Alley wonders if he’s scoring too much

Having scored more points than any other schoolboy basketball player in Maine history, Raymond Alley expected to do his share of scoring for Husson College, too.

Thirteen games into his freshman season with the Braves, however, Alley is wondering if he is scoring too much.

“I’m scoring more than I thought I would when I came,” said Alley, who scored 2,306 points at Vinalhaven High School. “But I don’t know if my scoring is what we need.”

Alley’s concern stems from the fact, while he is currently averaging a team-high 24.3 points per game, Husson carries only a 7-6 record into Tuesday night’s critical Western Maine Athletic Conference showdown with UM-Farmington at the Newman Gym (7:30).

“I think more people have to score. We need a more balanced attack,” Alley summarized.

Husson head coach Bruce MacGregor admits Alley’s role as the first and best scoring option for the Braves marks a change in the team’s recent balanced philosophy. But, added MacGregor, that doesn’t mean his 5-foot-10 shooting star has to stifle his scorer’s game in order for the Braves to win.

“It think it’s been an adjustment,” said MacGregor. “It’s different than what we’ve been doing. We had a bunch of people averaging between 11 and 15 points a game, now we’ve got a guy in the 20s.

“We haven’t really gone to him more than we want to,” MacGregor continued. “We’ve got a lot of young people working right now. At the end of the game, everyone realizes the ball has got to be in his hands.”

MacGregor said he is pleased with Alley’s overall play, not just his scoring.

“I think he’s exceeded expectations at this point. We’re asking him to do a lot of things. And he’s willing to do anything within the team concept. Obviously, he’s had some good numbers as far as scoring. But he’s contributed assists and done a good job rebounding. We’ve given him some tough defensive assignments. He knows he needs to work at it, but he’s done a good job,” MacGregor said.

His other abilities may draw his coach’s praise, but Alley’s scoring touch is what is drawing the attention of the opposition. In last weekend’s St. Thomas Aquinas Tournament, Alley scored 30 and 33 points, despite drawing heavy defensive attention.

MacGregor said he has never had an offensive player quite like Alley, who can hit a three-point jumper off the dribble, or penetrate to the basket with equal ability.

“I think he’s unique,” said MacGregor. “When you first look at him, he doesn’t look like he can hurt you. In tournaments, the first night he catches someone by surprise. The second night, they’re waiting for him, and he still scores.”

Alley said he believes his role as scorer may be causing his teammates to look too much for him to fire up shots.

“I think I’m faking them out,” said Alley, who transferred to Husson after spending one semester at Division I Maine. “When I penetrate, they think I’m going to shoot when I’m looking to pass. It’s something they’re going to have to get used to. When you play with people awhile, they get used to it.”

Alley, who suffers chronic back pain, said he is enjoying playing and studying at Husson, and doesn’t regret his decision to transfer. He just wishes he could score a little less and have the Braves win a little more.