“We accept the challenge. It’s on us to match or exceed other teams’ physicality and game play,” said Dan Hallinan, boys varsity basketball coach at Boothbay Region High School, about this upcoming season.

The Seahawks begin the regular season against the Madison Bulldogs in Madison on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 2:30 p.m.

With seven seniors and five juniors, Hallinan has an experienced team but he cautions that it is up to the team how successful the 2022-2023 season turns out.

“The outlook is bright for us and what we make of it. Obviously we will do our due diligence to scout our opponents but we are also looking deeply at ourselves, too. We have the personnel to be great. Mental preparedness is important with this group,” said the third-year coach, a former Seahawk player and an assistant under longtime and highly successful BRHS coach I.J. Pinkham.

“We look to be competitive in a very tough mixed scheduling between Mountain Valley Conference games as well as out of conference games with Old Orchard, Waynflete and Richmond.”

As far as the MVC is concerned, Hallinan pointed out that Dirigo, last year’s state champ, is returning with almost its full team.

“We won’t have a night off, especially seeing these out of conference teams that we normally don’t see in season. Winthrop remains coached under Todd MacArthur; they will compete at a very high level. Monmouth and Hall-Dale are up and coming. Then, of course, you have Spruce Mountain, Lisbon, Mt. Abram, who all were at the top last year along with Dirigo,” said Hallinan.

This year’s Seahawk roster includes:

Seniors: Ryan Amaral, a 5’10” forward and tri-captain; Kayden Ames, a 5’9” guard and tri-captain; Gryffin Kriston, a 6’1” forward and tri-captain; Andrew Meader, a 5’10” guard; Tyler Barter, a 5’9” guard; Dylan Plummer, a 6’0” forward; and Connor Wenners, a 6’3” center.

Juniors: Finn Harkins, a 6’3” forward; Luke Morley, a 6’4” center/forward; Dominick Dow, a 5’8” guard; Brett Smith, a 6’2” forward; and William Clifford, a 6’0” forward.

Hallinan said Dow, Smith and Clifford will also play junior varsity.

Bill Callahan, a former Seahawk standout player, returns to the team as the junior varsity coach and varsity assistant. Besides Dow, Smith and Clifford, the junior varsity roster includes: sophomores Tyson French, Braden Davis, Aidric Canada, Liam Jacobs, Spencer Wenners, Maddox Cusumano, and freshmen William Sledge, Harrison Hinckley, Simeon Bates, Spencer Wood, William Seiders and Lysander Lefevre.

Hallinan’s other varsity assistants are returnees Kevin Ames and Julian Aponte, both former BRHS basketball players.

Danelle Davis, another BRHS graduate, is helping again as a volunteer manager.

Senior Savannah Compare and junior Charlotte Fuchswanz will serve as student managers.

“They are great additions to the team,” said Hallinan.

“The energy within the program is revived. The Seahawks will be helping with the youth programs down at the Y as well as supporting the middle school team at their games as well. COVID impacted our feeder program immensely, which is a huge focus on my part right now,” said Hallinan.

Last season, the Seahawks had a 7-14 overall record. They were seeded 15th in the final Heal point standings but upset host and second-seeded Old Orchard Beach, 82-75 in overtime in the preliminary round of the Class C South tournament to advance to the quarterfinals in Augusta. The season ended with a loss to seventh-seeded Mt. Abram, 87-58.