BRUNSWICK — They don’t give attendance certificates in high school sports, but if they did Charlotte MacMillan would walk away with that honor in girls varsity basketball.
The prolific-scoring senior has started all 76 varsity basketball games in almost four years. Her record during this time is 67-14 and hopefully still counting, with most of those 14 losses coming during her freshman year.
“She has been on the court at the beginning whistle in 19 games as a first-year player, 22 as a sophomore, 22 as a junior and thus far all the games this season.” So far she has a perfect attendance on the court,” said Brunswick coach Sam Farrell.
Brunswick senior guard Charlotte MacMillan defends during a KVAC girls basketball game against Morse earlier this season. (Bob Conn / The Times Record)
According to Farrell, “Charlotte’s frosh and soph years she played out of her comfort zone and was the starting point guard, leading us to a first-ever regional championship and first-ever state championship appearance. As a junior, in her more natural shooting guard role, she led Brunswick to its first KVAC championship since 1984 and a return to the southern Maine title game, losing to Greely. She probably will end up with the most career starts during my time here at Brunswick.”
And don’t think Farrell is not thankful that he and Brunswick have been blessed with the likes of MacMillan.
She has become known for her outside shooting, knocking down threes at an amazing clip as she maneuvers herself open all over the court.
During Farrell’s tenure, she is presently listed as fourth in career points, recently surpassing 600. She stands only behind legendary Julia Champagne (1,046 points, 2011-2015), Madeline Suhr (813, 2013-2017) and Sabrina Armstrong (799, 2014-2018). All have been instrumental in the resurgence of Dragon girls hoops under Farrell in recent years.
Of course, it is doubtful that anyone will ever catch the numbers put up by Joanne Palombo-McCallie at 1,624 in the seasons of 1979-1983. Also in this rarefied realm of scoring were Rita O’Connor-Maines with 1,198 (1976-1980) and Claire Beecher at 1,064 (2005-2009).
Last year as a junior MacMillan was named KVAC Player of the Year, while in her sophomore year she made All-Conference.
Farrell adds that, “She is the all-time leading scorer in the time I have been coaching here at BHS with regular season and tournament games remaining. In fact, she could maybe even end up with the most career stats of any recent Dragon girls player.”
Behind MacMillan’s shooting prowess is the hope to repeat what they accomplished last year, only one better.
Brunswick senior girls basketball player Charlotte MacMillan (2), here dribbling during a game with rival Mt. Ararat, leads the Dragons against the Eagles at the Portland Expo on Monday in the Class A South quarterfinals. (Bob Conn / The Times Record)
Brunswick reached the Class A South regional final in 2018 with an undefeated record, only to lose the final to what is becoming a Dragon nemesis, Greely.
Brunswick’s only loss thus far this season has been against Greely at the Portland Expo, and it appears that the road to the title will again have to go through the Rangers.
Charlotte’s quiet and unassuming leadership has made her a team favorite. Rian Sachs, who unfortunately has missed the season due to a knee injury sustained last fall in soccer, said, “I have been lucky enough to play with Charlotte for three years, and now I can enjoy watching her as a spectator this year and even appreciate her more. She is a great team player and she has obviously been very important for Brunswick basketball.”
One of the younger players on the team, Hannah Fortier, notes, “We love playing with her. I would just love to be that important to the team by the time I am a senior.”
Guard and playmaker Marley Groat expresses MacMillan’s contribution in another way. “When I drive and pull defenders on me, she is always in a good position for one of her threes and I can dish off and watch her do her thing.”
Asked about her future in basketball, she simply says, “I am not thinking about playing basketball in college. I want to go to either UNC (University of North Carolina) or the University of Maine and focus on nursing. I have loved playing here for Brunswick and love my teammates. I will always have these great memories.
“Just like the other girls. I would love to win that championship. It will be a fun run.”
Charlotte is quick to give much of the credit for her interest to what the town has made available.
“Like most other basketball players in Brunswick, I was lucky enough to start in the town’s Rec. program and then make all the age-group travel teams up until I played for the schools,” said MacMillan.
Getting through the playoffs — which begins for the Dragons on Monday at the Portland Expo against “Battle of the Bridge” rival Mt. Ararat at 2:30 p.m. — and probably ultimately facing a formidable Greely team that will no doubt be the favorite is the final step in her Brunswick hoops career.
In the literary world, many may be familiar with another Charlotte in that acclaimed children’s book, Charlotte’s Web, where the heroine spider creates an obstacle to save a barnyard compatriot from a sure demise. One can only hope that the web our own Charlotte spins will be a part of the competitive magic needed for the Dragons to prevail.
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