Bridgton Academy had twenty-four hours to digest a heart-breaking opening season loss but rebounded convincingly to win 74-54 over Edison (NJ). The Wolverines started strong again and rode an Alex Harris (Richmond, CA) three point shot that beat the first half buzzer to lead by 13 at the break 41-28.
Edison made one strong run at the home team in the second half to cut the deficit to ten but timely offense and three point shooting put away any serious threat on this warm afternoon in the Wolverdome. All thirteen BA players saw action in each half led by Harris' game high 19 points and the win evens the BA record to 1-1 on the season. Paul Dick (Belfast, Ireland) added 16 and Chance Jones (Knoxville, TN) and Thierno Niang (Dakar, Senegal) added 11 a piece to pace the Wolverine attack.
Coach Lesure was pleased with much of the action in this contest. "We played solidly on both ends of the floor...I was well aware of the lingering effects of yesterday's loss and I thought our guys brought sufficient focus and energy to get a W today...Hopefully, we will have learned a few things this weekend that may help us out in the coming week", Lesure concluded.
BA travels to NEPSAC rival New Hampton on Thursday evening for a 6pm contest before closing the pre-Thanksgiving segment of the schedule at the 2009 National Prep Showcase being held at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven CT over the weekend.
Monday, November 16, 2009
BA Drops Dramatic Season Opener
The Wolverines showed signs of early season progress from their scrimmage action but were ultimately not able to hold off an improbable last second victory to NIA Prep (NJ) 83-82 at the Wolverdome in North Bridgton. NIA won the game by stealing the ball with less than 5 seconds to go and making two free throws. BA had moments earlier led by five with under 25 seconds to play. The late game fireworks were not the only part of a very exciting early season contest that saw both teams enjoy double digit leads; the Wolverines jumping out early in the first half to a 21-6 advantage and NIA taking a 12 point lead with ten minutes remaining only to see the home team mount a dramatic rally that unfortunately did not hold up in the end.
Chance Jones (Knoxville, TN) 20, Alex Harris (Richmond, CA) 18, Thierno Niang (Dakar, Senegal) 12, Paul Dick (Belfast, Ireland) 12, and Ron Blossomgame (Atlanta, GA) 10 led five Bridgton Academy players in double figures for the afternoon.
After gaining the early first half advantage, several Wolverine miscues in the final minutes forced them to settle for a 37-34 haftime lead. NIA kept the momemtum at the start of the second half before BA staged its exciting comeback effort with five minutes remaining that certainly appeared like it would give the defending Class A champions their first victory. BA Coach Whit Lesure was candid in his comments afterwards..."I am as shocked as our players right now...Give credit to NIA for making the plays they had to, especially the big 3....Ultimately I bear the bulk of the responsibility for this loss....Obviously, it's a coach's nightmare, but it happens...The most important thing is to respond properly tomorrow." BA takes on Edison (NJ) at 1 pm in their second home contest to start the season.
Chance Jones (Knoxville, TN) 20, Alex Harris (Richmond, CA) 18, Thierno Niang (Dakar, Senegal) 12, Paul Dick (Belfast, Ireland) 12, and Ron Blossomgame (Atlanta, GA) 10 led five Bridgton Academy players in double figures for the afternoon.
After gaining the early first half advantage, several Wolverine miscues in the final minutes forced them to settle for a 37-34 haftime lead. NIA kept the momemtum at the start of the second half before BA staged its exciting comeback effort with five minutes remaining that certainly appeared like it would give the defending Class A champions their first victory. BA Coach Whit Lesure was candid in his comments afterwards..."I am as shocked as our players right now...Give credit to NIA for making the plays they had to, especially the big 3....Ultimately I bear the bulk of the responsibility for this loss....Obviously, it's a coach's nightmare, but it happens...The most important thing is to respond properly tomorrow." BA takes on Edison (NJ) at 1 pm in their second home contest to start the season.
Season Preview
The defending Class A champion Bridgton Academy Wolverines look ahead to the challenges of the 2009-2010 season with their usual roster of young postgraduate men from across the country complimented by three dynamic international student-athletes. The early indications for the Wolverines are that once again they will play with a bevy of guards as only four players stand above 6'5".
The backcourt features a blend of talents and will likely be led by the play of two point guards, Alexander Harris (Richmond, CA) and Theirno Niang (Dakar, Senegal). Local product Derek Mayo (Orlando, FL) and Teandre Hubbard (San Francisco, CA) will likely see some action handling the ball.
BA possesses an assortment of wings likely to make valuable contributions. Dashaun Wiggins (Bronx, NY), Chance Jones (Knoxville, TN), Ruben Kanya (Hamilton, Ontario), Kevin Anthony (Columbus, OH), Addison Williams (Boulder, CO), and Paul Dick (Belfast, Ireland) will anchor the positions off the ball. Inside BA will count on Ron Blossomgame (Atlanta, GA), Jeff Smelz (Pascoag, RI), and Justin Miller (Agawam, MA) to provide a physical front.
There is no mistaking the "small-ball" look to the overall lineup. It's hard to figure the Wolverines playing with a size advantage against any of their NEPSAC rivals. Once again, the outlook for the league is extremely competitive with several schools featuring players who rank among the tops in the country. The league will feature a new North-South division structure that will incorporate all ten teams into the Class A play-offs to conclude the season. BA will compete with MCI, Exeter, New Hampton, and Brewster for the rights to higher seeds in the tournament. The South will include St. Thomas More, South Kent, NMH, Worcester, and Winchendon. It's a bold step forward for a conference that has long been hailed as the best sub college varsity league in the nation but has also drawn criticism for its lack of a clear-cut play-off formula. BA Coach Whit Lesure applauds the vision and direction of the league. "This is a fantastic move ahead for our league. There are historically too many good programs that not only deserve the opportunity to participate in the post-season, but can now benefit by earning their placement within a legitimate league structure. This change addresses those realities."
Bridgton Academy has won four out of the last five championships including a run of three consecutive titles from 2005-2008. It's difficult to imagine that sort of streak continuing within a landscape so competitive at the top but then again few would have imagined the magical March run the Wolverines have enjoyed in recent memory. It's another wild basketball season on the horizon in the NEPSAC and the only rule is that almost anything can happen.
The backcourt features a blend of talents and will likely be led by the play of two point guards, Alexander Harris (Richmond, CA) and Theirno Niang (Dakar, Senegal). Local product Derek Mayo (Orlando, FL) and Teandre Hubbard (San Francisco, CA) will likely see some action handling the ball.
BA possesses an assortment of wings likely to make valuable contributions. Dashaun Wiggins (Bronx, NY), Chance Jones (Knoxville, TN), Ruben Kanya (Hamilton, Ontario), Kevin Anthony (Columbus, OH), Addison Williams (Boulder, CO), and Paul Dick (Belfast, Ireland) will anchor the positions off the ball. Inside BA will count on Ron Blossomgame (Atlanta, GA), Jeff Smelz (Pascoag, RI), and Justin Miller (Agawam, MA) to provide a physical front.
There is no mistaking the "small-ball" look to the overall lineup. It's hard to figure the Wolverines playing with a size advantage against any of their NEPSAC rivals. Once again, the outlook for the league is extremely competitive with several schools featuring players who rank among the tops in the country. The league will feature a new North-South division structure that will incorporate all ten teams into the Class A play-offs to conclude the season. BA will compete with MCI, Exeter, New Hampton, and Brewster for the rights to higher seeds in the tournament. The South will include St. Thomas More, South Kent, NMH, Worcester, and Winchendon. It's a bold step forward for a conference that has long been hailed as the best sub college varsity league in the nation but has also drawn criticism for its lack of a clear-cut play-off formula. BA Coach Whit Lesure applauds the vision and direction of the league. "This is a fantastic move ahead for our league. There are historically too many good programs that not only deserve the opportunity to participate in the post-season, but can now benefit by earning their placement within a legitimate league structure. This change addresses those realities."
Bridgton Academy has won four out of the last five championships including a run of three consecutive titles from 2005-2008. It's difficult to imagine that sort of streak continuing within a landscape so competitive at the top but then again few would have imagined the magical March run the Wolverines have enjoyed in recent memory. It's another wild basketball season on the horizon in the NEPSAC and the only rule is that almost anything can happen.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
New England Recruiting Report Article
A look at the upcoming season with New England Recruiting Report: Link Here
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Coach Lesure Selected for the New England Basketball Hall of Fame
Coach Whit Lesure has been selected to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame, with the induction set to take place on October 9th at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Congratulation to Coach Lesure as it is an honor well deserved.
Here is a link to a story on Fox Sports mentioning the honor.
Another piece about the honor on NERR.
Congratulation to Coach Lesure as it is an honor well deserved.
Here is a link to a story on Fox Sports mentioning the honor.
Another piece about the honor on NERR.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Amos Anderson '98 Inducted Into His HS Hall of Fame
The Oliver Ames High School Athletic Hall of Fame Committee announced its inductees for its class of 2009. Six athletes, two citizens and three teams will be inducted during a dinner ceremony at the Joseph W. Martin Institute for Law & Society at Stonehill College on Saturday, Nov. 21. Following are the inductees:
AMOS ANDERSON – 1997 – In the long run of Oliver Ames High School hoops excellence, Anderson is one of its most exciting players. The son of Paul Anderson, front court ace for the OA team that played in the 1967 Class C Tech Tourney finals, and older brother of twins Erica and Ryan, Amos, a shooting guard, was a 1000-point scorer and as a junior and senior a captain of OA squads that made it to the Eastern Massachusetts Div. 2 South finals. Anderson was a Boston Globe and Boston Herald All Scholastic pick. Following a year at Bridgton Academy, where he played varsity hoops, he went on to Clark University. Anderson played forward at Clark, lettered all four years, and was a team captain as a senior.
AMOS ANDERSON – 1997 – In the long run of Oliver Ames High School hoops excellence, Anderson is one of its most exciting players. The son of Paul Anderson, front court ace for the OA team that played in the 1967 Class C Tech Tourney finals, and older brother of twins Erica and Ryan, Amos, a shooting guard, was a 1000-point scorer and as a junior and senior a captain of OA squads that made it to the Eastern Massachusetts Div. 2 South finals. Anderson was a Boston Globe and Boston Herald All Scholastic pick. Following a year at Bridgton Academy, where he played varsity hoops, he went on to Clark University. Anderson played forward at Clark, lettered all four years, and was a team captain as a senior.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Former BA Teammates Re-Unite
Greg Hill '07 and Ronnie Moss '07 are looking forward to playing together on the hardwood this season at TCU.
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