Searsport cautious of success

SEARSPORT – The Searsport Vikings are not taking their schoolgirl basketball success for granted, despite their 10-0 record.

“The tough part is not worrying about winning, ” said Coach Beth Staples, “We have to take it one game at a time.”

Aside from her cautious outlook, Staples admits she is definitely enjoying her first season as a head coach.

“It was difficult leaving Belfast…. but I have no regrets,” she said.

After watching Searsport play from the other side of the court, Staples had a good idea of what kind of team she was inheriting. “I knew there was a strong possibility of us going undefeated with the returning players,” she said.

More than halfway through their season, the Vikings have played and beaten everyone on their schedule at least once, but Staples and her team do not feel this guarantees them an undefeated season.

Like many high school coaches in Maine, Staples feels the shortened preseason was a handicap for her team.

“We just started practicing and then we had to go right into the season,” she said. “We haven’t had time to add all the things we wanted to.”

Another obstacle in the Vikings’ future is the fact they have no games scheduled for the week before the tournament. With teams like John Bapst of Bangor, which played them tough earlier in the season, remaining on the schedule, the Vikings can not rest on their laurals quite yet.

The Vikings also must deal with an injury to junior standout Amber Howard, who left the court during Monday night’s game against George Stevens of Blue Hill with a broken nose. Howard, who recently reached the 1,000 career point mark, is expected to be able to play Thursday, however.

While Howard is undeniably the spark that ignites the team, Searsport proved that she is not the only source of talent by downing George Stevens 57-31 in spite of her absence.

“I think we’re a good, well-rounded team. Amber’s a great talent, but without the others we’d be lost,” said Staples, “They’re realizing themselves that they are all good players and that has been the key to our success.”

Besides leading scorer Howard, Staples has a vast pool of potential starters to work with and has only one senior on the team.

Sophomore Bree Robert should turn heads, according to Staples, and is already comfortable in her role as a team leader. Junior Kelly Fields averages approximately eight points and eight rebounds per game and junior Heather Gray can be counted on for the key hoop, netting the points that clinched a close win over John Bapst.

Sophomore Jennifer Russ is being groomed as a point guard, junior Angela Redmond shoots and handles the ball well, and senior Jennifer Mason is noted by Staples for her speed and intelligence.

Backing up the starters are juniors Mandy George, Emily Worden, Joy Richard, and Robin Grant.

Looking ahead to the tournament, Staples is well aware of the challenges awaiting the Vikings. Searsport plays a traditionally weak schedule and Staples feels the team always needs to play at a level comparable to the top teams in Class C.

“I don’t know if we’ll improve on last year’s record (15-2). I rather not go into the tournament at 18-0. I’d rather take our lumps along the way, like Houlton; last they went into the tournament 13-5 and won the whole thing,” explained Staples.

The Vikings also know what they will be be up against at tournament time, but they’re confident in their ability.

“I think it will be tough, but we’ll do better this year,” Gray said.

For now, however, the Vikings are concentrating on their next game and are taking one thing at a time. Howard summed it up for the team, “It’s really nice being undefeated, but I’m looking ahead to the rest of the season.”