Singalongs create calm for Calais

Ed Leeman has a favorite adage that has served the Calais High School boys basketball team well during its pursuit of a second straight Class C state title.

The saying goes, “a man doesn’t fall on top of the mountain, he has to climb up there,” meaning that just because his team has won one championship, the second one isn’t going to come about without the same degree of determination.

That and a bit of music, that is.

During their 43-game undefeated run over the past two seasons leading to Saturday night’s state final against Boothbay, the Blue Devils have taken to holding team singalongs before games for inspirational purposes.

Except the songs themselves are hardly inspirational. No “Eye of the Tiger” in this locker room.

Here’s Calais standout Brandon Tomah’s description of the playlist.

“They’re like girl songs, like chick flicks,” he said. “We’re in the locker room about ready to cry, and that’s why it gives us a calming feeling.”

The tradition was started last year, with former players Adam Knowles and Mike Guthrie and current Blue Devil Chris Taylor leading the team in “So Sick” by Ne-Yo. That ritual, as well as a little basketball talent, propelled Calais to a 22-0 record and the school’s first state boys basketball crown.

And if it worked once, why change? So the team began singing again before games this season, adding a new song – “Say Goodbye” by Chris Brown – to its repertoire.

“That’s what we do before games, sing,” said senior guard Robbie Rogers. “A lot of teams look in and say ‘What are you doing?” But it helps us calm down a whole lot.”

And that’s no small part of the Blue Devils’ success this season, because from Day 1 the expectation in the Eastern Maine basketball world has been that Calais would get back to the state final – and anything less that than might be seen as a failure by some.

That’s a lot to put on anyone’s shoulders, let alone 16- and 17-year-old kids. But so far, so good for the Blue Devils.

“We’ve been saying all season that we’ve had that target on our back, and there’s definitely been big pressure for us,” said Taylor. “But we’ve stepped up. We try not to think about it and take each game as it comes, but obviously there’s that big record there, 43-0 right now.”

That pressure is only heightened during postseason play, when one loss means the end of a season – and in some cases, of a career.

“We’ve been pretty much ready to go against anyone, so we try to avoid thinking about it,” said Tomah, “but when you’re home alone thinking ‘What if, what if this might be my last game,’ it can get to you.

“But in the locker room we sing before each game and it gives us a relaxed feeling. We’re just a big family, and we calm each other down when we see each other excited.”

So sing, sing a song. Sing out loud, sing out strong.

“Those boys, I’m telling you, they’re quite a bunch of characters,” said Leeman. “I don’t sing, but they love to sing. The other team’s in their locker room getting fired up, and our boys are in there singing ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree’ or something.

“I think it keeps them loose, though, and I think it’s one of those things that have made this team a special bunch. They don’t get uptight, and then in the latter stages of the game they don’t mind shooting the ball. They’re not shooting it tight, they’re shooting it freely and that makes a difference.”

A championship difference at that.

Ernie Clark may be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net