Matt McDonnell has been an offensive sparkplug for Oxford Hills.
By Randy Whitehouse
Staff Writer

SOUTH PARIS – Matt McDonnell isn’t one to pass up a challenge.

Whether it’s the pivotal minutes in a sudden death playoff game or the final seconds in a hotly contested regular season game, the Oxford Hills junior isn’t going to back down. Witness last Saturday’s Eastern A quarterfinal against Lawrence. The Vikings trailed by nine at halftime and needed a spark.

“In the third quarter of that game, he really made the difference,” Graffam said.

Whenever the Vikings needed a big shot, McDonnell made it. Whenever they needed a key defensive play, there was McDonnell. The result was a two-point win, and a spot in tonight’s semifinals.

“This year, he’s really improved his defensive effort.,” Graffam said. “We have to challenge him, though.”

Brunswick dared to challenge McDonnell back in January and paid dearly for it. With time running out and Brunswick up by a point, the Dragons understandably focused their defense on Mr. Maine Basketball finalist Corey Tielinen. McDonnell, open on the the left wing, had to take the final shot instead. His fadeaway 3-pointer at the buzzer clinched Oxford Hills’ best start in school history.

McDonnell’s laid back presence serves him well in such situations, though his coach says it takes some time to see his other side.

“The first year he was here, we couldn’t hardly get him to talk at all. This year, he’s almost become a pain in the butt. He’s always got a smart remark,” Graffam joked. “It’s really been nice to see him come out of his shell.”

Graffam doesn’t mind that McDonnell keeps an even keel as long as he doesn’t wear that shell on the court.

“When he plays well, we are one of the best teams in the state,” he said. “When he gets ready to play, there’s nobody as good as he is.”

As a junior guard surrounded by one of the most talented teams in the state, McDonnell knows there’s a time to put his individual talents on display and a time to help his teammates shine.

“I like to get everyone involved in the game,” McDonnell said. “I’d rather have everyone putting up good numbers than having mine stand out. I think it gets everyone’s confidence up and everyone plays better.”

Then it’s no coincidence that the Vikings have thrived in the role of favorites this year. Picked to finish at or near the top of the KVAC before the season, they haven’t demurred, as the one loss on their record would indicate (two losses if you count the KVAC championship game).

Like their talented shooting guard, the Vikings relish a challenge.

“Every time we step on the floor another team’s gunning for us because we’re the No. 1 team and they want to knock us off, so it has helped prepare us (for the tournament),” McDonnell said.

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