PORTLAND – If you were to document the last three seasons for the Scarborough girls’ basketball team, it would look an awful lot like the stock market: a major high, followed by a lull in productivity, only to skyrocket once again.
One year ago, the Scarborough girls were sitting on the couch watching the postseason unfold before their eyes. After winning the Class A state championship in 2010, the Red Storm suffered a major setback as the squad was forced into a rebuilding phase. The Scarborough girls went 6-12 and missed the playoffs in the campaign following their championship season.
With hardly any size and only one senior returning for the 2011-2012 campaign, it appeared as though the Red Storm would be an improved squad, but certainly not ready to contend with the state’s elite. But then Tom Maines took over the program.
Maines, who lead Morse High School to three Gold Balls in the 1980s, enjoyed 18 seasons of excellence and over 350 wins while coaching boys. For his 19th season, Maines decided to introduce his up-tempo and blue-collar style of coaching to a Scarborough girls program in transition.
Maines did what he does best by bringing out the best in his players, leading them to a 17-1 regular season.
So there the Red Storm stood, a year removed from a 6-12 season, on the court at the Cumberland County Civic Center preparing to do battle with perennial powerhouse McAuley for a chance at returning to the state championship game.
After pulling off miraculous comebacks against Cheverus and Marshwood, the Red Storm faced the undefeated Lions with the regional title on the line. If this was Hollywood, the Red Storm would have pulled out another dramatic victory or perhaps rimmed out a half-court jumper at the buzzer to lose in heartbreaking fashion.
Instead, it was rather anti-climatic as Scarborough fell 61-43 to the Lions. Even with the disappointment of watching a team celebrate a berth in the state final in front of them, there were no tears. There were no signs of anger. No one needed to be consoled on the court. The Red Storm handled themselves with class and quiet pride as they reflected on their phenomenal turnaround season.
Following the Red Storm’s loss in the regional final, Maines answered questions as he always does, he was frank and to the point. The pride he had in his team was unmistakable.
“The mantra for a long time was that they do not quit,” said Maines. “I’m very proud of these kids. It was a wonderful year to have the opportunity to coach them.”
When he was asked about whether or not he was returning next year, Maines laughed at the idea that age would play a factor in his decision before saying, “oh yeah.” And why wouldn’t he? Especially after leading a team that very few gave a chance at the beginning of the season to within one win of a state final.
If you asked Maines at the beginning of the season if he expected to be in this position he would have never said yes.
“To be frank with you, I thought the kids responded to my method of teaching,” he said. “I thought we’d do some stuff different, but I didn’t think we’d be 19-2. I thought we might win 13 or 14 games, get to the tournament and see what happens, but this was a wonderful year.”
Despite the season being somewhat of an overachievement, the Red Storm will surely be a team to look out for next season. It’s what Maines expects of all his teams. “I wouldn’t expect anything else from my kids,” he said.
While the Scarborough girls will be back next season, Carly Rogers, their starting center and co-captain won’t be.
Rogers, who won a state championship with the Red Storm in her sophomore year, left the court Saturday after fouling out of the game with 3:22 left in the fourth to a standing ovation.
“I was sad, obviously, but still, it was great season,” said Rogers. “We knew it was the end, but we didn’t want to let them see us cry. Everyone has been here for us and we’re proud of ourselves, and no one thought we’d get this far and we did.”
Rogers left the Civic Center with no regrets with and only one wish for her younger teammates. “I hope next year they go out and win,” she said. “We’ve won a lot of games. Last year wasn’t too great, but these kids who are going to be seniors won (the state title in) their freshmen year. I just hope they keep a positive attitude if it happens.”
One of those soon to be seniors is point guard Maria Philbrick, who will assume an even greater responsibility next year as she continues to follow in the footsteps of her three older brothers, Jason, Ian and Kevin, all standout athletes for the Red Storm.
Philbrick, like Rogers, had nothing but positive things to say about her team’s season. “I’ll say we did everything we could and we tried our best and I guess that’s all you can ask for,” she said simply.
Philbrick, like Maines, could have never expected the Red Storm’s drastic turnaround. When asked whether or not she thought her team would be in a position to make it to the state final, she admitted that she couldn’t envision it.
“Entering tryouts, I was not expecting this. I think I really surprised myself and a lot of other people and (Jason) especially,” said a smiling Philbrick, poking fun at her oldest brother.
Philbrick, who fully expects her team to be back at the Civic Center next year, will be joined by junior co-captain Taylor Leborgne.
Leborgne, like Rogers and Philbrick, could only marvel at her team’s accomplishments.
“We’re so proud. Being 19-2 is all we could ask for,” she said. “We never thought we’d get this far. We were the underdogs coming from last year, we didn’t really win that much. I think we showed everyone that we’re a good team and we’re definitely going to come back next year.”
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