Tourney Time!

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    With the new Bangor Auditorium under construction, this year’s players may be the last of many who remember the soul and spirit of a building and its hardwood.
    There have been many grandparent/parent/children connections within the old auditorium and none mean more than for those who will play out the final chapter. The following is a sampling of those sharing this special bond.
    Loreen Williams Wiley, has two children in two separate schools — Micah at Greater Houlton Christian Academy and Mariah at Hodgdon High School — vying for the right to walk onto the floor as she did.  “It is strange, but I can still remember where the ‘dead spot’ was located on the floor I played on,” Wiley said. “When I would dribble down the floor, at half court, the ball would not come back up to meet my hand.”
    Wiley hopes her children have the opportunity to witness the excitement and magic of the Auditorium.
    “It is a great experience,” she said. “The excitement of playing on ‘the floor’ in front of so many people is worth the whole trip. When you run out onto the floor it seems like you are in a dream and that the fans are way off in the distance.”
    The last two years have been challenging to watch both children, as Wiley and her husband, Larry, have split their trips between them.
    “I went to one game and he would go to the other,” she said. “But, I always hated to miss seeing one of my children play.”
    With GHCA traveling to Machias for their preliminary game and the Hodgdon girls hosting Limestone/MSSM in their playoff, Wiley offered this advice to her children.
    “Enjoy the experience because every ballplayer is not privileged to have this experience,” she said. “I also reminded them so many times to remember the basics such as following their shot, taking the opponent’s lane away, playing off their opponent until he/she picks his/her dribble up, and to wave at the basket after their shot (which I understand is called a goose neck). Of course, I always tell them to show respect to others in all situations.”
    Stephanie Swallow Howe comes from a family of Houlton basketball players. This year, Howe has been watching her son, Daniel, play for the Shiretowners and tonight they play George Stevens Academy at 5:30 for a chance to go to Bangor.
    Howe is her son’s best sounding board.
    “He always questions what I thought and what he could do differently,” she said. “I can be a tough critic sometimes.”
    As a player for the Lady Shires in the ‘90s, Howe knows what it means to reach the Auditorium floor.
    “I am much more nervous as a parent than when I played,” she said. “I have always wanted my three children to get a chance to have the same opportunity that I did playing at the Auditorium. It is something every athlete hopes to get a chance at, and lots never do.
    “Playing in Bangor are some of the best high school memories that I have,” she said.
    Howe’s father, Doug Swallow, played for the Houlton Shiretowners and they reached the tournament all four years of his high school playing days.
    “Dad would also like to see Daniel play in the same building we did before the new one is done,” Howe added.
    Katahdin Elementary School Principal Chris Rush Cunningham may also have the pleasure of watching her son Braden in the tournament with the Katahdin Cougars if they win their playoff game.
    “I remember the excitement and the anticipation throughout my family, school and community,” she said. “It was a big deal! And you know what? It’s an even bigger deal when you have a child playing in the same tournament! I never gave any thought to what my family might be thinking or feeling as I took the court — it was all about me!”
    Now, as a parent, Cunningham understands what her family went through emotionally.
    “I’m here to tell you as a parent it’s a whole different ball game,” she said. “Last year my son broke his ankle in a scrimmage four days before the tournament – what a disappointment!     Fortunately, he may have a second chance this year to play on the Auditorium floor as a Katahdin Cougar.
    “I go through a whole gamut of emotions every game. They begin as soon as the pep band starts playing for warm ups; pride, nervousness, excitement, nausea, the list goes on. The tournament atmosphere will only heighten those emotions.  It’s not about winning and losing, as a parent you want your child to enjoy the game, perform well, work hard, be treated fairly, deal with adversity, compete in the true spirit of the game, and to understand what it means to be part of a team working toward a common goal. See, it is a big deal! We are not just talking about a basketball game or tournament, we are talking about life and memories that last a lifetime.”
    Greg Sherman’s son Tyler is a member of the Hodgdon varsity boys team. Greg saw plenty of time on the floor of the Bangor Auditorium, as he was a member of the 1986 Hawks squad that won an Eastern Maine championship and finished as state runners-up.
    Greg said there was added pressure playing on the floor of the Auditorium.
    “A lot of the tournament is about coming together at just the right time,” he said. “To be successful, somebody usually steps up and hopefully that will happen.”
    If the Hawks are fortunate enough to win their preliminary playoff and make it to Bangor, Greg said his advice is be simple.
    “Just give it all you’ve got,” he said. “It may be a little intimidating at first, but once you are on the floor you have to shut that out and just focus on the game.”
    Troy Quint played for Hodgdon in the early ‘80s, appearing in Bangor. In 1983 the Hawks were 16-2 under coach Steve Fitzpatrick. Quint said Fitzpatrick ran the team extremely hard, often times practicing well into the late evening hours.
    Back then, the Hawks also rented practice time at the Auditorium so the players could get a feel for where the dead spots were on the court.
    “I told Devin it was going to be a completely different thing,” Troy said. “Even if it’s just going out in practice and doing layups it helps. The rim looks like a Dixie cup for some reason. It’s just so different.”
    Troy said his advice for his son will be to enjoy the moment and play with intensity coming off the bench.
    “You need to be psychologically ready to come off the bench and contribute immediately,” he said. “That’s a tough spot to be in.”
    For freshman Kyle Bouchard of the Houlton Shiretowners, he has heard the pounding of basketballs all of his life. Before his birth, his parents were at the Bangor Auditorium, as his father, Marty, is a member of the Maine Principals’ Association basketball board, referee and coach.
    As an official, Bouchard has refereed numerous varsity games and has been chosen to work in the Eastern Maine Tournament the last 15 years.
    “The five state championships I have officiated are certainly memorable,” he said.
    As a coach, Bouchard led the Hodgdon Hawks to a state Class C championship in 1996, with a 77-71 win over Falmouth. “Another great coaching memory,” he said, “was when his Hawks were seeded No. 8 and they upset No. 1 Penquis (which had won 17 in a row) coached by Tony Hamlin.”
    Bouchard has not only experienced the essence of the Bangor Auditorium as an adult, but he also sensed the charisma of the Auditorium’s call as a player.
    “My junior and senior years in high school were true highlights,” he said.
    The Shiretowners went 15-3 and ranked No. 1 in Eastern Maine Class B. Bouchard said his team won a triple overtime thriller before bowing out to Rockland in the semifinals. During his senior year, the Shiretowners were 13-5 and No. 5 in Class B.
    “We knocked off MDI in the semifinals and fell to eventual state champion Mt. View in the semis,” he added.
    Kyle Bouchard’s Bangor connection continues with his mother, Karen Spurling Bouchard, who played for the state champion Houlton Lady Shires.
    “I remember as a youngster going to the tournament year after year to cheer on the Houlton girls,” she said. “They were always successful and I looked forward to the day when I would be a part of the program. I feel fortunate that I was able to play in the tournament all four years of high school. It was a tremendous experience. Being on two state championship teams is something that I will always treasure.”
    As a parent of children who participate, this Bouchard isn’t so calm.
    “I find it a lot more stressful and nerve-wracking than when I was playing myself,” she said. “But one of my greatest pleasures is seeing Kyle and Kolleen work hard to help their teams to be competitive and successful. They are both fierce competitors, which I love to see. Our kids have gone to watch the Eastern Maine tournament every year since they were very little, and I am excited for the day when I can see them compete as participants.”
    The Bouchard connection doesn’t stop there, as Karen’s father, Terry Spurling, also coached for Houlton at the Bangor Auditorium.