Wiscasset Middle High School is preparing to return its boys’ and girls’ basketball teams to Mountain Valley Conference competition but whether the season goes forward depends on which direction the COVID pandemic goes. The Wolverines canceled a planned scrimmage with Temple Christian returning to remote learning just before the Thanksgiving break. They’re scheduled to scrimmage with Richmond Tuesday, Dec. 7.  As of press time, the Wolverine boys will open their MVC season Friday night at Dirigo High School in Dixfield, while the girls begin their season the following afternoon, Dec. 11 in Jay at Spruce Mountain High School.

Bob Applebee, WMHS assistant athletic director, has returned to coach the Wolverine girls. Applebee served as assistant coach for five years, three under Ben Clark, and two with Tom Philbrick who coached the team in 2018 and 2019. The pandemic resulted in the Wolverines cancelling their 2020-21 season. Colleen Hendricks, a WMHS alumnus and graduate of University of Maine at Machias is assisting Applebee courtside this season.

Applebee has 10 girls on his roster – four seniors, two sophomores and four freshmen. He hadn’t named his team captains yet but expected to soon. “We’re working on fundamentals; pick and roll, a screen away type offense, man to man defense, press breakers and inbound plays,” he said. “We’re trying to get the girls to have a feel for the game on offense, finding the open spots in the defense and trying to exploit them.”

Applebee was asked to share his three wishes for the team this season. He said first and foremost he hopes his players stay healthy and have fun; second, that his players continue to improve; and lastly, that the Wolverines can pick up a win or two. “If we accomplish the first two, I’ll consider it a successful season. We are definitely in a rebuilding mode. Losing last year to COVID didn't help,” added the coach.

Applebee’s coaching career began here in 1980 and spans two generations. He’s coached at every level, the Recreation league including the traveling team, for the junior high and the high school. “What keeps me doing this are the relationships I build with the players and their parents,” he said. The pandemic has made coaching a lot more challenging, he added, because games and practices can be postponed at a moment's notice, or cancelled.

“We’ll be wearing masks for all activities this season – during practice, games, youth clinics we’re involved in and also during bus rides. Nobody likes to play sports wearing masks but the girls understand, and they comply with all the special rules. At any moment we could lose a player due to close contact quarantine, or a positive test.”

The first home game for the Wolverine girls is Tuesday, Dec. 14 when they’ll host Oak Hill. Game updates are posted on the WMHS website.

Rick Larrabee will coach the Wolverine boys. During the 2018-2019 season, Larrabee coached Monmouth girls’ varsity basketball, guiding the Lady Mustangs to a 14-4 finish. The team finished sixth 6 in class C South and won a preliminary tournament game against Carrabec before losing the quarterfinal game to North Yarmouth Academy.

“I live in Augusta and work at New England Rent to Own in Chelsea. I graduated from Erskine Academy in 2003 and from the University of Presque Isle in 2009. I have a degree in secondary education with a concentration in social studies,” he told Wiscasset Newspaper. Larrabee said he applied for Wolverine coach after seeing it advertised online. “Having previously coached in the MVC, I was familiar with WMHS’s program and I reached out to Warren Cossette, WMHS athletic director.

“From the very beginning Warren and I were on the same page with the understanding that the program was in need of a major rebuild and that work had to also be done with the community youth basketball program. We were both of the understanding that this was not going to be an easy turnaround but would require a building process of maybe four-plus years,” continued Larrabee.

“I was interested in the challenge of having the chance to build my own program from the ground up. Having the ability to build the team culture and have everyone be on the same page is very important to every sports program and I thought it was a good chance for everyone here at WMHS to get a fresh start.

“Mainly, we’re concentrating on building fundamentals. I break everything down and teach the basics so the players know what they need to be working on in order to slowly improve,” he said. “My overall goal for the season is for steady improvement. I love our team's work ethic and love of the game. We have a good mix of upperclassmen and youth, so I expect the foundation of this year to be set with strong implications of what the culture will be like in the years to come.

“Since Wiscasset didn't field any basketball teams last year, my guys are excited to get out on the court to play other teams. All my guys understand that the road ahead of them will be difficult and that there is a lot of learning that needs to be done. Knowing that though, they enter every practice ready to go and eager to get better every day. Right now, this season is not about wins and losses, but we will play to be competitive every game and I am hopeful that we will be able to grab a few wins throughout the season,” Larrabee said.

Larrabee has 15 players to work with: Dillon Leeman and Dawson Bush, both seniors, and Cory Ricker, a junior, are the captains. The other upperclassmen are Nate Schutte, Johnny Spies and Lars Buhlmann, a foreign exchange student from Germany; all are juniors. Two underclassmen to watch are freshmen D’Vantae Raymond and Jevar Garricks.

“The thing I love the most about coaching is seeing the players develop over time. Remembering where they started skill-wise during the first week of practice, and looking at where they have improved to by the end of the season is always a great experience to be a part of. As a coach, I am also a big advocate for teaching life lessons. When teachable moments arise I believe that as coaches and teachers it is important that we address them and help the student-athletes as they progress through their high school playing careers. Winning and losing is a big part of life, but a win/loss record isn't as important as learning how to become a good person, and being involved in that process as the players grow and learn is a pretty special thing for most coaches.” added Larrabee.