If you happen to have followed Maine interscholastic athletics during the early years of the 21st century, you may be familiar with an initiative called “Sports Done Right”. The impetus for Sports Done Right, stemmed from a concern by many educators that the educational component was lacking in a number of schools’ athletics offerings.
Some balked at the initiative, many of whom I’m guessing never even touched the 65 some-odd page document. Some viewed this as taking away the competitive component of athletics, although having read the pamphlet, I’m not sure how one could come to such a conclusion. If prominent figures such as the Dean of Education at the University of Maine, Dr. Robert Cobb, Olympic marathoner, Joan Benoit-Samuelson, and legendary Maine high school football coach, John Wolfgram, are on board with this, I might take notice and heed their wisdom.
Flash forward nearly twenty-years. Friday night’s “instant classic”, the Boys Class ‘B’ State Championship Basketball Game between Caribou and Maranacook was indeed the poster child for “Sports Done Right” By the way, the phrase “instant classic” has been over-used and abused in today’s sports lexicon. It seems as though at least once a month you flip on SportsCenter and you see highlights of an “instant classic”. At times, we tend to exaggerate what we have just witnessed as being “the best ever”, failing to place the most recent great event into the context of history. Having said that, the phrase “instant classic”aptly applies in this case, and not only because of the high level of play on the court. If you were in attendance at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor Friday night, you know exactly what I mean.
While the media, Maine Public in particular, does a great job of bringing the games into the public’s living room, to truly experience the sights, sounds, and emotions of Friday night’s state championship, with all due respect, you really had to have been there. I was fortunate enough to have had a seat at the scorer’s table, having served as the public address announcer for the girls championship game prior. My role for the boys game was to serve as a spotter for PA announcer, Reid Durost, so in essence I had the game off to be a spectator as Reid is always on top of things.
In this, my 35th year attending the Maine high school basketball tournament, I’ve seen my share of classics. This game, like few others, elicited so many different senses and emotions. There was the roar of the crowd. There was the sight of the game-winning play for Caribou as Parker Deprey lobbed the ball to younger brother, Sawyer, who laid it in during the game’s final seconds in double overtime. What a way to finish what could be the final time they ever play together on a competitive stage! Who can forget Maranacook’s Cash McClure? With ice-water in his veins, he made clutch play after clutch play, living up to his name. That young man has a motor that never stops.
Despite the great play on the court, the reason I will never forget this game was how I felt. Sights and sounds will fade but feelings create such a powerful emotive that stand the test of time. In all my years following this great game, I can honestly say I have never felt the way I did after Friday night’s game. You see, what took this game to the zenith goes far beyond the skilled play we witnessed on the court.
For two hours Friday night I witnessed young men and their coaches who personified what can make Maine high school basketball great. On a stage these teams worked towards their whole lives, I saw no “look at me” type moments, no false bravado, or disrespectful gestures towards the opponent. There was no open questioning of officials, who, by the way, did an outstanding job. The players, here’s a shocker if you ever watch major college basketball or the NBA, just played! Imagine that! The highest level of play was matched and surpassed by the high-level of sportsmanship.
Following the game, what transpired on the court went far beyond the worn-out, obligatory, trite, let’s get this out of the way so we can celebrate “good game” handshake line. These tough, teenage boys, who had battled their guts out for the past two hours, exchanged many heartfelt embraces as they made their way through the line. While Caribou rejoiced, they showed empathy towards their opponents, who had more than earned that level of respect.
As I headed down the back corridor following the game, I had a choice moment with Maranacook’s Cash McClure, who was visibly devastated. I had never met Cash before but based on the past two hours, felt as if I knew him my entire life. All I said to him was “I’ve never seen you play until tonight but you are one hell of a player. That was a tremendous performance tonight, and your sportsmanship was outstanding.” In between heartbroken sobs, his face soaked with sweat and tears, he uttered back, “Thank you, that really means a lot”.
Interscholastic athletics in its purest form is an educational experience. Those of us who were fortunate enough to have been in attendance Friday night had the opportunity to sit in a 6,000 seat classroom. We learned lessons about character, perseverance, empathy, respect for the game and for the opponent, as well as many other lifelong lessons. Instructing us were not adults but 15 to 18 year old kids, led by their outstanding coaches who “get it”. If I had to sum up everything from Friday night’s game, from the sights, sounds, and emotions, into one word it would be this…beautiful. Friday night’s game was truly beautiful to behold on so many levels.
Thank you once again to the coaches and players from Caribou and Maranacook for not only your exceptional play, but also for your exemplary character and sportsmanship. Well done, boys, well done!
Caribou celebrates after a double overtime thrilling win over Maranacook on Friday, February 28th. Photo courtesy of Lisa Prescott
