The Bangor boys basketball team has had a rough go of things in recent years. The Rams won just one game last season. It was the same story the year before that.
But this season has been different. Very different.
The Rams have stacked up 10 wins and earned the No. 4 seed in the Class A North region. And they’ve done it by working together.
First-year head coach Jay Kemble, who switched over from leading the girls team, has made a habit of helping Bangor programs find their winning ways. He’s become a “fixer” of sorts for Bangor athletics, including coaching the girls soccer team to multiple state titles.
But Kemble would be the first to tell you that the Bangor boys basketball turnaround has been about the team, not about one person.
“It’s an organizational piece where the kids have really bought into what it is that we’re trying to do, and they’ve been really diligent in trying to support one another and work together,” Kemble said. “When you do those types of things, good things happen.”
He also credited his assistant coaches Justin and Jason Smith along with Jason Grunkemeyer to help get the players organized on both offense and defense.
“The kids have done a great job of working hard and buying into playing man-to-man defense,” Kemble said.
The team has also done a good job communicating and playing with urgency, according to the coach.
“It’s just been a plethora of different things that the kids have done and that the coaches have done to help make this program get back on track,” Kemble added.
It doesn’t hurt that the Rams have two of the leading scorers and rebounders in the conference, with both senior Harry Fitzpatrick and sophomore Nate Grunkemeyer having particularly productive seasons.
Fitzpatrick, a senior forward, is averaging over 13 points and seven rebounds per game.
“Harry has one of the nicest shots mechanically, and he’s able to get it off really quickly,” Kemble said. “Has been a guy who at times has taken over the games with his offensive presence.”
But it’s Fitzpatrick’s leadership that has really set him apart, according to his coach.
“He’s gone to that next level in terms of just being a really good leader,” Kemble said. “He’s not loud and vocal, but when he does speak, his message is on topic and really carries some meaning to it when he does speak,”
Kemble called Nate Grunkemeyer, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, “tremendous. athlete who is really starting to learn the game of basketball.”
Grunkemyer is averaging over 14 points and 8 rebounds per game.
“He’s got a great shot. He can jump out of the gym,” Kemble added about the sophomore.
It will be an all-hand-on-deck effort as the Rams head South to take on Lewiston at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center. As Kemble acknowledged, this Rams team hasn’t experienced a tournament atmosphere given their struggles in recent years.
“It’s gonna be a first time experience together, maneuvering through going into the tournament,” Kemble said. “None of these boys have ever played in a tournament game on a tournament floor.”
Bangor heads into the postseason with a 10-8 record. The Rams split two regular season matchups against Lewiston, which is also 10-8.
A key will be not letting the game feel bigger than it really is, Kemble said, and continuing to play hard defense, communicate and take quality shots.
Kemble has had a good first year at the helm for the Rams, but he insists the turnaround isn’t about him.
“It’s not just about one person,” Kemble said. “It’s about everybody pulling in the same direction.”
