Think you’ve got what it takes to make a basket from midcourt? You’ve got to attend a Wiscasset Middle High School basketball game for a chance to find out.

The Wolverine cheering and basketball teams have teamed up with Maxwell’s Market for a Long Shot Contest. Fans willing to invest a dollar or more in the raffle (there’s no limit) have a chance to win $100 cash if their ticket is drawn. They win, if they can toss the basketball into the hoop from midcourt.

There are three ways to win. Maxwell’s Market, a mile north of the high school on Gardiner Road, will give a small pizza if the raffle winner can make a foul shot, a large pizza for a three-pointer and $100 for making the half-court shot. The contest is held at halftime after the winning ticket is drawn.

“The great thing is you can trade up – that means if you start out by making the foul shot, you can take a crack at the three-pointer, or try your luck with a half-court shot,” said Warren Cossette, WMHS assistant principal and athletic director.

Cossette said team members take turns selling the raffle tickets. So far, no one’s won the grand prize, but the whole second half of the Mountain Valley Conference basketball season is still to be played.

The market's owners George and Samantha Humphrey, along with their son, Jory, sponsored a similar contest during the Wolverine soccer season. If a fan kicked a soccer ball into the net from midfield, they won a free Maxwell’s pizza.

“The Maxwells have been wonderful supporters of our athletic program,” added Cossette.

“At the start of the season they purchased 10 Spaulding basketballs, five each for the boys’ and girls’ teams. They’ve also offered to provide the teams with meals for their away games practically at cost,” he continued.

The Wolverines have 10 more home basketball games including four Saturday games. The WMHS boys’ varsity will host Lisbon tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 5 at 2:30.

Cossette, who became assistant principle and AD this fall, said he’s very pleased with the leadership shown by assistant athletic director Bob “Radar” Applebee and basketball coaches Tom Philbrick and Jamie Jones. All were hired this year.

“They 100 percent embody the core values of our school community and athletic program. We’ve stressed that it’s not about the win/loss record – the wins will come, if not this year then next. For us it’s about instilling pride in everything we do here, teaching perseverance, patience and determination to get better. It’s a work in progress but it’s starting to come together,” he said.