LISBON — When Jake Patenaude is on the basketball court, he likes to make things happen. This season, that has meant learning to give up the basketball.

In the past, the Lisbon junior would make a pass only after coaches yelled at him enough times to do so. Part of the growth of this Unified Basketball season for Patenaude and his team has been learning what makes players like him and the team better.

“I feel like I’ve improved by a lot this year,” Patenaude said. “I pass it more. I didn’t pass it off last year.”

Patenaude has been part of Lisbon’s Unified program since he was in middle school. His experience and that of his seasoned Greyhound teammates have produced an undefeated regular season this spring, putting Lisbon in Tuesday’s South Regional Championship game. The top-seeded Greyhounds host Deering/Portland at 4 p.m.

Lisbon won a regional title last year and reached the state championship game but lost by a basket to Hampden. The Greyhounds have most of that team back and and are aiming for a return to Thursday’s state game, which is being held at Lisbon.

The Greyhounds have been building off last year’s experience and are a stronger team as a result. 

“We’ve had the same partners,” Patenaude said. “All the players we have this year, we had last year. That helps a lot. All the players last year know a lot about this year. So that makes us a lot better.”

Though the Maine Principal’s Association has only sanctioned the sport for two seasons, the Greyhounds have been active for seven years. That has built a strong foundation and a depth that a lot of new Unified teams don’t have. That’s been a significant part of Lisbon’s success. 

“Yeah, we like to win, but that’s secondary to developing the skills and having fun and learning the game,” Lisbon assistant coach Jody Benson said. 

Lisbon played eight games last year, plus the playoffs. With 11 wins this season, the Greyhounds have played an abundance of games and have learned a great deal along the way.

“Confidence has helped me a lot this year,” Patenaude said. “I feel like I can do more.”

Against Kennebunk in last week’s semifinal, the Rams did a nice job guarding Patenaude. He didn’t get the points he usually scores but did what he could during the game while other players stepped up. Amanda Mason, Brock Vachon Wesley Lucas, Dawson Martel and Michael Farrington all had strong games for the Greyhounds.

“There’s a ton of confidence now throughout the roster,” junior Ryley Austin said. “Everyone knows their role and they get the job done.”

The extra year of experience and working together has not only built confidence but trust. The partners and athletes have formed a bond that has helped develop skill and teamwork.

“We’ve become a lot closer,” junior Tyler Halls said. “I don’t see any difference between us and the athletes. I feel like everyone is the same on this team.”

The growth hasn’t been limited to just the basketball court. Lisbon has developed a devoted following and created a wealth of excitement within the school and the community. With the winter sports seasons completed and the spring season a few weeks away, Lisbon’s Unified Basketball is the only game in town.

“I think with the other sports done, we have people supporting us throughout the school day,” Benson said. “After the (semifinal) game (last Thursday), they were high-fiving kids in the hallway and seeing them in the lunch room. It’s been exciting.

“We’ve also had a lot of community members coming. It’s not just the parents of the students, but alumni that are coming back and people that own local businesses that come in and support them.”

Lisbon fills up its share of the stands at home games. The large crowd creates an atmosphere you don’t see at a lot of other Unified games. Much of that excitement comes from the Lisbon bench. The Greyhounds have student coaches Jonah and Bree Sautter leading the charge. Both are standout varsity athletes and have the players working hard and getting excited about every good play.

“It’s not the baskets,” Halls said. “It’s the hustle plays that are the things that really get us going.”

It creates an electric atmosphere that not only gets the team fired up but has them hustling even more.

“When someone makes a big play, a partner or an athlete, the whole bench gets hyped,” Austin said. “When the athletes have all of us yelling for them doing something good, it gets them pumped up. They want to keep going.”

That buzz will likely be evident Tuesday afternoon when Lisbon hosts third-seeded Deering/Portland (7-4). The two teams didn’t meet in the regular season. Lisbon beat Kennebunk in last week’s semifinal. Deering/Portland was the lone squad to beat the Rams (33-32) in the regular season.

Lisbon’s experience helps in a game like this. The Greyhounds won the regional final last year and know they’re just one game away from another chance at a state title. It has been what has fueled them all season.

“There’s only nerves at the beginning instead of throughout the whole game,” Austin said. “Everybody knows what to expect. The pace of the game is not going to be slow, but it will be pretty fast-paced.”

kmills@sunjournal.com

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