Central Maine’s Men’s basketball team struggled a bit this year ending the year with a 9-17 overall record but continued to improve towards the end of the season. Tending to play up or down with the competition, the boys won some big games and lost some crucial games. After losing Cam Angell, Tyler Smithgall, and Matt Sceviour, the three premier players of last year’s team, Coach Gonyea went back to the drawing board. Gonyea brought in some talent and started rebuilding the team.
The Mustangs started the season off slow, as they tried to build chemistry and learn each other’s style of play but always were fun to watch and played their hardest. Towards the end of the season things started to look better when the Mustang’s won 5 of their last 7 regular season games and earned themselves a playoff game at EMCC. During these 5 wins, including a beat down to UMA (103-78) at home, who beat CM 79-58 in Augusta, the Mustangs started feeling better about their chances down the road. Eventually they would lose in a battle at EMCC by 6 points, 59-65, after losing by just 1 point at EM on January 26th.
Looking to rebound from a tough finish, to a tough year, the Central Maine Men’s Team will be back and focused on next years’ prize. They have a lot of motivation, and together can be a strong, talented group. They will definitely be looking to get back to pre-2010 form. However, health is a big factor as the Mustangs already have scheduled over 30 games in the 2011-2012 season.
Next year is looking good as Nick Hinkley, and Curtis Miller return for the starters along with key bench players Ariel Lezana, Justin Cocroft, and the crowd’s favorite local player Ryan Baillargeon. Also, the Mustangs expect big things from Jason Dennison, who got injured early in the season and missed the entire campaign. Boston native Patrick Lorfills, and Jason Hughes of Mt View fame are back to provide some strength under the basket. Both spent much of the last year injured. All the players are expecting a much better season, and have started pushing themselves in the weight room as well as the basketball court to get ready for a tough upcoming season. Winning the Yankee Conference is on their minds, and they can only get there together. “It is not about you, it is about us.”
Game Recaps