Chappelle,Scott To Enter MBHOF

Ellsworth's Jack Scott, Old Town's Skip Chappelle and 20 other basketball greats will enter the new Maine Basketball Hall of Fame tomorrow night at the inaugural induction ceremony at the Cross Center in Bangor.

16 inductees will enter the hall as players, 4 as coaches, plus one official (Jim DiFrederico) and one contributor (Bob Butler).

The Hall will also recognize the 1944 Waterville HS team and nine Legends of the Game (Wally Donovan, Durwood Heal, Charlie Wotten, Tony Tammaro, Bill Mansfield, William Hanscom, Stella McClean, Anita Belanger and Clara Swan).

Check out the player profiles...

Lisa Blais Manning – Long before there was a Cindy Blodgett, a tenacious girl from Westbrook caught the imagination of basketball enthusiasts in Maine. Her name was Lisa Blais. Lisa was a Maine All-state player at Westbrook High School all four years and led her high school to four consecutive Gold Balls. Lisa was a Gatorade Player of the Year. Following high school Lisa took her skills to Old Dominion University where she was a four -year starter and led her school to National Championship. Many believe her to be the best player ever to come out of our state.
Rachel Bouchard – Two- time Maine All-state selection at Hall Dale High School as well as the Gatorade Player of the Year and a Converse All-American in 1987. Rachel was a one the University of Maine’s greatest player. She was the North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year two consecutive years. While at UMO, Rachel was selected as a Kodak All-American in 1989-’90-’91. She was consecutive North Atlantic Conference Player of the Year in 1990 and 1991. Rachel later played professionally in France. She belongs to the Maine Sports Hall of Fame, the Univ. of Maine Hall of Fame, and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. Her # 43 jersey was retired from the Univ. of Maine in 1993.
Brett Brown – A Maine All-state player two years, Brett led South Portland High School to two Western Maine Championships and the State Championship in 1979. Brett, a Vinal Trophy winner and a Converse All-American, accepted a full scholarship to Boston University where he played for coach Rick Pitino. He was the captain of the Boston Univ. basketball team and it’s MVP his sophomore season. Brett served as the Asst. Coach to the San Antonio Spurs and helped them win three World Championships. He also served as the Australian Olympic Coach in 2012 and is currently the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers
Skip Chappelle – An All- state selection at Old Town High School, Skip led them to a state championship and then moved on to MCI for a post -graduate season. He set scoring records at the University of Maine and led the Yankee Conference in scoring three consecutive years. Drafted by the Boston Celtics, Skip returned to Maine and became the head coach of the University of Maine.
Danny Coombs – Danny was an All-State selection at Brewer High School in 1960 when he led Brewer to the State Championship game where he scored 35 points. He also set the Class A record for tournament points with 104 in 1960. Danny went to Seton Hall University on a basketball scholarship and played two seasons until he signed a professional baseball contract. He pitched for several years in the major leagues.
Don Crosby –Don was All-state, All-New England, and a Scholastic Magazine All- American at Cony High School in 1966. He led Cony to the State Championship in 1966 before accepting a scholarship at Boston College. He was a member of the 1969 N.I.T. runner – up team and became an assistant coach at Boston College in 1972. He served as an assistant coach at Acadia University under ex-Cony coach Dick Hunt and helped Acadia win the 1979 Canadian National Championship.
Matt Donahue – Matt was a prolific scorer at Westbrook High School amassing a career total of 1513 points in the pre- three- point era. Matt was a first team All-state player his junior and senior seasons. He set the Westbrook single game scoring record with 57 points his senior season. His team lost the state Championship to Caribou on Mike Thurston’s last second shot. Matt continued his career at USM where he averaged over 25 ppg. and set several scoring records.
Brad Moore – Brad Moore is still the career- scoring leader for Hall Dale High School where his number is retired. Brad was a first team All- state member his senior year. He left Hall Dale and played at Colby College where he still remains the career rebounding leader as well as the school’s third leading scorer. Brad was an All-Maine College first team selection, All- ECAC Division 3 selection and a third team All-American. Colby College honored him by retiring his uniform. Brad also belongs to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.
JoAnne Palombo- McCallie – Joanne Polumbo was a basketball phenom at Brunswick High School where she earned All- State honors two years in a row. Following her brilliant high school career Joanne accepted a scholarship to Northwestern University. She coached the University of Maine women’s team to the pinnacle of New England basketball. She is the women’s coach at Duke University and has built a program that annually competes for the national championship.
Steve Pound – The 5’ 9” sharpshooter from Stearns High School set scoring records that still stand fifty years later. Steve was a first team All- state selection his senior season and regularly scored over fifty points per game his senior season. He still holds Stearns season average scoring leader even though he played at a time before the three- point shot. After high school Steve attended Acadia University where he ended his career as the all time scoring leader. He also led this university to the Canadian National Championship. After college Steve played a season overseas in England where he averaged over 38 ppg. The name of Steve Pound is synonymous with excellence in Maine basketball.
Doug Roberts – Doug Roberts is one of the most versatile basketball players in our state’s history. At 6’5” he could bang inside but also possessed the quickness and ball skills to play on the perimeter. At Rumford High School Doug led his team to the 1974 and 1976 State Championships and the 1976 New England Championships. He was first team All – state his junior and senior seasons and won the Vinal Trophy in 1976. He scored over 1400 points in high school. Following graduation, Doug attended Acadia University and was on the 1977 team that won the Canadian National Championship. He transferred to Clark University where he achieved All- New England honors and scored over 1000 points.
Jack Scott – To many, Jack Scott is the best schoolboy player ever to come out of Maine. He was tenacious to the point of scaring his opponents and he could play at any position on the court. Jack led the Ellsworth High School teams in the mid 1950’s to a State Championship and to the New England Tournament. After high school Jack received a scholarship to attend the Univ. of Conn. He returned to Maine and finished his stellar playing career at Husson College.
Joe Harrington –Joe Harrington was the golden boy of Maine basketball. His play at Morse High School is without parallel. He led Morse High School to the State Championship in 1963 and lost to Stearns in the New England Championship by a single point. He was a two- year All- State player. After high school Joe attended the University of Maryland on scholarship where he was a four year starter. The Boston Celtics drafted Joe in 1967. Joe started an illustrious coaching career at the Univ. of Maryland under legendary coach Lefty Driesell. He was the head coach at Hofstra University, George Mason University, Long Beach State, and the University of Colorado.
Matt Hancock – Matt Hancock left a lasting legacy on Maine basketball. The Lake Region High School star was and All-state selection and a McDonald’s All-star. His high school team won the Gold Ball in 1985 and once he moved onto college, his game went to a new level. Matt was a Division 3 All-American three years in a row. In 1990 he was named the Division 3 Player of the Year. Matt was the national scoring champion in 1988 averaging 33ppg. He left Colby as Maine’s all-time collegiate scoring leader.
Jon MacDonald –Jon MacDonald was a first team All-state selection three years in a row. In 1963 he also garnered All- New England status as his Stearns High School team defeated Morse High School for the New England Championship. After high school Jon attended the University of Maryland where he captained the team in 1969. This former Parade All-American played all four years at Maryland and his roommate was Gary Williams who would lead Maryland to a National Championship. Jon is remembered as a great shooter who always performed under pressure. He played during the Golden Age of Maine Basketball and along with Joe Harrington, gave basketball fans a glimpse of big time talent.
John Mitchell – John “Swisher” Mitchell was one of the best point guards ever to play in Maine. His Waterville High School teams on the mid 40’s compiled a record of 70-2 and won both the Maine and New England Championships in 1944. John was a forerunner of the Bob Cousy style of play. Exceptionally quick and hard to contain, John drove opposing teams crazy with his vision, ball handling skills, and ability to score. After high school John attended University of Rhode Island where he was an All-Yankee Conference selection two years and an All New England and All Boston Garden selection his senior year. Swisher returned to Waterville and served as Dick Whitmore’s assistant coach at Colby College for nearly forty years.