Of the 20 Class C and D boys basketball teams in the Penobscot Valley Conference, one player is scoring points and assisting his teammates at a higher clip than anyone else — and he’s just a sophomore.
Through 13 games this season, Machias point guard Mickey Fitzsimmons has unexpectedly led the Bulldogs to a 12-1 record — including a season sweep over reigning Class C North champs Calais — while averaging 22.6 points and 5.6 assists per game. His 37 percent 3-point shooting and 3.1 steals per game are also top 10 marks in the region this year.
With the departure of 1,000-point scorer Shane Feeney and title-winning coach Jimmy Getchell this offseason, few imagined the Bulldogs being championship contenders this year. But Fitzsimmons says he thrives off being the underdog.
“Proving people wrong is a big part of it,” Fitzsimmons said. “I always had confidence in myself; I’m just trying to get better every year.”
Standing at 6-foot-0 and 140 lbs. his freshman year, Fitzsimmons started for the Bulldogs but averaged just 12 points per game on 60 percent shooting (37 percent from three). One inch taller, 15 pounds heavier and a year wiser this season, Fitzsimmons has become a lot more versatile offensively, and is Machias’ No. 1 facilitator.
“He’s always played point guard and been a good 3-point shooter,” father and head coach Chad Fitzsimmons said. “This year, he’s learning how to take contact and is developing a midrange shot — he has a good floater, too. I’m always asking him to be aggressive, push the tempo and make something happen.”
Chad Fitzsimmons was promoted from assistant coach this offseason and admits there are positives and negatives associated with being both Mickey’s father and head coach.
“You don’t want people to think you’re playing favorites, so sometimes I’m harder on Mickey than the other players, but he takes it well,” coach Fitzsimmons said with a laugh. “He’s like a second coach out there; sometimes he knows the plays better than I do. He’s always been a high IQ basketball player.”
In addition to Mickey Fitzsimmons’ continued growth, senior Bobby Richardson and junior Hayden Blake have also stepped up bigtime for the Bulldogs this year. Richardson is averaging 17.9 points on 56 percent shooting, and pulling down seven rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Blake has become the region’s No. 1 3-point shooter, making 49 percent of his shots beyond the arc.
So far this season, the Bulldogs are undefeated at home, undefeated in games Fitzsimmons has played in, and have a plus-293 point differential. Machias moved up from D North to C North this offseason, and even against the stiffer competition the Bulldogs are sitting pretty with the No. 1 seed in the Heal Point standings.
Three games with Class D powerhouses Schenck (home and away games) and Bangor Christian (home game) still await Machias, but the Bulldogs are undoubtedly on track to make a deep tournament run with Fitzsimmons at the helm of a deep, well-rounded, tight-knit group.
“We’re really together; I like being able to play with my friends,” Fitzsimmons said. “The future’s definitely bright.”
