Auburn, ME - Throughout the summer of 2019, the incoming Mustangs worked hard preparing for the new season. Playing college basketball, unlike what most players are used to in high school, can be a virtual year-round commitment. The summer before the season begins, players are warned to come to school in shape, ready to run, and get ready for two-a-day practices the first few weeks. However, even before the season officially begins, players are in the weight room, playing pickup at night, and though unsupervised, expected to work on their game before practice begins. Around the third/fourth week of September, players are itching to begin and get the season going. This was the 2019 Mustangs.
With many new players in the lineup and many from out of country, the squad looked a bit different than past Mustang teams. Players from Australia-James Bosnakis, Matt Attard, Ben Johnson and AJ Cunningham---Josh Thomson from New Zealand, Iija Ivkovic from Serbia, Tobias Jense from Holland, Gabriel Fraley arrived from Germany, and Nicolas Dierynck from Belgium all arrived on the scene. Some had never been to America before, some only a few times. All were wide eyed, full of optimism, and ready to work. However, players from other countries don't play high school sports or college sports, but instead play club ball through high school and even after high school. Therefore, they don't really practice (what they call train) every day but usually about twice a week. The American definition of working out is not the same as theirs…. Talk about an adjustment!!
The American kids are used to workouts and practice. They had no issues with the two a day workout or in case of snow, a three-a-day workouts. Veteran players like Corey David, Mark McDonald, Malik Farley, and Charles Cedre settled in early and ran through the preseason with relative ease. The rookies, Tyheim Burgess, Khalid Ibn, Wil Sorenson, Saikwon Williams and Luke McCusker battled through the early going but were able to sustain the challenges of the first month.
The preseason moved along with new players adjusting and everyone else settling in. Health wise, the squad participated in fitness room workouts led by our training staff, and on off days, did the stretching necessary for recovery.
As the squad approached the annual alumni game, all were excited and ready for action. In an unusual twist, the schedule was front loaded with home games. Each year is different and this year it just happened to work out that way. After a win over the alum, next up came the annual Can Am tournament. The boys marched through the weekend beating UNBSJ and Roxbury Community College. A quick road trip to NHTI to face Williamson Trade School and Northern Essex Community College resulted in two more wins. A November 3rd home game with Vermont Tech brought the squad back down to earth as the Knights nipped the Mustangs 76-72 in a tight contest. Rebounding, the team wins three in a row to give the Mustangs a 7-1 early record. A road game at Roxbury in early November backfired as the team lost to Roxbury in a fluke affair by four points. Licking their wounds, the squad returned to cozy Kirk Hall to win four of the next five in November including a 91-80 win over rival NHTI. Two key wins in December over the Albany College of Pharmacy and SMCC on the road ended the break. CM finished the first semester with a solid 12-4 record, injury free and ready for the break.
Enter January and the second half and the tires came off the bus!
It starts out with one player leaving the team for discipline. A day later, we find out captain and leader Corey David has torn his ACL and is gone for the season. Sharpshooter Mark McDonald goes down with an ankle injury. Matt Attard also goes down with an ankle injury. Both are out for two and three weeks. At practice big man Josh Thomson suffers a concussion. He is out for the season. As we limp along, struggling to replace four out of five starters, we learn AJ Cunningham tears his leg and now he is out for the season. By this time, we are all wondering what else can happen!! Taji McGee came in from Michigan to provide some bench strength.
The situation with injuries forced us to put players in situations they are not accustomed to, or are ready for. Our strategy now is to keep a game close, low scoring, ball possession, and a better shot selection. Conference foes from the first half recognize what is happening and the sharks are now circling. All can't wait to get a shot as us and knock us down. And some do…. The boys hang on and finish the semester 5-6 and go from first in the conference to fourth in the conference. Our opening game in the Yankee tournament is with Paul Smith College. Fortunately, it's a home game and the team spend the previous week preparing for one game. The preparations pay off and the Mustangs pull away with a 95-80 win to propel them into the Yankee Conference Final Four. The final four is scheduled at SMCC, which for CM, is the next best place to play (away from Kirk Hall). The downside is their opponent is number one seed NHTI. All knew we would have to play the game of our lives to compete. The Lynx came on strong the second half and put the Mustangs away. Despite our best efforts, CM dropped a 94-86 game and returned home with a 17-10 overall record.
On the player front, Corey David and Nicholas Dierynck each were named to the Yankee Conference All Conference team. Corey played in 15 games before his injury and was steady and relievable at the point guard spot. He averaged 8.2 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, and 5.3 assists per game. He was the gas that keep the car going.
Nic shot 32% from the three-point line averaging 12.3 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game. With Nic on the court, CM could always find a shot.
Corey David and Matt Attard were both recognized by the USCAA being named Academic All-Americans.
At the end of the day, despite and up and down season, our players never backed off, quit, and sulked. Some players adjusted, got better, and will move on to another school seeking playing opportunities.
We move on to prepare for the new edition of the 2020 Mustangs.
