LEWISTON — For much of the past decade, Mike Labonte has been working to better Lewiston High School girls’ basketball.
After completing the summer season last month, the varsity coach decided it was time for somebody else to do the job. Labonte resigned and the Blue Devils are now looking for a new coach, their seventh since 2000.
“Ever since I’ve been coaching at Lewiston, it’s always been about what’s best for the program,” Labonte said. “Due to the geography and the dynamics of what’s going on, it’s time for a new voice to be heard.”
Labonte coached the varsity team for two seasons and led the Blue Devils to their first playoff game since 2005. Lewiston lost to Mt. Blue in a thrilling Eastern Class A prelim. The Blue Devils rallied from six-points down in the final quarter and had the lead late, but watched Mt. Blue rally to win.
“He’s been extremely dedicated to the program for 10 years, from the youth level on up” said Jason Fuller, Lewiston’s athletic administrator. “He’s been extremely hard working and devoted so much to the program trying to develop it. Let’s be honest, he’s done a great job. It’s been awhile since we’ve been in the playoffs. It’s a credit to him and the work that he’s done.”
Mt. Blue coach Tom Philbrick also resigned this summer. He stepped down late in the summer season because of problems with administration and parental issues.
Labonte said it wasn’t one particular situation that led to him resigning. He just felt it was the right time for a change.
“It’s just how things develop sometimes,” Labonte said. “We all have our supporters and detractors. That’s just how it goes these days. It seems like these things are happening an awful lot. During the summer, as things progressed, it seemed more and more obvious that a new voice probably needed to be heard.”
It was a difficult choice for Labonte. He had begun coaching basketball in Lewiston when his daughter was coming up through the system. He coached at many youth levels with elementary school kids and middle school players.
“It’s really hard,” he said. “I got involved in coaching because my daughter got involved and Lewiston didn’t really have any type of competitive instructional program for girls. Me and a couple of other parents stepped forward and one thing led to another, and I ended up a head coach. It wasn’t the original plan. I was just throwing two hands in there to help out. Every step of the way, you try to do what’s best for the kids and what’s best for the program. You hope that sometimes people can see through the fog.”
Lewiston went 5-13 the past two seasons and earned a preliminary berth in Eastern A. Considering the program wasn’t far removed from a string of 74 consecutive losses, the program had made great strides.
The Blue Devils graduated veteran seniors Jenessa Talarico, Brie Wilson, Maegan Mathon and Laurianne Murphy, but still have some promising players that could keep the progress going. Kristina Blais was a starter, while Amanda Swart, Morgan Eliasen and Emily Brochu, who was injured during the season, are seasoned players that came off the bench.
“Sometimes things happen for a reason and I’m a firm believer in that,” Labonte said. “I think Jason Fuller and parents of kids that have participated the last few years in the program have devoted their time and their efforts and have been supportive of me. I hope nothing but the best for the kids and the program. They’re headed in the right direction, and I hope the new coach can come right in and continue that.”
The job was posted recently and potential candidates for the job may be reviewed in the coming month.
“It’s one of those things where we’ll allow a couple of weeks to get some applicants in,” Fuller said. “Ideally, I’d like to say by mid-September we’ll have a good applicant pool.”
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