The University of New England Nor’easters blew into Warren Hill gymnasium a couple of weeks ago. The newly revamped team from Biddeford, complete with a roster-full of transfers from Texas, stormed out to a 15-5 lead early, a run that was punctuated by an emphatic breakaway dunk.
Coach Karl Henrikson called a time-out and told his team they were playing scared.
And they were.
But when Henrikson called upon freshman guard Michael Poulin a few plays later, the game changed.
The rookie from Maranacook Regional High School quelled the storm with combination of rigorous on-the-ball defense and heady point guard play. And, in large part thanks to his efforts, the Huskies were able to climb back into the game and move on to an eventual 85-71 victory.
That a freshman, playing in only his third collegiate game, could have such an immediate calming effect on a basketball team is amazing. That a young men fresh out of high school could alter the course of a game is impressive. But, given where Poulin comes from, it’s not all that unexpected.
That’s because Poulin, whose high school team won the 2008 Maine State Championship in basketball last season, is no newcomer when it comes to taking on challenges.
After all, Poulin played alongside, and inevitably drew the responsibility of guarding, one of the best high school basketball players in Maine’s illustrious history: Ryan Martin, Maine’s Mr. Basketball last season. Martin, who stands only five-feet-seven-inches on a good day in work boots, is the definition of shifty. With an array of ball-handling moves and a lightning quick first step, Martin amassed enormous scoring totals in his career and now plays at the University of Maine.
Poulin’s tutelage paid dividends the other night. With a look of determination carved on his face, Poulin was anything but scared. He was driven
After a year of watching the likes of Jamaal Caterina and Taylor Coppenrath evoke fear in opponents, seeing the Huskies get beaten to the punch was a bit of a surprise.
I was sitting beside Josh Daniels, one of last year’s captains, and we were mutually shocked by the sheer athletic abilities and intimidation displayed by the Nor’easters early on. But we were equally surprised by the play of Poulin who, admittedly, Daniels couldn’t name.
It’s this sort of anonymity or flying-under-the-radar that’s going to have to become commonplace for the Huskies as the season progresses.
There are no giants in Gorham anymore, but there is a wealth of talent. And it’s going to take individual efforts like the one displayed by little-known Michael Poulin if the Huskies hope to find themselves making waves in the playoffs.