All-Maine boys hoop teams a family affair

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Since the Bangor Daily News began naming its All-Maine basketball team in 1956, a total of 525 slots have been filled on the first, second, and third teams. Of those 525 slots, NEWS records show only two have been occupied by a father and son: Don Sturgeon and Jeff Sturgeon of Old Town.

Brother combinations have been more frequent All-Maine players with 17 pairs of brothers along with the brother trio of Willie, Peter, and Steve Gavett.

Don Sturgeon, now the Old Town High School principal, was a first-team All-Maine pick in 1957 and a second-team selection in ’56. Jeff Sturgeon, who now is a restaurant manager at Disney World in Orlando, Fla., was a first-team All-Maine player in ’80.

“Any father is real proud when his team is named All-Maine, but to be on the team myself, too, made me feel doubly proud,” Don Sturgeon said.

Don Sturgeon has been connected with three of Old Town’s best teams. He was a pivotal member on the ’57 team – which also included Tom “Skip” Chappelle – that captured a state title, coached the Indians to a state crown in ’67, and watched his son help lead Old Town to the Eastern Maine title in ’80.

“It sure was a nice feeling to see all that happen,” he said.

Jeff Sturgeon said he benefited from his father’s basketball lessons while growing up, but added he wasn’t pressured by his father to reach the same level.

“I certainly tried to be helpful, but I didn’t impose myself on him,” Don Sturgeon said. “He was under enough pressure to just live with the name. I wanted him to have the opportunity to make a name for himself.”

As he hit the junior high and high school grades, Jeff Sturgeon said he began to better recognize his father’s basketball achievements. He was pleased he was able to obtain those same achievements.

“High school basketball in Maine is a big sport and it is nice to be recognized for your accomplishments,” said Jeff Sturgeon. “I pretty much knew what (my father) had done in his career and it was nice to reach the same level.”

The NEWS uses input from Maine high school and college coaches, officials, the media, and veteran hoop observers to help determine its All-Maine team. Given that, being selected All-Maine means a lot to a player, Don Sturgeon said.

“I think (being chosen All-Maine) is the ultimate honor,” he said. “It’s an honor because it shows people who do know basketball appreciate your skills and how you play the game.”

The Sturgeons played games against each other while Jeff was learning the game, but Don is not sure how he and his son would have matched up if they played during the same time. Don was a 6-foot-1 forward who averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds a game in ’57. Jeff, a 6-4 forward, averaged 21.2 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.5 assists a game.

“It was a totally different game when I played. Many people speculate how our ’57 team would have matched up against Jeff’s ’80 team, but that’s like asking how Bob Cousy’s Celtics teams would have done against the present-day Celtics. It’s a different style now,” Don Sturgeon said.

Both Don and Jeff went on to enjoy fine careers at the University of Maine, where Don continued in his frontcourt position while Jeff switched to the backcourt and was coached by Don’s old teammate, Chappelle.

Ellsworth’s Jack Scott, who was voted by NEWS readers in 1981 as Maine’s best schoolboy basketball player ever, played in 1950-54 before the NEWS began its All-Maine team.

Scott’s sons, Dick and Tim Scott, went on to garner All-Maine honors. Dick was second team All-Maine in ’80 and first team in ’81, while Tim made the second team in ’86 and the first team in ’88.

The All-Maine brother combinations started in the team’s first years as Dick Bishop from Morse in Bath was named to the first team in ’56. His brother, Ray Bishop, was then named to the All-Maine third team in ’57 and the second team in ’58.

The Gavett brothers are the only family with three All-Mainers. Each was a first-team pick with Willie in ’67, Peter in ’69, and Steve in ’73.

Only two brother combinations were on the same All-Maine teams.

Dick Whitmore and Kevin Whitmore of Waterville were on the ’86 team when Dick was a first-teamer and Kevin a second-teamer. Dick was also on the third team in ’84, while Kevin was named to the first team in ’87.

In 1961, John and Santo Cimino of Cheverus in Portland were All-Mainers with John on the first team and Santo on the second. John was also a third-teamer in ’60 and Santo a first-teamer in ’62.

Other All-Maine brother combinations are listed below:

Bangor: The McKernans – Jock (’65, ’66), Bob (’70)

Lewiston: The Fennessys – Sean (’84), Mike (’90)

Caribou: The Kelleys – Pete (’56, ’57, ’58), Mike (’69, ’70)

Stearns: The Pelletiers – Vince (’66, ’67), Sidney (’70)

South Portland: The MacPhees – Len (’58), Les (’62); The Beatties – George (’70), Jim (’71, ’72)

Deering: The Burchills – Ernie (’78), Tim (’81)

Presque Isle: The Norsworthys – Randy (’75), Peter (’80)

Westbrook: The Manoogians – George (’72), Gary (’75)

Gardiner: The Storys – Peter (’83), Mike (’86)

Lawrence: The Doodys – Kevin (’76), Ron (’82)

Rumford: The Kaubrises – Stan (’73, ’74), Matt (’77); The Roberts – Doug (’75, ’76), Don (’80)

South Portland High has produced the most All-Maine players. The school has filled a total of 34 spots on the All-Maine teams. Other schools with 10 or more players on the teams are listed below:

24: Cheverus; 23: Cony; 22: Morse, Stearns; 21: Bangor; 19: Presque Isle; 17: Caribou; 16: Westbrook; 14: Waterville, Orono, Old Town; 13: Deering; 12: Brewer, Rumford; 10: Portland, Lawrence