2018-19 GSA boys basketball team. Courtesy of GSA
The 2018-19 George Stevens Academy boys basketball team includes, in front from left, Isaac Wardwell, Michael Moon, Reece Dannenberg, Austin Snow, Tanner Ashley and Eric Mote. In back are assistant coach Matt Mattson, Caden Mattson, Xiyuan Li, Andrew Szwez, Teague Smallidge, Percy Zentz and head coach Dwayne Carter.
Blue Hill—With key players like Taylor Schildroth, Max Mattson and Stefan Simmons graduating last year, George Stevens Academy head basketball coach Dwayne Carter said this season’s team may be underestimated during the early games.
“We still have a lot of returning players this season, who have a lot of experience playing in big games over the past three years,” said Carter. “They have good team chemistry and support each other well.”
That experience will allow Carter and his team to continue with the same team strategy as previous seasons—share the ball on offense, and create turnovers with high intensity on the defensive end of the floor.
“We will go about business the same way we always do, by taking it one day and one game at a time and focusing on what we need to do to prepare for our opponent and to be successful,” said Carter.
Returning to the team are veterans Percy Zentz, Caden Mattson, Andrew Szwez and Reece Dannenberg, all of whom saw ample time on the floor during the team’s championship run at the Cross Insurance Center last season during tournament time. With that experience and a few additions to the team, the three-time Class C state champions will look to once again claim the gold ball.
The team has been practicing a little over a week, and Carter said the team has been spending those early practices finding individual strengths, team strengths, and areas to improve on before the season is in full tilt. The players are very “team oriented,” he said, and are unselfish on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively, Carter said his team is working on being more consistent, which will be a “key to success” this season.
“I have high expectations for our first few games. Our experience and confidence will be advantages for us. We will take it one opponent at a time and prepare our game plan as usual,” he said.
The Eagles will kick off the season with a pair of home games, against Lee Academy on December 8 and Deer Isle-Stonington High School on December 11. Tip off for those games is at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.