron Davis and Derek Golding; and freshmen Amos Lindsey, Gauge Osgood; and eighth-grader Gabe Foss.
The team lost two seniors from last year’s squad, which finished winless on the year at 0-17.
“We have more experience than last year and have maintained the same core group of players,” the coach said. “Our ball handling skills have also improved.”
Jathaniel Lindsey is a good slasher and big man who does well on the boards with rebounds, the coach said. Frye will also be called upon to provide work in the post, but also has a good outside shot.
Davis and Golding will be the team’s top ball handlers, bringing good ball security, while also offering a soft touch on their shots.
Coach Day said one of his goals this season is to improve ball movement and security, to help limit the amount of turnovers the team makes. “I would also like to see us making good decisions,” he added. “We would like to rely more on running the ball and improve our shooting around the perimeter.”
Southern Aroostook, Katahdin and Wisdom will be the top three squads that East Grand faces this year, according to the coach.
