Telstar matches up with big boys
Their season is more than two-thirds of the way completed, they’re ranked second in the Western C Heal Points, and yet the Telstar Rebels can’t help but feel that they’ve been overlooked.
It may be easy to overlook a team without a single player over 6-2, but the lack of height isn’t what has the Rebels flying under the radar screen, theorizes their coach, Alec Newell.
“A lot of teams are underestimating us, just with what we lost from last year,” Newell said. “But I knew we had a very good JV team last year. A lot of those guys swung up to varsity, so I knew we had a lot of talent. A lot of people thought I was crazy before the season started.”
The Rebels did indeed lose a lot to graduation, including one of the best guards in the state in Kinsey Durgin and standout swingman Wade Osgood. That meant many of the holes would have to be filled by a talented group of juniors and sophomore Sean Caddigan, who made the conference all-rookie team as a freshman, would have to become their top scoring threat.
Caddigan has done his part, averaging nearly 20 points per game, but he’s had plenty of help. Guards Casey Fleet and Ryan Savage, a junior transfer from Madison, have played key roles as well.
“They function well together as a group,” Newell said. “We’re very deep. I go 11 deep on my bench and feel comfortable with all of them. Every night it’s someone different (stepping up).”
At times, Newell has had little choice. Fleet missed four games early in the season with an injured wrist. Savage, normally the sixth man, took his place in the backcourt and Telstar won four straight. Then Savage sprained his ankle. Newell expected him to return for last night’s game with Carrabec.
The Rebels were 9-3 heading into last night’s game and trailed only Hall-Dale, who they beat earlier in the season, in the Heals. This weekend, they begin their most crucial stretch of the season, facing Jay, Mountain Valley and then Jay again, two of the biggest teams in the conference.
“We’ve talked about getting physical and rebounding in preparation for those games,” Newell said. “Here we are, with an opportunity to control our own destiny.”
Wounded pride
The Rebels aren’t the only team playing well in spite of key injuries. Winthrop and Rangeley have responded well in the face of serious injuries to their top players.
The Ramblers lost Matt McCarthy, their top scorer, for the season last week when he suffered a freak injury during warmups prior to their game with Livermore Falls, breaking his tibia. He now has three pins in his leg and may also miss the baseball season.
Winthrop went on to win that game, 61-55, with Chris McPherson and Mike Gingras leading the way. The Ramblers then lost by eight points to the top team in the MVC, Mountain Valley, then came from behind to beat Georges Valley in overtime, 67-66.
Rangeley, meanwhile, isn’t reeling despite losing Jimmy Goodwin for the second time this season to a sprained ankle in last week’s game against Richmond. The Lakers beat Averill and Greenville before losing to Buckfield Wednesday.
rwhitehouse@sunjournal.com
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