SMAA Announces End of Season Awards

Curtis, Gilman, Bol, Brown and Pulkkinen all recognized

The SMAA has awarded Nick Curtis, Mike Gilman, Dierhow Bol, Chris Brown and Coach Chad Pulkkinen with All SMAA Awards.  Nick Curtis has received All SMAA First Team honors.  Mike Gilman has received All SMAA Second Team Honors.  Dierhow Bol has received All SMAA Rookie Team.  Chris Brown has received The Gary Randall Award, All SMAA Academic Team, and All SMAA Senior All Star.  Coach Chad Pulkkinen has received the Dave Allen Coach of the Year Award.

The Southwestern Maine Activities Association (SMAA) is composed of seventteen high schools located in Cumberland and York Counties.  Current member of the conference are: Biddeford, Bonny Eagle, Cheverus, Deering, Gorham, Maine Girls’ Academy, Marshwood, Massabesic, Noble, Portland, Sanford, Scarborough, South Portland, Thornton Academy, Westbrook and Windham.

Nick Curtis – All SMAA 1st Team

Nick Curtis, junior point guard, had an impressive season for the Eagles this year averaging 17.8 ppg (3rd), 5.7 apg (1st), 2.4 spg (4th), and shot 82% (4th) from the free throw line.  Nick is one of the only players in Windham High School history to record a triple-double.  His triple-double was against the Lewiston Blue Devils, where he put up 12 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists to help lead the eagles to a win.  Nick had a stretch of 6 straight games with 20+ points in a crucial part of our season.  Not only did Nick rank in the top 5 in scoring, steals, assists and FT percentage but also was Windham’s second leading rebounder with 4.7 rpg.

“Nick has had a tremendous season and has really established himself as one of the top point guards in the state.  His work ethic is contagious to our group and he always gives his all when he is on the court.  He truly led our team each night and as a second year captain he showed tremendous growth in both his game and his leadership.  Nick deserves this recognition, he gave us all he had all season long and put up some incredible numbers that rival the states best.” – Coach Pulkkinen

Mike Gilman – All SMAA 2nd Team

Mike Gilman, junior shooting guard, was lights out again from beyond the arc shooting 41% (4th) from three and making 58 three pointers (2nd) this season.  Mike averaged 17.3 ppg (5th), 1.7 spg (15th) , 44% (11th) from the field and 76% (9th) from the charity stripe.  Mike also scored 20+ points in 6 consecutive games including a 31 point outburst against Sanford.  Gilman hit a three pointer in all 20 games the Eagles played including the playoffs.  Mike Gilman also averaged the 3rd most rebounds per game for the Eagles at 4.4 rpg

“Mike had another incredible shooting year while being a main target for the other teams to stop.  His competitiveness and conditioning make him a nightmare to cover.  There are not a lot of people in the state at any level that can shoot with the consistency and range that Mike can.  What has impressed me the most this year with Mike is his “buy in” on the defensive end.  He has become an excellent defender and rebounder.  Him taking accountability and getting better on the defensive end really made our team that much stronger.  Mike is very deserving of this recognition as he has worked extremely hard to become and all around elite player in our league.”  – Coach Pulkkinen

Dierhow Bol – All SMAA Rookie Team

Dierhow Bol, sophomore center, was a huge factor this year for the Windham Eagles.  The 6’6″ sophomore made his presence felt early in the season with a thunderous dunk in the first game against Deering.  Dierhow averaged a team best 6.8 rpg (8th) and was third in scoring with 6.4 ppg.  Dierhow’s shot blocking ability was 4th best in the league with 1.1 a game.  Dierhow had an incredible three game stetch of impressive rebounding numbers.  His stretch included 19, 18 and 16 rebounds against Edward Little, South Portland and Bonny Eagle.  In the upset win over previously undefeated Edward Little, Dierhow posted 12 points, 19 rebounds and 4 blocks.  Dierhows 19 rebounds was 2 shy of Edward Little’s total team rebounds of 21.

“Dierhow has improved so much throughout the season.  He became a monster on the glass and his shot blocking ability made it at times impossible for teams to score in the paint.  His attitude and effort was always at the highest expectation of our staff.  His coach-ability and athleticism really have me wondering where he can take his game in the next few seasons.  I am looking forward to working with Dierhow and helping him reach his potential on and off the court.  He deserves this recognition and has done an incredible job in his first year as a varsity player.” – Coach Pulkkinen

Chris Brown – All SMAA Senior All Star, SMAA All Academic and Gary Randall Award Winner

Chris Brown, senior forward, had an incredible final season for the Eagles.  The captain averaged 4.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while being asked to defend some of the best players in the league on a nightly basis.  Chris shot 65% from the foul line and helped seal the upset win against previously unbeaten Edward little with two free throws in the final seconds.  Chris received not only Senior All Star Recognition and SMAA All Academic in the SMAA but was honored with the most prestigious award the SMAA gives out, The Gary Randall Award.  Gary Randall played for Westbrook in the late 60’s and always demonstrated the utmost respect for teammates, opponents, coaches and officals. After his untimely death, this award was established to honor sportsmanship.  This award was voted on by all the other coaches in the SMAA and Chris is very much deserving.  His calm presence and lead by example attitude allowed our team to reach its potential this season.  Chris always showed the utmost respect to opponents, coaches, officials and administration throughout his four years at Windham and was truly a player that everyone looked up to.

“There is absolutely no one more deserving than Chris to receive the Gary Randall Award.  Chris is exactly the teammate, classmate and player coaches dream about.  Not only is he a talented player but his efforts in the class room, community and within the team are second to none.  Throughout the year Chris helped tutor some of our younger players and was always there for teammates in need.  His class, maturity, selflessness and leadership allowed our young team to follow his example and get the most out of the season while representing Windham with the utmost respect.  I am proud of Chris and proud to have coached such an incredible young man.” – Coach Pulkkinen

Coach Chad Pulkkinen – SMAA Dave Allen Coach of The Year

Coach Pulkkinen, 2nd season, helped lead the Eagles to a 12-6 regular season record.  Signature wins over undefeated Edward Little and #3 Deering High School in the AA North Quarterfinals were some of the biggest wins in school history.  The Eagles lost to Edward Little in a rematch game in the Semifinals of the AA North Tourney and finished their season 13-7, 1 win shy of the school record for wins.  Coach Pulkkinen is the first Windham coach to receive this award.

“I am honored to receive this award from my peers and coaches of the SMAA, but it is really an award shared by our entire team and staff.  The fourteen kids and assistant coaches we have make it really easy to do my job to the best of my ability.  My team gave me everything they had each and every night and really bought in to what we wanted to accomplish as a group. I am proud to coach where I played and looking forward to the future of Windham Basketball.  This year is a year I will never forget and the guys who wore the jersey should be proud of their accomplishments and I want to thank them for all their hard work.” – Coach Pulkkinen

2016-2017 SMAA All Stars

Player of the Year
Jack Casale – Cheverus

1st Team
Terion Moss – Portland
Nick Curtis – Windham
Ruay Bol – SP
David Koehan – TA
Zac Manoogian – Westbrook

2nd Team
Griffin Foley – Portland
Austin Boudreau – TA
Raffaele Salamone – Deering
Mike Gilman – Windham
Ben Onek – Deering

3rd Team
Nick Fiorillo – Scarborough
Jesse Matthews – Cheverus
Jackson Fotter – Gorham
Kyle Norton – Biddeford
Ethan Belanger – Sanford
Riley Hasson – SP
Evan Christiansen – TA

Honorable Mention
Charlie Lyall – Portland
William Hendricks – BE
Noah Malone – SP

Rookie of the Year
Zach Maturo – BE

All Rookie Team
Dierhow Bol – Windham
Matt Duchaine – Cheverus
Simon Chadbourne – Portland
Jeremiah Alado – Westbrook
Leyton Bickford – Sanford

Defensive Player of the Year
Riley Hasson

Gary Randall Award
Chris Brown – Windham

Dave Allen Coach of the Year
Chad Pulkkinen – Windham

SMAA All Academic All Stars
Austin Dutremble – Biddeford
John Fogg – TA
Chris Brown – Windham
Charlie Lyall – Portland
Ethan Belanger – Sanford

Senior All Star Game
Jack Casale – Cheverus
Ruay Bol – SP
Austin Boudreau – TA
Raffaele Salamone – Deering
Jackson Fotter – Gorham
Ethan Belanger – Sanford
Evan Christiansen – TA
Charlie Lyall – Portland
Deandre White – SP
Ansel Stilley – SP
Caleb Ball – Biddeford
John Fogg – TA
Emmett Peoples – Scarborough
Brandon Davis – Noble
Zion Mercado – Massabesic
Chris Brown – Windham
Clay Hardy – Portland
Brad Bouchard – Sanford
Austin Dutremble – Massabesic
Patrick Pearl – Biddeford
Cole McDaniel – Marshwood
Manny Chikuta – Deering
Macher Nguany – Deering
Ben Beers – Marshwood