Broncos succeed with role players

HAMPDEN – All successful teams must have talent, to be sure.

But team chemistry, the ability of individuals to work toward a common goal, isn’t far behind in importance. Each player must understand his role to maximize the potential for team success, for chemistry is only as strong as the least enthused individual.

Noah Webster couldn’t have defined the roles of the Hampden Academy boys basketball players any better than they have been defined on their own, a chief reason the Eastern Maine Class A champs will face Deering of Portland in Saturday’s 3:05 p.m. state final at the Bangor Auditorium.

Hampden has benefited from fielding virtually the same team for the last two years – no one graduated off the 2004 edition. The Broncos also have a definitive go-to guy in 6-foot-10 junior center Jordan Cook.

But as this band of Broncos has evolved, roles have become more refined – and the wins have followed. Senior Blaine Meehan and junior J Uhrin have emerged as top perimeter scorers and defenders for coach Russ Bartlett’s club, but just as important have been the more subtle contributions of others in the playing rotation – seniors Pat Moran and Josh McNutt, junior Max Silver and sophomore Daniel McCue – as well as the teammates who make their greatest contributions in practice.

“Last year we were young and we were just trying to find out who could do what,” said McNutt, who has settled into the sixth-man role this winter. “I think it’s really come along this year. We’ve found out who can do what and what we’re capable of, and I think that’s really helped us in the playoffs.”

McNutt started most of his junior season, and admits the switch wasn’t easy.

“It was difficult at first,” said the 6-2 forward. “It’s very different coming off the bench than starting. It’s hard to get into the flow offensively. You feel out of place when you come in for the first couple of minutes, but it’s really not that bad. After a couple of minutes, it’s just like starting.”

For Moran, a 6-4 forward, his primary mission is to complement Cook and provide strong interior defense and rebounding.

“I’m in there to play defense on the big guys so Jordan doesn’t get into foul trouble,” Moran. “If the other team has a big-time scorer who’s a post player, I’ll guard him a lot of the time. I’ve got to get a lot of rebounds, a lot of defensive rebounds, and I get my points where I can.”

Moran’s role in basketball is in considerable contrast to his role on the Hampden baseball team, where he is in the spotlight as one of the state’s top pitchers.

“It’s different, because since I am the pitcher I get noticed a lot more in baseball,” said Moran, who will play baseball at the University of Maine after graduation. “It doesn’t bother me. It takes a little adjusting, but the other people in baseball have to adjust to the same situation. I think this is just the right thing that I need to be doing on this team, to do my part.”

Like McNutt, Silver brings the Broncos considerable energy off the bench. The 6-2 forward’s season got off to a slow start, as he had to undergo surgery shortly after soccer season – he played goalie for the school’s Eastern Maine champs in that sport – to alleviate a rapid heartbeat. But since he returned to full strength early in the season, Silver has provided his team invaluable depth.

“I try to bring in some toughness,” said Silver. “I come in and rebound and often play defense against some of the bigger guys. I’ll play defense on the perimeter and the inside. I don’t take many outside shots but I feel like I’m a good offensive rebounder and I get a lot of putbacks.”

The 6-1 McCue, who stepped into the starting lineup as a freshman, complements Meehan and Uhrin’s perimeter play.

“My first job is to distribute the ball, get everybody their touches,” he said. “Everything I do after that is just gravy.”

Despite being one of the youngest Broncos, McCue is representative of all his teammates in understanding the value of his role, as well as the roles of his comrades in championship arms. He’s seen it work.

“The last couple years, we’ve all grown in our individual skills,” said McCue, “but as a team it’s just tremendous what we’ve done, especially on the defensive end. We know everybody’s going to be there for each other, and we really trust each other.”