Editor's note: This piece was planned, researched, and written as a team by Sports and Literature class journalists Lucien Dube, Luca Giordano, Michael Scharf, Hunter Flagg, Ashton Howell, Makayla Drake, and Gabe Randall.
Coming into this season, Nokomis Regional High was coming off a pandemic-shortened season with high hopes of achieving the school’s first boys basketball state title. With the addition of freshmen Dawson Townsend, and twin standouts Cooper and Ace Flagg, the Warriors' state championship drought ended when the team took home the gold ball. In doing so, amidst a season full of high expectations, media attention, and fervent community support, Nokomis proved that the hype was real.
Nokomis Regional High School hadn’t won a boys basketball title in the school’s 54 year history. However, much was new coming into the 2021-2022 season. Ryan Martin, the former head coach, stepped down last year at the end of a 5-8 shortened season, and the Warriors brought in Earl Anderson, one of the most experienced coaches in the state. Along with this change, young freshman talent entered the roster in twins Cooper and Ace Flagg.
Immediately, these changes turned the hype-level up to a deafening 10 as the preseason approached. Kennebec Journal writer Drew Bonifant wrote, “The arrival of a new basketball season in Maine brings the arrival of a hoops prodigy the likes of which Maine hasn’t experienced. Cooper Flagg… has become the talk of the state and beyond.” Throughout the preseason, Nokomis went undefeated, playing much larger schools – and stiff competition -- some of which they beat handily.
This gave the squad confidence for their season opener against Bangor, a team that has had a plethora of successful years in it’s program. Coming off of a win against Bangor, Nokomis then traveled to Brewer to play the first game in what would be a season-long rivalry. Nokomis ended up falling short against the Witches, 57-46. Brewer never trailed in the game, building on the success of their past two playoff runs to open the season at the top of the standings.
Following this loss, though, the Warriors just kept winning, playing top teams in the conference 9-1 Brewer once more, 9-3 Skowhegan twice, and 9-3 Cony once. They went 4-0 against their top competition the rest of the season on their way to a 17-1 regular season record.
When asked about the team's season, assistant coach Jared Richardson said, "Seeing the community rally around the team has been awesome, and then to finish it off with the school's first state championship... it doesn't get any better than that. This is a great group of basketball players, but they are an even better group of young men.”
The winning wasn’t just felt by the team. Fans, and the entire Warrior community, were a part of it. This was the first season where fans were allowed in the new school due to Covid the previous year, and the added fan presence was a huge factor in the Warriors’ success. The new school has a smaller gym than “old Nokomis,” and has less space for fans because of that. However, the student section managed to surpass that, and made up a huge chunk of the home atmosphere.
One of the key contributors to that student section presence, Nokomis sophomore Mia Coots, said, “We all knew that there would be a lot of people there because of the hype.” She and senior Owen Upton made sure that the student section was top notch for this special team. Between choosing chants and apparel, to making visual pieces of these for students to see on Instagram, they made sure that everyone knew what was going on. This kept people coming, and kept the student section rocking.
The supportive crowd atmosphere made the fans and others spectating it feel like they were also on the team, and important to the team as a whole. No matter where the team went, the student section followed, like a pack to its leaders. Nokomis fans were there for the ups and downs of any contest, and anything that went down each game, Warrior fans were always there to loudly support the team.
Freshman Landon Rowell and senior Bradley Moore, team managers for the squad, had much to say about the Warriors’ title run this year. Speaking praise to the team and Coach Anderson, both managers said they couldn’t be more proud of the team and the school that has been supporting them. “This run gives our school and team a lot of pride and hope. Plus, with the student body hyping up the team, it brings the school closer to the team and helps build them up,” said Rowell. Moore sang much of the same praise, saying that, “It is nice to see our team become a powerhouse in a sport that is so close to our school, and to me personally."
When the playoffs came, that powerhouse was fully constructed, and it was the same thing as the regular season for the Warriors – win win win win. They just kept winning, making it to the state championship for the chance at the first gold ball in program history. A chance to make history that everyone in the school and community recognized.
Mary Nadeau, the school principal at Nokomis, has always championed this idea of togetherness. Everything is done as a community and school – as Warriors. The idea is to be one loud Warrior Nation. And those that know Ms. Nadeau will agree that she is the loudest of all the Warriors. She has always been known for giving the greatest pep talks of all time when it comes to school, and sports. She is out there commentating for sports, always being around for Nokomis students.
This title run has greatly affected Nokomis, and Ms. Nadeau. For many, it’s the biggest success Nokomis has seen in a while. “This doesn’t just show the next step in Nokomis basketball, but in Nokomis sports in general. Probably, the entire school,” said manager Bradley Moore. Nadeau, too, sees something else:
“It’s more than just a title. It signifies how Nokomis is a team-oriented school.” - Principal Mary Nadeau
Once again, Ms. Nadeau shows how she always sees the bigger picture, and supports everyone. She sees that this title sets an example for future generations, to show what Nokomis can do and be when everyone is working in harmony.
For Ms. Nadeau, and for Warrior Nation, this championship proves that togetherness and community can bring home the gold. On the hardwood, in the classroom, and beyond.
There is so much more to this title run than just the win. Now everyone, far and wide, knows that the hype – and that Warrior Nation – is real.