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By Linda Galway
AUBURN — Edward Little High School senior Max Creaser of Auburn was named the 24th recipient of the annual Gordon “John” Gillette Award following the Jan. 4 matchup against the Lewiston High School Blue Devils.
The Gillette Award can be given to a player from either team — regardless of the outcome of the game — as Gillette served as both a teacher and coach at Lewiston and Edward Little high schools. The award is presented to a player who “displays the qualities John embodied — sportsmanship, desire, hustle, dedication and enjoyment of the game.”
The son of Tracy Edwards and Peter Creaser, both of Auburn, Max was a force at both ends of the court, contributing 22 points and five rebounds. In every game, he is what baseball would call a “utility player” — defending and scoring from the paint, shooting mid-range jumpers and executing deadly 3-point shots.
“We do a lot of shooting in practice,” he explained, “and also play a two-post offense with screening for open mid-range jumpers. The time and effort that my teammates and I put in allow us to make those shots.”
He said he believes the entire team played well with contributions from a lot of players, “so I think a few of my teammates could easily have won this award. I’m honored and humbled.”
Team chemistry, he added, “allows for all of us to build off of each other and make each other better to succeed as a whole. This award is a representation of the hard work our team has done throughout the season.”
He recalls the early days, playing at the YMCA and “having a lot of fun, as well as going to high school games and aspiring to play high school basketball myself.”
His mother remembers even more. “He started shooting hoops as a toddler,” she said, adding she and her husband, Michael Barnard, rarely missed a game since then.
As the years ensued, the indoor “Kiddie Hoop” transitioned naturally to driveway, playground and gym opportunities. “Skills-and Drills” clinics, summer camps, Auburn-Lewiston YMCA and Auburn Rec travel teams, multiple AAU teams and weekend tournaments, mixed with a healthy dose of Auburn Middle School and ELHS teams, helped Creaser and his teammates develop the skills they would need to elevate their game.
“As a family, we understood Max’s commitment to basketball, so we all worked hard to bring him to many events and activities to support him,” noted his stepmother, Natasha Creaser.
Max is not the only cager in the family, sharing his passion for basketball with his mother. Edwards played varsity ball at Lincoln Academy and was a member of the 1981-82 Maine Class B state championship team. She also played for Bates College from 1986 to 1989.
His younger siblings, Alexis and Joshua Creaser, have followed in his footsteps with love for the game. “Max’s excitement for basketball enticed both siblings to start playing ball at an early age,” added his stepmom.
Edwards said she was “happy and proud” for Max when his name was called to receive the Gillette award. His father admitted to being a little surprised “because there were many deserving players on the team.”
In addition to his ability on the basketball court, Creaser challenges himself in the classroom as well, taking honors and AP classes, being inducted a member of the National Honor Society and receiving the Leadership Award for the class of 2020 his junior year. He plans to study engineering in college.
TOP PHOTO: Max Creaser, named the 24th recipient of the Gordon “John” Gillette Award, is surrouded by his family, from left, Peter Creaser, Natasha, Alexis and Joshua Creaser, Tracy Edwards and Michael Barnard. (Todd Sampson photo)
