WINDHAM – In the sports world, anything is possible. Comeback wins, Cinderella teams, and inspiring stories of triumph over tragedy are all part of sport’s universal appeal.

In Windham, two high school students have helped turn rundown basketball courts into an inspiring story of community pride, as their vision and perseverance have inspired others to achieve something great.

Within weeks, if weather cooperates, the two cracked and crumbing basketball courts and skating rink behind the Manchester Elementary School will start to see a transformation with new pavement and new basketball backboards and hoops. In all, $16,000 worth of improvements are being made possible by the efforts of students Matt Desmond and Matt Dyer, as well as monetary donations from businesses, town and school leaders, the Maine Red Claws professional basketball team.

Dyer and Desmond, both seniors at Windham High School, started spreading the word in April that the Manchester courts needed improvement. Using the skills they learned from Diane Leavitt’s Business Simulation class at the high school, they first approached the Town Council and school board for approval to renovate the court, provided they could secure funding.

With the town’s enthusiastic OK, the teens then approached local businesses for in-kind services relating to what was needed at the court, namely paving and installation of new poles and backboards. Within weeks, the two Matts were able to secure paving labor from Ramparts Bituminous and the installation of the poles by D&J Excavating, both Windham-based companies.

With the labor secured, money to buy the materials proved a little harder to come by. But thanks to a recent $2,000 donation from Councilor John MacKinnon, $10,000 from the town’s Recreation Revenue Fund and $4,000 received last week from the Maine Red Claws, the project is now a go with backboards already on their way.

“The poles and backboards are being shipped as we speak,” Windham Recreation Director Brian Ross said Monday. “They’re made by Bison in Kansas City. They’re heavy duty. They’re made out of an unbreakable polycarbonate material so they should last forever.”

Once the old poles are removed and the new ones set in place by D&J Excavating, Rampart Bituminous will then pave the area, creating two 84-feet-by-50-feet high school regulation-sized courts. And the entire area will be bordered to create an ice rink in the winter. In the spring, three-point lines and free-throw lines will be painted. At that time, additional items such as benches and lights might be erected if additional donations come in, Ross said.

A great effort

Good feelings were flowing last Thursday when Dyer and Desmond and their families met with representatives from the Maine Red Claws and local basketball officials at the Manchester courts to celebrate the involvement of the Red Claws, a NBA Development League team with ties to the Boston Celtics that plays its games in Portland.

Red Claws’ General Manager Jon Jennings praised the boys’ dedication to the effort.

“We want to use this team as a force for good in communities surrounding Portland. We’re the Maine Red Claws, not the Portland Red Claws, so we feel we represent the entire state,” Jennings said. “So when Matt (Desmond) sends me an e-mail saying they need our help, we found out the condition of the court and all the work they’d done, and it was easy for us to jump in and offer our assistance.”

Jennings was also quick to thank Red Claws’ corporate sponsors Mercy Hospital and Quirk Chevrolet, who gave much of the $4,000, and that further money for added court features could come from raffles to be held during games this season.

“It’s truly a community project. Us, the town, citizens, other companies have come together to try to make this happen. And we’re going to make it happen thanks to these two guys,” Jennings added.

Local youth basketball officials are excited about the new court as well. More than 500 kids from kindergarten to eighth grade take part in Windham Youth Basketball, and court space can be tight. While the outdoor court won’t ease wintertime court needs, the accessibility will allow kids free access to a quality court during the warmer months.

George McCrillis, a board member of Windham Youth Basketball, said the association has realized the lack of decent outdoor courts but had been unsuccessful making new courts a reality.

“A lot of adults have talked about it for a long time but it took a couple of young kids to go out and really make it happen, it’s really very exciting,” he said.

High school basketball coach Kevin Millington is equally impressed with Dyer and Desmond’s efforts. While not members of the Windham team, he said the two boys are “always in the gym working on their game.” Millington, who relies on the youth leagues to foster younger players’ skills so they can succeed in high school, is likewise excited about the new courts.

“This has been talked about for years,” Millington said. “We’ve had some kids attempt, but these kids are the first to follow through and make it happen. There’s been a huge desire for courts and some place for kids to go in this town because we have none and this is great. I think you’ll see a lot of kids up here playing.”

Athletic Director Rich Drummond echoes Millington sentiments: “Unbelievable. I think that sometimes you hear about stories like this starting up, but they lose speed. This just gained momentum all the way, so it’s totally a compliment to the boys, but also to the community because there’s a lot of community support behind it as well. But they spearheaded it and followed it through.”

According to Jennings, the Windham community can expect an official ribbon cutting next spring after all improvements are complete, which is good timing, since seniors Desmond and Dyer graduate in June.

“We can’t give enough credit to the people who have donated money and donated labor and material, their time, just everything,” said Desmond. “I’d also like to thank Ms. Leavitt. With her business class, we’ve been able to go out and do community projects. We hosted many events, such as Bob Marley coming to the high school. We took our skills from that class and went outside the business class. But we got the skills from her.”

After months of soliciting money and in-kind services to renovate the courts behind Manchester Elementary School in Windham, Windham High School seniors Matt Desmond and Matt Dyer’s efforts are paying off. Last week, the Maine Red Claws professional basketball team pledged $4,000. Standing at the soon-to-be renovated courts are, from front, Dyer, Desmond, Red Claws General Manager Jon Jennings, Windham High School varsity basketball coach Kevin Millington, Windham Athletic Director Rich Drummond and Windham Youth Basketball board member George McCrillis. (Staff photo by John Balentine)