If you look up the 1955-56 boys basketball team from Mattanawcook Academy in the Bangor Daily News archives, you’ll find plenty about Avern Danforth.
The senior guard played a big role in that team’s tournament run to the state finals, the last time that the boys from Lincoln made it that far — until this year, that is.
The coverage of that 1955-56 team, which lost in the final to Cape Elizabeth, is heavy with mentions of Danforth. He is described in one Feb. 20, 1956, story as a “five-ten spark-plug guard” who scored 20 points in the particular game being described that day. He made the BDN’s all-tournament second team that year.
Now 87, Danforth is happily rooting on this year’s Mattanawcook boys basketball team as it takes Lincoln back to the state championship on Saturday. And he sees a lot of similarities between his team and the current squad.
“They seem to be a well-disciplined team. I see a lot of parallels there,” Danforth told the BDN earlier this week. He cited both teams having coaches who are relatively new to their school, their overall team balance and the guard play as some examples.
“We had good balance our senior year,” Danforth said, something he’s observed with the current team as well.
“They have good ball-handling guards. They have a key shooter,” Danforth said, pointing to junior forward Andrew Oliver. “He’s their best shooter; we had Sam Jordan in our case.”
Asked if he could relate to the scrappy play from sophomore guard Kooper McCarthy, who has helped lead the Lynx throughout the tournament, Danforth answered affirmatively.
“You got it,” Danforth responded, adding that he “can see myself” as he watches McCarthy take charge on the court.
He also sees a similarity between the relatively new coach Bill Fletcher who helped instill “the will to win” at Mattanawcook 70 years ago, and the success that the undefeated team has seen this season in Adam Mahaney’s first year as head coach.
Danforth was also very appreciative of the way Mahaney and the current Mattanawcook group has recognized the 1955-56 team. They connected with Danforth and two other members of the team, his brother Wayne Danforth and Robert Walcott, and honored them during a game earlier this season.
“Their team congratulated us, and vice versa, we wished them well,” Danforth said. “And it was a nice event.”
Danforth particularly appreciated how the experience has brought attention back to the team from 70 years ago. He had previously noticed that the award from his team’s regional championship was nowhere to be found at the school, and said it was later located at the local historical society. Mattanawcook Athletic Director Jeremy Weatherbee said he is having a replica made of that award so that it can be displayed at the school, along with a ball that was also made to commemorate the 1955-56 team.
“For them to have invited us down and recognized our success, I think, was a wonderful thing to do,” Danforth said. “And I know they will have their name obviously in history now, and I’m grateful for this experience the last couple of weeks.”
The impact has gone both ways, with the current team drawing inspiration from the last Lincoln squad to make it to a state final.
“It really showed us what being great can do,” sophomore forward True Weatherbee said about the interaction with the team from 70 years ago.
Told about those comments, Danforth said it was “wonderful” to know his experience from years ago is still resonating today.
Danforth was also asked if he had any message to the Lynx team as it gets set for Saturday’s championship.
“Just play your game,” Danforth said. “You’ve had a great season, you’ve obviously been well-coached, well-drilled. Stay within yourself. You’ve been successful doing what you have practiced. And I know we will be proud of you.”
He added that this team has the ability needed to win, and he expects that they will do fine in the Class C state final against Mt. Abram.
“And I’ll be cheering for you,” said Danforth, who plans to be in Bangor for the game.
