Southern Miss Snags Kyle Benner

Former Sports Information Director and assistant basketball coach Kyle Benner recently accepted a position working for the University of Southern Mississippi (Div. I) basketball program as the Director of Video Operations/Camp Director.

Fall Preview

With the season underway the Basketball E-News has released a fall preview. Check out this link to see what is going on with BA Basketball.

Showcase Recap

ESPN wrote a piece on the basketball showcase this weekend. Check out this link to read what they have to say!

Jack Houpt '09

Jack Houpt '09 played a strong 21 minutes for Western Illinois in a hard fought 66-61 loss at #14 Missouri. He started, scored 6 points, grabbed 6 boards and dished out 2 assists in about 21 minutes of play before fouling out.

Wolverines Scrap Their Way to Comeback Victory

In a 9:00 A.M. matchup with the storied program of Fork Union Military Academy, and eerily resembling the recent ESPN Basketball Marathon, Bridgton Academy fought back from a 20 point halftime deficit to defeat FUMA 73-72 to pick up their third win of the young season.
Kareem Canty (New York, NY) and the twin frontcourt combination of Donnie Hale (New Albany, IN) and Ryan Martin (London, UK) came alive in the second half to help BA erase a 26 point FUMA lead and win the game on two free throws by Canty who had driven to the basket with 15 seconds remaining. It was a complete turnaround for the Wolverines who had been outplayed, out-hustled, out-executed, and out-coached in the first twenty minutes.

In the second half it was Bridgton who exhibited the determination and purposeful play while Fork Union (VA) was probably guilty of getting a little tentative with the lead. Coach Lesure was pleased with the second half performance of his club but quick to point out the realities of the forty minute effort. “I think if there was justice, it would go down as a tie,” Lesure said. “They won the first half, and we won the second. This morning was two teams practicing the skills they need to compete properly. It’s November but games like this make you grow up in a hurry.”

Lesure used the bench extensively in the contest with all thirteen players seeing action and was quick to point out the contributions of several Wolverines. “Tommy McDonnell might not jump out a you in the box score, but go ask our team how important his effort was today and everyday. And I could say the same thing about Josh Altman and Brendan Allen (who started the game)”, Lesure commented. “That’s a good victory for us. I feel bad for my friend (FUMA mentor Fletcher Arritt), but we’ve had a few of these games over the years I’ve learned an awful lot of what I know to be prep ball from the time together we have spent discussing the game. He is family to me,” Lesure finished. BA improves their record to 3-1.

Here is NERR's recap from the second game.

BA Drops 1st Game at National Prep Showcase

Bridgton Academy was defeated by Westwind Prep (AZ) 93-88 on Friday at day one of the National Prep Showcase event in New Haven CT. The Wolverines played some solid basketball in both halves but ultimately were done in by their own errors and some outstanding play by their highly regarded opponent from the southwest. The 1st half was played evenly with BA trailing by a single point and possession of the ball with 30 seconds remaining when some costly mistakes put the Wolverines at a 45-38 disadvantage at halftime.

Bridgton battled back in the second half taking a one point lead before giving up the lead midway through the period. Some timely shooting and defense gave BA one more crack at the game trailing by three but a missed block out on a free throw gave Westwind the separation they needed to secure the victory.

Coach Lesure was complimentary of the opponents in the first ever match up between the two teams. “We understood that this would be a good early season test for us. If you’re a Bridgton supporter you recognize that Westwind has played a dozen competitive games already in the season. If you’re a basketball person, you understand that there is never any excuse for shoddy defense or poor ballhandling”, Lesure remarked. BA drops to 2-1 in the season with the first defeat.

Check out this link to see the writeup on NERR.

Alex Harris '10

Alex Harris '10 was named the CAA Rookie of the Week this past week after scoring 12 points in his collegiate debut at Northeastern University. Check out this link to see the full story.

Pictures on Facebook

Check out this link to see another album of the Wolverines from the 81-60 win over Leadership Prep on BA's Facebook Page!

Wolverines Gain Second Victory 81-60

In a much different ballgame, Bridgton utilized decisive runs in both halves to defeat Leadership Academy 81-60 on Saturday afternoon in North Bridgton. Once again Ryan Martin (London, UK) led the Bridgton Academy offensive attack with a game high 22 points and was joined in double figures by Donnie Hale (New Albany, IN) (13) and Josh Altman (Rockport, MA) (10). BA sprinted to an 11-2 lead before getting stuck on fifteen and allowing the visitors to keep it a game for much of the first half. Bridgton Academy closed the first half well and took care of business to begin the second half by building a sizeable advantage and comfortably completing the game.

All players contributed significant minutes and each individual found their way into the scoring column for the well balanced offensive attack. Coach Lesure was satisfied with the outcome but less than thrilled with the overall performance of the Wolverines who were coming off an emotional and well played season opening victory on Thursday evening. “You cannot play as sloppily as we did and feel too good about it”, Lesure remarked. “ I am glad to see some individuals step up for us who will need to but as far as team play goes we have an endless amount of work to do."

Bridgton Academy returns to action next Friday afternoon and Saturday at the National Prep School Showcase (CT) facing Westwind Prep (AZ) and Fork Union Military Academy (VA). “Adam Finklestein has steadily built on the legacy of Bobby Jacobs and Jeff Goodman to unselfishly promote the best that prep school basketball has to offer in one pre-season weekend event”, Lesure said.

WOLVERINES WIN SEASON OPENING THRILLER

It took five extra minutes of overtime to do it, but Bridgton Academy earned a hard fought 93-85 victory over Robinson Academy (NJ) Thursday evening at the Wolverdome. Robinson Academy forced overtime with a late three point bucket, as a last second play out of a time-out by the Wolverines rimmed out at the end of regulation buzzer.

The first half saw Bridgton Academy extend a lead to 16 points (30-14) before the visitors dug in and forged a 38-38 deadlock at the intermission. Center Daniel Franca led the first half attack with ten points. In the second half the game went back and forth with Robinson taking a five point lead with just under five minutes remaining. BA guard Tommy McDonnell ignited the home rally with a deep three point basket and the two teams went back and forth in the final minutes.

In overtime BA seized the lead behind some stellar play from guard Kareem Canty, and the front court tandem of Donnie Hale and Ryan Martin. Five Wolverines scored in double figures for the evening to pace a balanced attack led by Ryan Martin’s game high 22. Donnie Hale added 17 and Canty 16 for the 1-0 Wolverines. BA coach Whit Lesure was pleased with the overall play of team. ..”I’m not sure it was technically pretty, but we showed some guts down the stretch and that is something positive to build on”, Lesure said.

Photos On Facebook

Check out some pictures from BA's big win over Robinson Academy on our facebook page!

Bridgton Academy on NERR

Check out this link which talks about Bridgton in the NEPSAC AAA Preview.

Here is another that NERR did which is a Prep Profile for BA.

Wolverines Open Competitive Season With Scrimmage Win

Bridgton Academy opened its winter basketball season with a successful 89-85 victory over the Class Acts, a Portland ME based Mens’ Club team. BA started the contest with good energy and solid team play on both ends of the court and quickly built a lead in the first half. The Wolverines pushed their advantage to 18 points at one point, before settling for a 49-40 halftime lead.

The Class Acts battled back immediately to begin the second half and with just over ten minutes to go took their first lead of the game at 64-63. The two teams played evenly down the stretch with BA breaking a 75-75 deadlock with three minutes remaining. The home team held off several late game attempts by the visitors with key stops and intelligent offensive possessions.

The backcourt play was led by guards Kareem Canty (New York, NY), Cory Spence (Baltimore, MD), Tommy McDonnell (Durham, NH), and Nebby Exantus (Apopka, FL) while the front court was anchored by Donnie Hale (New Albany,IN), Ryan Martin (London, UK), Alex Dobrovic (Podgorica, Montenegro), and Daniel Franca (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Brendan Allen (Windsor, CT), Josh Altman (Rockport, MA), Corey Shaw (Gainsville, FL), and Marko Varaklic (Milton, CA) made contributions as well. Soccer-basketball standout Ryan Rogers (Falmouth, ME) was in uniform but did not see time in the contest.

BA Coach Whit Lesure was pleased with the overall effort. “It’s a start…I thought our conditioning was good…We have discussed the importance of roles; that it’s a long season, and we need every guy to be improving…The fact is that all these guys were the best players on their high school teams and now face a very different landscape”, Lesure added.

With a change in scheduling the home game this weekend against Edison Job Corps has been cancelled. The Next contest the Wolverines will face is on November 11^th at 6:00 P.M. as they take on Robinson Academy at home.

Changes in schedule

Fans of BA basketball, the beginning is near! The Wolverine hoopsters will practice what they have learned to this point tonight in an exhibition game against the Maine Class Acts. A longtime visitor to BA, the Class Acts feature several former collegiate basketball players and have been giving the Wolverines a hard time for years.

The official season opener, however, will be put on hold. Official word came today that Edison Job Corps (NJ) will not be fielding a team this season. Hungry Wolverine fans will have to wait until next Thursday (11/11) when the team will square off against Robinson Academy at 6 PM.