SILVANO ISMAIL, Senior – Basketball

• • Class AA North Player of the Year
  • Class AA North All-Defensive team
  • Class AA North All-Conference, first-team
  • Maine McDonald’s Senior All-Star
  • Mr. Maine Basketball semifinalist
  * Captain

Ismail parlayed a memorable end to his junior season into a sensational senior campaign which saw him become one of the premier scorers in the entire state.

Ismail was an emerging star in 2021-22, averaging 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists and hitting a buzzer-beating 3 to shock Portland in a Class AA North quarterfinal.

This winter, everyone knew that Ismail would be the Stags’ go-to player, but he was more than that, becoming close to unstoppable, nearly doubling his points-per-game average to a league-high 25.6. He also snared 7.3 rebounds per contest, dished out 2.6 assists and added 2.3 steals.

Highlights were plentiful.

Ismail lit up Bangor for 33 points in a season-opening win. He tallied 29 points in a win over Deering, 37 in a loss to Lewiston, 26 in a victory over Scarborough, 27 in a second win over Deering, 31 in a loss to eventual regional champion Portland, 34 (to go with 14 rebounds) in a win over Hampden Academy, 26 apiece in wins over Edward Little and Windham, 25 in a victory over Lewiston, 30 in a narrow loss to Oxford Hills, 29 in a win over Massabesic and 21 in a second victory over Windham.

In the quarterfinals, Ismail scored 19 points to help Cheverus beat Hampden Academy. He then had 24 points before fouling out late in a narrow loss to Oxford Hills in the semifinals.

Through it all, Ismail accepted the challenge of knowing the opposition was focusing on him and he not only hit big shot after big shot, he also stood tall as a leader, helping the Stags reach the Class AA North final four for the second straight season.

Players like Silvano Ismail, Cheverus’ Winter Athlete of the Year, don’t come along very often. His dominance on the floor ensured he’ll be fondly remembered as an all-time program great.

Coach Richie Ashley’s comment: “Silvano does everything. He rebounds, plays defense on the other team’s best player, he hits foul shots, gives us offense. More than that, he’s a great kid and teammate. To have a leader like that is irreplaceable. He had a dominating year. In my opinion, he was the best player in the state.”

Previous winners:

• 2021-22 Frank Morang (track)
* 2020-21 Jackson Header (hockey)
* 2019-20 Quinton Hastings (swimming)
• 2018-19 Brim Peabody (swimming)
• 2017-18 Michael Hatch (hockey)
• 2016-17 Zeb Leavitt (wrestling)
• 2015-16 Michael O’Donovan (swimming)
• 2014-15 James Hannigan (hockey)
• 2013-14 Jake Dixon (track)
• 2012-13 Trebor Lawton (swimming)
• 2011-12 Trebor Lawton (swimming)
• 2010-11 Jack Terwilliger (track)
• 2009-10 Indiana Faithfull (basketball)
• 2008-09 Zander Markellos (skiing)
• 2007-08 Matt Libby (swimming)
• 2006-07 Matt Libby (swimming)
• 2005-06 Alex Arthur (hockey)
• 2004-05 Adam Horgan (hockey)
• 2003-04 Kevin Marchesi (hockey)

MADDIE FITZPATRICK, Junior – Basketball

• • Gatorade Maine Player of the Year
  * Class AA North all-star, first-team
  • Class AA All-Defensive team
  * Captain

In the tournament, Fitzpatrick continued to shine, even though the opposition did its best to slow her down. In a quarterfinal round win over Edward Little, she had 13 points. Fitzpatrick then tallied 17 points as the Stags beat Bangor, avenging a loss from earlier in the season. In the Class AA North Final, viewed by many as the de facto state final, Cheverus and Oxford Hills played a double-overtime epic which ultimately saw the Stags fall just short, but Fitzpatrick did her best to keep the season alive, scoring 28 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.

Immediately after the loss, Fitzpatrick vowed to come back even stronger next winter.

“(The loss to Oxford Hills) lights a fire under us and gets us motivated,” said Fitzpatrick, who has verbally committed to playing at the University of Maine. “I’m going to Cheverus and getting in the gym after this. I’m really excited for next year. We have a solid group coming back and probably some good freshmen coming in too. We want to finish what this year’s team started.”

So buckle up, the best is yet to come and considering what Maddie Fitzpatrick, Cheverus’ Winter Athlete of the Year, has already accomplished, her future is going to be something to behold.

Coach Billy Goodman‘s comment: “I’m very lucky to coach Maddie. She’s something special. Maddie does so many things for us, scoring, rebounding, defense. She’s always moving her feet. She causes so many problems. She plays smart. She’s so unselfish that sometimes, I have to tell her to shoot more. She works really hard on both ends of the floor and she was that much better than last year. She’s just a great basketball player.”

Previous winners:

• • 2021-22 Emma Lizotte (basketball)
  * 2020-21 Lucia Pompeo (hockey)
  • 2019-20 Lauren Jordan (basketball and track)
  • 2018-19 Victoria Bossong (track)
  • 2017-18 Emma Gallant (track)
  • 2016-17 Annesley Black (Alpine skiing)
  • 2015-16 Emily Turner (track)
  • 2014-15 Abby Longstaff (swimming)
  • 2013-14 Sarah Nappo (swimming)
  • 2012-13 Brooke Flaherty (basketball)
  • 2011-12 Fiona Hendry (track)
  • 2010-11 Caroline Summa (track)
  • 2009-10 Saundrine Lanouette (hockey)
  • 2008-09 Caroline Summa (track)
  • 2007-08 Jessica Groth (track)
  • 2006-07 Jessica Groth (track)
  • 2005-06 Caitlin Barber (Alpine skiing)
  • 2004-05 Jill Horan (swimming)
  • 2003-04 Alana Van Loenen (track)

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter:@foresports.

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