George Stevens Academy junior Caden Mattson drives to the basket to score two of his 12 points during a game in Bucksport on January 11. By Monique Labbe
Blue Hill—The George Stevens Academy boys basketball team has played much of its season at home through the first 11 games. The Eagles have a 7-0 home record, with most of those wins coming by a 10-point margin or more. The team will be road tested over the course of the next two weeks, as a four-game stretch from January 16 to January 31 has the Eagles playing on an opponent’s home turf.
George Stevens Academy has a solid 3-1 away record this season, and head coach Dwayne Carter said that the focus of his players is the same regardless of what locker room they run out of at the start of the game.
“[The players] have a routine with specific times they go into the locker room to change, prepare and get fired up for the game,” said Carter. “That routine does not change no matter where we are.”
George Stevens Academy sophomore Andrew Szwez takes the tipoff at the beginning of the Eagles’ game in Bucksport on January 11. By Monique Labbe
Carter said that his players thrive off of large crowds, and when the rowdy George Stevens Academy crowd mixes with the school band, the intensity helps them come out strong and take charge of a game.
“The band brings another aspect to the game that fires the players up prior to the contest. Our band is very loud and that is an advantage for us,” said Carter. “That is a huge difference at home.”
The band will not travel with the team, but Carter added that his players draw off the intensity of a large crowd no matter what gym they are playing in.
“We have been at away gyms when the crowd was dead and the atmosphere is flat. When that happens we talk about making our own noise and we go out hard and try and establish the game early with great intensity on defense. It also helps when our parents and fans come to away games to cheer us on,” said Carter.
Having the home court advantage is something that plays a key role in getting those wins in a team’s home gym, which makes away wins even more important throughout the season, according to Carter.
“It is extremely important to win away games, as you know when you come home you will have more support. It is also important to win away because it makes the other team mentally be at a disadvantage when they come to our gym [later in the season],” he added.
The four-game “road trip” started at Lee Academy (results not available by press time), a team George Stevens Academy beat at home in the season opener back in December. The Eagles will take on Calais and Central before ending the four-game travel marathon at Deer Isle-Stonington High School on the 31st. The team has recorded wins against all three of those teams as well.
The next home game for the Eagles is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, February 2, against Ellsworth.
George Stevens Academy junior Austin Snow knocks down a three carries during a game in Bucksport on January 11. By Monique Labbe