03/29/2009
enlargefrom the Kennebec Journal
QUESTIONS REMAIN
No complaints from those who switched to Somerset County center
Vote on 1 may hurt some in election
Steeple at center of debate in Whitefield
VETERANS REQUIRE ASSISTANCE: Homelessness takes center stage
J.P. DEVINE: Overcome sadness with hope
BASKETBALL: NBA Hall of Famer Barry doles out advice at Thomas College
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: Maranacook sophomore Mace dominates Class B field
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
A year later, families await answers on fatalities
Owner of topless coffee shop on the comeback trail
Officials report cheaper, better service after switch
Two people in critical condition
Young Marines stick to program
Issue of homeless veterans at center stage
GIRLS SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Winslow falls to York in Class B
Bard hits her marathon stride
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
Staff Writer
It took first-year Cony High School basketball coach Tim Bonsant a few practices and a couple of games to find out what senior Brian Carville was all about.
"I had no idea who he was coming in," Bonsant said. "He seemed pretty headstrong."
Carville admits he and his new coach butted heads a couple of times, but it evolved into a productive relationship "once I learned what he said went."
Bonsant quickly discovered Carville was one of the most versatile players in the Class A division of the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference, a rugged rebounder who felt at home under the basket or at the 3-point line. Even better, he found a fierce competitor.
"He's as tough as nails," Bonsant said. "You can't teach that. He hates to lose."
For his efforts, Carville has been named the Kennebec Journal Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Maranacook junior Ben Johnson was also considered.
Carville posted strong statistics -- 16.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and four assists per game -- all the more impressive considering he stands a shade under 6-foot-2.
"Ever since seventh or eighth grade pretty much everyone's been the same height or bigger than me," Carville said. "I had to box them out or push them out of the way."
Carville worked hard on his outside shooting and ballhandling over the summer and it paid off. He shot over 40 percent from behind the 3-point arc -- he also led the team in free throw shooting at 85 percent -- and was Cony's secondary ballhandler behind point guard Greg O'Neill.
"Most of our stuff ran through him," Bonsant said.
Carville's 3-point shooting was complemented by an accurate baseline shot he developed running drills for the flex offense in practice. And both these shots were aided by his ability to put the ball on the floor and get to the basket.
"He can get to the rim pretty much any time he wants to," Bonsant said.
Carville counted a win against Morse in Bath as his best game of the season as well as the team's. But he also posted one of his best efforts in Cony's final game of the season against Lawrence in a preliminary-round tournament contest.
He scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds before fouling out late in regulation play. Lawrence went on to win in overtime and end the Rams' season at 12-7.
"I'm not sure we win three games without him," Bonsant said. "He was that important."
Carville sustained a pretty bad concussion playing football his freshman year and didn't return to the sport until last fall. He turned in a productive season as a two-way end, but his favorite sport remains basketball, and he's looking into playing next year, possibly at the University of New England or Merrimack.
At that level, he'll no longer be a forward trapped in a guard's body, and will be able to put his shooting and ballhandling skills to good use.
"I like playing guard," he said. "There's just more to do and more room."
Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638
ghawkins@centralmaine.com
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