By Bill Van Tassel
One of the most disappointing losses in recent years for the Winthrop High School’s boys’ basketball team was the 2017 Class C Title game in Bangor, a 3-point loss to George Stevens Academy from Blue Hill.
That game was in the minds of the Ramblers when they met Houlton for the Class C championship March 2 at Bangor’s Cross Arena. It was a great motivator — the Ramblers won the championship, 61-49.
They finished the season 21-1, and the one loss, to Hall-Dale was also a motivator for the team’s tournament play. The Ramblers soundly defeated Hall Dale, 61-41, in the Class C South Regional final on Feb. 23 at the Augusta Civic Center to make the finals.
The seniors on this year’s team were especially eager to change 2017’s result on their trip to Bangor’s Cross Insurance Center.
Rambler Coach Todd MacArthur said that the result of the 2017 title game motivated many of his players, particularly seniors, including starters Cam Wood, Jared McLaughlin, Sam Figueroa and Nate LeBlanc and the other seniors, Andrew Frost, Jackson Ladd, Beau Brooks and Sam Lattin.
“Throughout the season each player put in a tremendous amount of hard work to develop individually, but the most impressive improvement came collectively, MacArthur said. “This team grew, as a whole, more than any team I have coached; developing unselfishness, teamwork, and a sense of togetherness that drove this team to achieve a common goal.”
He waid he was also pleased with how the community was so supportive of the program and traveled to Bangor to attend “the biggest game of the season.”
MacArthur said while the first half of the championship game was a little dicey for the Ramblers, they adjusted in the second half. Houlton was double-guarding Winthrop’s big men, so the Ramblers began to pass the ball to the outside, and some great three-pointers resulted. Three pointers came from Cameron Hachey (4), LeBlanc (2), and McLaughlin (1). The post-up game came alive too, with center Wood totaling 16 points.
