Youthful Old Town off to surprising hoop start

The goal of the Old Town Indians girls basketball team is to make the Eastern Maine Tournament, pure and simple.

In the process of working toward that goal, however, they are surprising a few folks in the Class A ranks.

Old Town is 7-0 after posting a 48-36 victory over neighboring Class B rival Orono on Tuesday. The Indians were the only undefeated team in Eastern A and sitting third in the most recent Heal Point Standings.

In the seven games, they’ve defeated some of the strongest northern teams, Bangor and Stearns of Millinocket among them.

“We may no longer be able to sneak up on our opponents,” Coach Garry Spencer said of this team, which is a much-changed version from the one that made it to the EM “A” semifinals last year.

“We’re young, but the kids are working hard, especially on defense. We play hard every game.”

Defense is definitely the name of Old Town’s game. The Indians are averaging 49.5 points per contest while holding their opponents to an average of 40.5.

“Last year, we gave up 38 points a game,” Spencer said. “We’re trying to get down to that this year. And we’re doing that with a very young team.”

Old Town holds its opponents under 50 with a tough, man-to-man defense, necessitated by Spencer’s focus on rebounding.

“Our strength is our rebounding, and you have to play man-to-man to match that,” he said. “Plus, with that defense you can see who is matching up and who isn’t, and who to holler at.”

While the tournament goal was set in preseason, it wasn’t until the season got rolling Old Town acquired, from the outside, its motivation.

“We’re the Rodney Dangerfield of Class A,” Spencer said.

“Bob Lahey (Old Town’s athletic director) decided `we don’t get no respect.’ ”

Old Town wasn’t included in preseason polls of top teams, Spencer said.

How has Old Town managed to meet such success? Three factors contribute: hard work, adapting to new roles, and depth.

Six-foot senior center Stephanie Smith is the only returning starter. Old Town had to replace the strong trio of Angie White, Julie Fadrigon, and Heather Brewer.

Jill DeGrasse, a 5-10 junior forward, took over White’s spot; 5-2 junior guard Heidi Cote starts in Fadrigon’s spot; and Betsy McLaughlin, a 5-8 senior guard, moved from the No. 3 guard position to No. 2 in Brewer’s role. Sophomore Shannon Field has come through strong as the No. 3 guard.

“It helps that we have great team depth,” Spencer said.

“Niele Thibodeau (a 5-6 senior guard) is a very gifted athlete, Erika Nadeau (a 5-5 sophomore guard) is playing a lot at point, and Kyla Malbon (a 5-9 forward) is the first big girl off the bench.”

Spencer said he moves players in and out often. “We play a lot of pressure defense because we’re up against some teams with more height.”

With the solid record has come a new-found attitude.

“These kids think they can beat everybody,” Spencer said, “but I know we have some tough games coming up.”