Winthrop High School’s Cam Wood scored his 1,000th career point during a game against Richmond High School in Winthrop on Wednesday night. (Kennebec Journal photo by Andy Molloy)
Cam Wood has been a starter, and an impact player, for the Winthrop boys’ basketball team for all four years of his high school career.
Coach Todd MacArthur, however, has seen his big man reach a new level in what’s been another stellar season for the Ramblers.
“I’m just so proud of that kid in terms of his growth,” MacArthur said. “Not only are his attributes and his fundamentals and his skills growing, but his mindset and his mental side for the game right now are growing immensely.”
Wood capped off the regular season by scoring his 1,000th point Wednesday night at home in a 65-15 win over Richmond, becoming the sixth player in the program’s history to reach the mark.
Wood has commanded the attention of anyone watching and any team playing Winthrop since he showed up as a 6-foot-7 freshman. But while he’s always been a shot-challenging presence and daunting post matchup, he’s seen his offensive repertoire improve this season as he’s had to perform as more of a go-to scorer. He took averages of 21 points, 10 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game into the game against the Bobcats.
“He is developing a side of, ‘It’s my time, it’s my time to dominate,’” MacArthur said, “and he’s carrying us as a leader, and he’s carrying us on the floor with his play.”
In two of Winthrop’s biggest wins, Wood had some of his biggest efforts.
He had 13 points and 14 rebounds in a 62-58 overtime win over Spruce Mountain on Jan. 25, battling for a game-tying putback with only 27 seconds left in regulation. He was also dominant in a 65-61 win over fellow C South contender Boothbay on Jan. 23, scoring 27 points and helping the Ramblers survive a game in which they had to answer four fourth-quarter deficits.
“The big guy in the middle really showed up tonight,” MacArthur said after the win over Boothbay. “I’m really proud of that kid.”
Wood scored a game-high 16 points in Wednesday night’s victory. Teammates Gavin Perkins, Jevin Smith and Sam Figueroa each added nine points apiece and Jared McLaughlin scored eight.
The Ramblers led 21-2 after one quarter and 37-12 at halftime. They held Richmond scoreless in the third quarter while adding 12 points to their lead.
Caleb Densmore topped the Bobcats (5-13) with seven points.
Winthrop finishes the regular season with a 17-1 record and appears to have a firm grip on the top seed in Class C South.
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