School Resource Officer Larry Brown admires how the Boothbay Region Elementary School eighth grade basketball team overcame adversity to claim the 2017 Busline League Championship. The Wildcats capped an undefeated 14-0 season Jan. 28 defeating Troy Howard Middle School, 49-24, in Belfast.

It seems one of the team’s biggest adversaries this season was the flu bug. Several players contracted the virus during the season and the team was hit hard during last week’s playoff run. On Jan. 26, Brown witnessed Sydney Welch leaving the court to vomit and teammate Glory Blethen rushing to assist her sick teammate. The bug hit enough players on the 10-person squad that Coach John Deetjen wondered if he’d have enough players to play the championship game. Five Wildcats said they had the flu during the season.

In recognition of BRES’ winning the championship, Brown presented the team with a golden bucket symbolizing the team’s perseverance in overcoming a major obstacle to finish as an unbeaten champion.

“I think it was extraordinary what they did. The flu hit several of them causing some practices to be held with only four players. And it was so touching seeing a player console her teammate during a playoff game as she was throwing up in a nearby trash can,” Brown said. “So I decided to present them with a golden bucket in recognition of battling through some tough circumstances.”

Brown purchased a metallic gray bucket at Grover’s Hardware in Boothbay Harbor and painted it gold. He placed a notation on the bucket stating “2016-17 Busline League Undefeated Champions” along with all the players’ names. He also invited five members of Deetjen’s 2013-14 undefeated team to present the new champs with the golden bucket.

Boothbay Region High School girls varsity player Page Brown was a member of Deetjen’s last squad to finish as an unbeaten champion.

“We are very proud of you for your accomplishment and want to congratulate you on a job well-done. And we look forward to you all becoming future Seahawks,” Brown said. Other 2013-14 team members were Sydney Meader, Sydney Mercier, Jo Shaw and Tori Morin.

BRES guard Rachel Gentry is one of the five of 10 Wildcats who contracted the flu. For Gentry, the three days leading to the championship game were difficult.

“I was sick and weak and just didn’t feel well,” she said. “But I love to play and knew I just couldn’t sit and watch.”

Forward Glory Blethen was sick the night prior to the Wildcats’ victory over Camden Hills in the semifinals. And it was Blethen who helped her teammate Sydney Welch, who battled the cold and flu this season, as she vomited into a court-side trash can.

“I saw she was struggling and wanted to help her out,” Blethen said.

The season may be over, but the illness isn’t. Guard Kylie Brown battled a sinus infection and flu this season. She still has the sinus infection and is battling lingering effects of the flu.