2011-2012 Season Preview

Are you getting excited for the upcoming season?? So are we! Here is a quick pre-season write up by New England Basketball Recruiting Report for what to expect from the 2011-2012 season, make sure to check it out. Schedules, rosters, player profiles, photos, and much more to come!

BA Enters Final Weeks

With the season over Bridgton Academy has entered the final quarter of the year. With the team focusing on academics, everyone is making big decisions for next year.

BRIDGTON BLITZED IN NEPSAC PLAYOFF

Bridgton Academy traveled down to Endicott College MA on Wednesday afternoon and was defeated by New Hampton 106-78 in a NEPSAC AAA Quarter-Final playoff game. Both teams started the game a bit slowly but New Hampton gained energy, built a comfortable double digit lead, and things got only worse for the Wolverines as the bottom fell out in a first half that couldn’t end soon enough facing a huge deficit 50-20.

BA mounted an intriguing comeback effort in the first ten minutes of the second half, cutting the lead to 18 with more than fourteen minutes to play in the contest. With a couple chances to pull closer, missed shots and clutch 3’s by New Hampton ended the desperate hopes and ultimately the season for Bridgton Academy. The team’s final twenty minutes was certainly a small bit of consolation but larger dose of personal pride for the young men who scrapped through a roller coaster season.

Coach Lesure was disappointed in the overall performance but offered praise for his team. “It doesn’t always go the way you hope, and while I wouldn’t anticipate the start to this game, it happens, and our guys re-grouped at halftime and showed commendable intelligence and courage in the second half. We approached it like a special situation, a crisis, and we tried to manage it the best we could”.

In the NEPSAC AAA Semi-finals on Friday night, New Hampton will face St. Thomas More, while MCI will take on Brewster.

BRIDGTON DEFEATS WINCHENDON 91-75

Bridgton Academy completed its regular season by playing one of its best games of the year in defeating Winchendon 91-75 on Saturday afternoon. BA took advantage of a fast start and led throughout the first twenty minutes enjoying a double digit advantage at the half 44-32. Winchendon rallied several times in the second half but the Wolverines responded each time and used a 25-28 performance at the free throw line to seal the victory. Donnie Hale’s season high 35 points paced the offense, with Ryan Martin (24 points) and Nebby Exantus (17 points) adding balance to the attack.

Coach Lesure was complimentary of both teams afterwards in the locker room. “We have a ton of respect for how those guys have competed all year, and we certainly did not want to drop our last home game. Our guys played hard and executed pretty well for most of the game", said Lesure.

One Wendesday the team will travel to Endicott College for the first round of their league tournament to play at 5:00 P.M.

Wolverines Fall to Lee Academy 80-61

Bridgton Academy traveled up to in-state prep rival Lee Academy on Saturday afternoon and lost 80-61. The Wolverines started the game falling behind by ten mid-way through the half but kept within striking distance at the break trailing 39-31. BA trimmed the deficit to four immediately to begin the second half but was never able to gain the lead in the game. The Wolverines made several efforts in the second half to tighten the game but were thwarted by missed opportunities, and timely shooting by the home squad.

Coach Lesure was disappointed with the way the second half played out in the contest. “I can manage the losing, I just don’t like the way we lost, especially after working hard enough to make it a game…But give Lee and Andrew (Coach P.) a lot of the credit….They have improved themselves, and I don’t see too many teams beating them in their gym...I know we haven’t a lot”.

The Wolverines have two games remaining in the regular season with a road game at Brewster Academy on Wednesday and a final home contest with Winchendon on Saturday afternoon.

Bridgton Academy 84 - Harvard University J.V. 82

The Wolverine Basketball Team traveled to Harvard University Wednesday to play their J.V. squad. Coach Lesure went with a different approach to the game playing all 14 players and leaving it up to Tommy McDonnell (Durham, NH) and Kareem Canty (New York, NY) to lead the team.

Bridgton took a three point lead at halftime, as Donnie Hale (New Albany, IN), Ryan Rogers (Falmouth, ME), and Nebru Exantus (Apopka, FL) played extremely well. The Wolverines came out to start the second half in a full court press. BA fell behind and later came back to tie the game to go to overtime.

In OT, baskets were exchanged as the score remained tied. The Wolverine's had the ball for the last possession of overtime. Rogers took two dribbles into the lane, hopped, and threw up a floater to fall through the cylinder to win the game at the buzzer. Rogers finished the game with a season high 12 points.

After the game, Coach Lesure was happy with the way the team came together. "We had guys step up and take a more leadership role," Lesure states, "I'm happy for Rogers (Ryan). He hasn't had a lot of opportunities, but our guys know what he can do, and he knows how to win."

Bridgton Starts The Weekend Off Strong

Bridgton Academy started the weekend off at South Kent in a NEPSAC conference game. Bridgton had a slow start as they were down 5-0 and battled back to have a 3 point lead at halftime. Donnie Hale (New Albany, IN) had his best performance of the year so far shooting better than 80% from the field.

The game came down to the final minute where Bridgton had the lead and struggled from the free throw line to keep South Kent in the game. Kareem Canty (New York, NY) hit the final two free throws of the game to give the Wolverines a three point lead and the win. Hale and Canty combined for 54 points for the Wolverine's 81-78 win.

Coach Whit Lesure states, "I am proud of the way we competed. Our execution was much better. We brought good energy and communication on the road."

Bridgton then headed to Winchendon to play their final contest of the weekend. After a great win just a day before, the Wolverine's jumped out to a great start, taking a 25-8 lead over the Green Wave. Bridgton then got a little too comfortable allowing Winchendon to take a one point lead at halftime.

The team was upset that they allowed the Green Wave back into the game and came out cold to start the second half. Poor decision making and effort cost the Wolverine's at the end which lead to a Bridgton Academy loss 73-66. Hale had the team high 22 points followed by Canty's 16.

"We were beat by a more determined team. Our start was terrific but we became complacent, missed shots, and played tired. Missing shots is okay but the rest is not," commented Coach Lesure.

Up next the team will travel to Massachusetts to take on Harvard University’s J.V. squad on Wednesday the 16^th at 8:15 P.M.