11/19/2008
enlarge
Staff photo by David Leamingfrom the Kennebec Journal
Rep. Pingree hears varied proposals for health-care solutions
HALLOWELL Fire that cut communications labeled arson
MONMOUTH Police defended after slim budget rejection
State's schools chief to parley
Wasser will lead newsrooms at KJ, Sentinel and in Portland
BRIEFS
Hockey still in picture for Harrington
Portland boxer to face legend's son
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
$1.3 MILLION FOR HEALTHREACH
Families Matter grows to meet special needs
Chellie Pingree listens to ideas on health care reform
FARMINGTON Rain alters plans for 4th of July
District regroups after budget failure
Vote on county budget hits snag
Burnham driver wins checkered flag at 2 tracks on same day
Maine boxer gets unique opportunity
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
The Thomas College women's basketball team has two seniors -- one of whom hasn't played competitive basketball since high school. It's young, quick and relatively small.
"We're going to play 'get up and go' basketball, that's for sure," new coach Joy Charles said. "We're going to play run-and-gun. A little bit of a mixture of things, but definitely, we're looking to push the ball right at people this year."
Charles, an assistant at Messalonskee last season, takes over a team that finished 12-12 overall last winter and 5-8 in the North Atlantic Conference. In a preseason poll of the league's coaches, Thomas was picked to tie for seventh.
"The will to work for these girls has been endless," Charles said. "It's a challenge, definitely, from within the college and beyond. We like challenges."
The Terriers have five freshmen and five sophomores on their roster, and many of their names will be familiar to central Maine high school basketball fans. The one senior with experience is Amy Miles, one of four Mt. View High School grads on the roster, who averaged 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds last season.
Senior Kristy Clements, another Mt. View grad, joins the team after exclusively playing softball at Thomas the last three years. Charles thinks Clements will be one of the team's better rebounders.
The leading returning scorer is Lawrence grad Mallorie Blakney (8.7 points per game). Monmouth grad Cortney Barrett (7.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and Mt. View grad Tonya Jones (4.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg) also saw time last season.
Among the newcomers, Charles is high on Kristin Masessa (another Mt. View grad), Emily Lemieux and guard Jamie Lockett. Charles has made it a point to change her players' mindset on the floor.
"Success would be to come out every day and push the ball and do what we practice, and not be afraid of any opponent," Charles said. "I want these girls to go right at them like they've never struggled before and make the teams stop and think that Thomas is a force to be reckoned with."
Thomas opened Tuesday at home against UMaine-Machias and will be featured in the Colby Invitational on Friday and Saturday. After that, The Terriers won't play in Waterville until Jan. 11, a home game against Smith.
Along with the attitude, Charles is hoping to add a measure of stability to the program.
"That's been a struggle for the girls here," she said. "I have a senior that's played for three different coaches. I remember the first week of practice, one of the girls raised her hand and said, 'Coach, are you going to stay here or are you going to be gone after this year?'
"So it's definitely in their minds. I'm a local. I'm looking to build a program here and I want people to come into Thomas College and be able to watch the women's team compete highly against anybody who walks into our gym. I want to bring crowds into Thomas basketball, like it should be."
Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243
mdifilippo@centralmaine.com
Reader comments
Click here to view or add reader comments