Twins Myah and Jamyah Nicolas couldn’t care less that their senior year of basketball is a makeshift season dictated by a worldwide pandemic.

What matters to the Lewiston seniors is that they are healthy and playing together for the first time since their freshman year. Jamyah suffered a knee injury as a sophomore and Myah injured her knee their junior year.

“I think (this season) is really important because we haven’t been able to play together for literally a very long time, and it is nice to be able to play … so I like it,” Jamyah said. “I think we never lost a step. I was concerned we wouldn’t have (a season) … but so far things have been well.”

Lewiston first-year girls basketball Craig Jipson said Myah, a guard, is still on the mend.

“I didn’t get to see Myah at all last summer, and Jamyah really had a great summer,” Jipson said. “Myah still wasn’t cleared to do anything basketball related this summer. So those kids had some heartbreaks. They both lost a season.

“They both had to overcome a knee injury and Myah is still feeling her way back. Myah’s injury was so bad she wasn’t really even cleared until the end of the summer.”

Jipson, no doubt, is glad to have them both back and helping to run the show.

“They are high-character kids,” he said. “A new coach is coming their senior year and they are just all about, ‘Hey, we want to make it a good experience for the freshmen and the younger kids.’ They are just really high-character kids.” 

The chemistry between the pair remains strong despite the interruptions of injuries and Jamyah having to adapt to playing in the post.

“So far it is going very well. We know what we are going to do, and everything just fits into place when we do it,” Jamyah, who plays small forward, said. “We work together all the time. Everything is in sync. We just know each other.”

“It is her first year playing post,” Myah said of her sister. “So it is kind of weird. I am trying to figure out how to play with her again since our positions kind of changed.”

Jipson said the duo are still playing well together despite the change in their job descriptions.

“They are very supportive of each other,” he said. “They really, really have each other’s back. They pick each other up. … They are too nice. Every time a kid makes a mistake, they are really quick to (say), ‘It’s OK.’ They are great kids.’”

That familiarity on the court can breed low-post success for the twins.

“It helps with a lot of scoring and assists …” Jamyah said. “When I mention it, my sister always looks for me. I tend to get a lot of good looks at the rim, and the same thing with her. I can post up and kick it back out to deliver the 3.”

“Back in the middle school days,” Myah recalls, “we used to make up plays and we tried to pull them off together on the court, but not so much anymore.”

The sisters’ camaraderie also allows the pair work their magic.

“Most of the time, (it is) just give and go,” Myah said. “I can read her eyes.”

Myah said their strong bond as sisters and years of playing together gives them a bit of an edge.

“We do really well together. We play hard and want to do what we can for our team,” Myah said. “When I see her open, I try to get her the ball so she can finish at the rim.”

Each twin brings a unique skill on the court, which compliments the duo’s fast-paced brand of hoop. 

“I like to think that I am very explosive,” she said. “I have really good court vision.”

Myah believes her defensive skills make things happen during games. “That’s always been my strong suit,” she added. 

The pair will also reunite on the court after high school when they play for the women’s basketball team at Central Maine Community College.

“I think the thing with both of these kids is I wish I had them for four years,” Jipson said. “I would loved to have had them for four years because I think their potential is still high.

“I just love how they eat everything up. Every thing that has been put in is new to them. Everything is completely new and they haven’t complained at all. They are so so coachable.” 

« Previous

Local roundup: Jayce Brophy leads Dirigo girls past Buckfield

Next »

Mt. Blue opens up on Dirigo and collect its first victory of the season