BY GARY HAWKINS

Staff Writer

Additional Photos

BIG WEEK: Richmond High School’s Kyle O’Brien averaged 17 points and 15 rebounds last week during the Western Maine Class D tournament and was named the outstanding player of the tournament. Staff photo by Andy Molloy

At 6 feet, 5 inches tall and 220 pounds, Richmond senior Kyle O’Brien can appear pretty intimidating. Other times, he looks like a big ball of silly putty.

He was both during the Western Maine Class D tournament last week at the Augusta Civic Center. He was silly putty when cheering for the Richmond girls team, decked out in shorts and T-shirt and waving a maroon towel in one hand and a white one in the other for the entire game.

In the first half, he fired up the crowd from his front row seat at the Augusta Civic Center. In the second half, he moved in with the band and a group of Richmond students to better orchestrate the cheers.

“He can be rambunctious,” senior teammate Tom Carter said. “Once the jersey goes on all that goes out the window.”

O’Brien averaged 17 points and 15 rebounds in leading the Bobcats to their fourth straight regional title last week. For his efforts he received the John Messina Award given to the tournament’s outstanding player.

O’Brien has played well all season, but not quite that well, at least not for three straight games.

“This year he really turned it on and decided he was really going to lead our team through the tournament,” Carter said.

There’s no question O’Brien enjoys the spotlight. Put him in a room full of people or a crowded gym and it won’t be long before you hear or see him.

“It’s pretty much what I do,” O’Brien said. “It’s who I am.”

Richmond coach Phil Houdlette has seen both sides of O’Brien since he arrived in high school and admits it’s taken awhile for one facet to take charge.

“I think he’s matured some,” Houdlette said. “There’s times when you play the class clown and times when you have to play the other side of that. I think he’s figured out where that line is.”

O’Brien can be a beast on the backboards and has always considered that his most important job. But he’s also emerged as a low post threat, primarily because he’s staying in the low post. Not only is he getting the ball more but he’s finishing his shots.

“Toward the middle of the season we started working on post moves,” O’Brien said. “When you get the ball you’ve just got to be calm and you’ve got to be patient.”

Against Central Aroostook, O’Brien will be facing a bigger opponent in 6-6 junior Mike McClung, a rarity for him this season. He doesn’t believe he’ll be intimidated.

“I’m pumped,” he said. “You pretty much have to leave everything on the floor.”

Before the game, at least for the better part of three quarters, O’Brien will be part of a boisterous Richmond group cheering the girls in their first state title appearance since 1996. Should they win, it will be their third straight season with a state championship after having won one in softball and soccer.

“It’s what you’ve got to do,” he said of his cheerleading. “The energy gets everyone going. They’re going for a three-peat, that’s pretty cool for them.”

When he emerges from the locker room for his game, the enthusiasm will still be there but in another form.

“When it’s my game I’ve just got to get into my mode,” he said.

Gary Hawkins — 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com