PETER PSYHOGEOS, Senior – Basketball

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Psyhogeos

Psyhogeos simply played at the highest level from Opening Night right through overtime of the state final and his brilliance led the Clippers to memorable Gold Ball celebration.

Psyhogeos made Yarmouth’s varsity team as a freshman and gradually became a top-notch talent. This winter, he was close to unstoppable, averaging 20 points (third in the Western Maine Conference), 10 rebounds (third in the conference), 3.1 assists (10th in the league), 1.8 steals and 1.4 blocks per contest.

Highlights were numerous.

Psyhogeos opened the season with a 32-point, eight-rebound tour de force in a palpitating overtime victory over York and he was just getting started. Other highlights included 22 points, 11 rebounds and four assists in a win over Westbrook; 18 points apiece in victories over Wells and Fryeburg Academy; 13 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in a win over Greely; 21 points in a victory at Leavitt; 19 points, 11 rebounds, six blocks, five steals and three assists in a win at Waynflete; 23 points and 11 rebounds in a victory over Freeport (after having to miss a game with COVID); 18 points in a win over Brunswick; 20 points in a victory over Gray-New Gloucester, 32 points in a loss to Cape Elizabeth; and 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in a second win over Freeport.

Psyhogeos continued to steal the show in the postseason, scoring 15 points in a preliminary round win over Lincoln Academy, posting 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in a quarterfinal round victory over Oceanside; scoring 19 points and grabbing nine rebounds in a narrow semifinal round win over York; overcoming foul trouble to score 17 points and add nine rebounds in a come-from-behind regional final victory over Medomak Valley; then bowing out with 27 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and three blocked shots as Yarmouth rallied to stun Ellsworth in overtime to capture the Gold Ball.

“It’s been an amazing season,” Psyhogeos said. “It’s been some of the most fun I’ve had playing basketball in my life. We kept our heads down and kept working. We didn’t win every game, but we gave it our best shot in every one. I couldn’t be more proud of everyone.”

Psyhogeos, who has also won a pair of lacrosse state titles and is about to embark on a quest for a third, will matriculate at Bates College next year and will continue to impress on the basketball court, but it’s unlikely he’ll reach the memorable heights he attained in etching his name in Yarmouth lore.

Coach Jonas Allen’s comment: “Pete is a once-in-a-however-long player. Yarmouth might never have a player like him again. So steady, such a hard worker. He’s the ambassador for our program. He’s the guy that everyone wants to be. He always did it the right way with class. He’s as special as they come. Pete’s a special kid and a special player. Pete decided a little while back that he wants to be great. He’s put in the work to make that happen. His game has expanded so much. When he was younger, he just saw himself as a scorer and we challenged him in a big way to expand all parts of his game and he’s responded. I think the thing that maybe people don’t understand about Pete is he’s tough. They see the skill, but he’s ridiculously tough mentally and physically. He gets beaten up and makes a couple mistakes, but it doesn’t bother him and he comes back. We can always count on him.”

Previous winners:

BROOKE BOONE, Sophomore – Alpine skiing

Boone

Boone emerged as one of the state’s best Alpine skiers this winter and won a state title, while nearly capturing another, helping the Clippers to the Class B team championship.

Boone won the giant slalom at the Western Maine Conference championship meet (with a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 27.9 seconds) and was second in the slalom (1:44.29).

At the state meet, Boone was first in the GS (1:29.68) and placed second in the slalom (44.06).

Boone closed the season by being the top Maine Shootout qualifier, then ranked 18th at the Eastern High School Championships.

The best news for Yarmouth is that Boone still has two more seasons to sparkle on the slopes. Her accolades figure to only increase.

Coach Sean Marsh’s comment: “Brooke had a fantastic season and I attribute that to her mental approach to racing and her training. She never misses practice, she trains on the weekends at Sugarloaf and she always is up to for one more run in the course. She and her friends on the team have a great time, they laugh and joke on the bus, on the lift, but when she gets in the start gate for training and racing, she dials in with serious intensity. She inspects courses with a real attention to detail, she slips like she runs them and she pays attention to identifying and skiing the best and fastest line she can. Her natural ability is evident, her line and motion is incredibly smooth. This year, she got more aggressive in her starts and her gate-to-gate acceleration. She inspires a lot of the racers on our team and she was a wonderful leader in winning the state championships with the entire team. It’s awesome that she will be with us for two more years.”

Previous winners:

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter:@foresports.