FARMINGTON – Brian Wells enjoys being a disruptive force on a basketball court.

Whether he’s guarding a 5-8 point guard on the perimeter or a 6-8 center in the post, Wells likes to making things difficult for the opposition. At 6-3, with long arms, quick feet and a quick mind, the Mt. Blue senior is capable of putting the clamps on the opposition’s biggest offensive threat, be he big or small.

“I feel like if I shut them down, we’ve got a great chance of winning,” he said. “I take a lot of pride in playing defense. I think that’s one of the biggest parts of playing the game. It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it.”

Wells shut enough scorers down last year to make the KVAC’s all-defensive team. He also set school records for blocked shots in a game and a season.

“(Blocking shots) is one of the most exciting aspects of the game and one that I enjoy the most,” Wells said, “especially getting one early in the game. That definitely puts something in their minds for the rest of the game, that whenever they think they’ve got an open look, I might be there to block it.”

For all the disruption and turmoil Wells causes opposing offenses, he’s had the opposite affect on the Cougars.

“There certainly is a visible difference between this year and last year in terms of the commitment we’ve made to each other,” Cougar coach Jim Bessey said. “He’s been a leader at that.”

“He’s really worked at leadership,” he added. “He’s not a yeller or a screamer, but he works extremely hard in practice. When your best player is killing himself in practice, it’s tough for the rest of the team not to follow along.”

“Our chemistry has been different this year,” said Wells, who expects to begin pursuing a career in pharmacy at St. Joseph’s College in the fall. “Everyone likes each other and we all play well together. It helps that we’re all friends off the court.

“As far as on the court, it’s more positive reinforcement than anything.”

Wells took some positive reinforcement from Bessey over the summer as he prepared for a new role this season. Normally a wing player, Wells was going to have to produce more of an inside presence for the Cougars.

“That’s something I haven’t played since fifth grade,” he said.

Wells’ dedication to improving the team’s chemistry and his own inside game has the Cougars at 8-3 and rapidly climbing the KVAC standings. He’s also dedicated this season to his grandfather, Albert, who died of cancer recently. He hopes he can eventually dedicate Mt. Blue’s first Eastern Maine championship since 1997 before the season ends.

If the Cougars get there, it will be on the strength of their chemistry, talent and depth. Wells is quick to point out how young his team is and credits the underclassmen and role players off the bench, among them his sophomore brother Steve, with much of Mt. Blue’s success.

Someone has to bring all of those factors together, however, and Bessey thinks Wells will be the one to do it.

“He’s started since he was a sophomore, so he’s been there before. He’s got it figured,” Bessey said. “He understands what needs to be done and is willing to do it.”