SACO – It was a decidedly different scene back on Friday night, Oct. 29, than it is now for James Ek. Back then, as a Thornton Academy receiver, Ek left the football field on a stretcher with a concussion, bruised vertebrae and whiplash.

He was tackled going up for a pass in a Western Class A quarterfinal at Deering. He was released that night from the Maine Medical Center and told to rest. He made the mistake of attending a girls’ soccer game the next day and later paid the price.

Additional Photos

Thornton Academy’s James Ek, pressured here by Deering’s Riko Augustino, has recovered enough from a concussion to lead the SMAA in scoring at 20.5 points per game, with a league-best 27 3-pointers. Gordon Chibroski/Staff Photographer

“I took the concussion a little too lightly and woke up the next day with ringing in my ears,” Ek said.

He went to physical therapy and missed the first two weeks of preseason basketball practice. It wasn’t until Thanksgiving Day that he started to feel better.

Two and a half months after his head injury, there’s no question that Ek is back to his old self.

A talented basketball player who averaged 11 points a game as a junior, Ek is off to a fast start for the Golden Trojans (5-1). He leads the Southern Maine Activities Association in scoring and 3-point shooting. A 6-foot-1 senior guard, Ek is averaging 20.5 points a game and has 27 3-pointers.

Lying on the synthetic turf of Deering’s Memorial Field that night, Ek feared his basketball season might be lost.

“For a time, I definitely wondered,” he said. “I was concerned because I didn’t have much mobility in my feet and hands. I didn’t know how bad it was going to be. It didn’t help that the field was cold.”

As Ek stretched for a pass, Rams defensive back Renaldo Lowry cracked him in the back.

“It was a clean hit,” said Ek. “I fell on my face and rolled on my back. Everything went out for a second or two.”

Ek gradually improved and tried to play in a showcase basketball game last month, but said he didn’t feel right. But he was ready to go in the opening game of the season and responded with 19 points in a 57-53 win over Portland.

Ek’s scoring has not surprised Coach Bob Davies. He said, “James has always been able to put the ball in the basket. He’s become stronger and faster and is a lot better getting to the rim. He’s developed into an all-around player.”

Ek played AAU basketball last summer and credits it with getting him ready for the season. He played for a team out of Saco and then was invited to play for the Granite State Jayhawks of New Hampshire.

“I played with them in the national tournament. The biggest thing was the speed of the games,” he said. “It was a lot faster than what I was accustomed to in Maine. I was in incredible shape after that.”

Last fall, Ek went out for football for the first time in high school.

His athleticism and good hands proved to be assets.

“I quit football after the eighth grade, but a lot of my friends played so it was tough not to play,” Ek said. “Coach Davies encourages us to play as many sports as we can. He never thought I would go out.”

Last season was Ek’s first year at Thornton Academy after transferring from Portland.

He was quickly adopted by the fans. The Thornton student rooting section used his name to form “The Ek Squad.” It was in response to Biddeford’s student fan group, “The Beak Squad.”

“I thought it was pretty creative,” said Ek.

“They used my name because it rhymed with ‘Beak.’ “

Ek and Andrew Shaw, a returning all-state player, are the only starters back for Thornton from a year ago. Newcomers, like James’ brother, Adam, a sophomore point guard, have made the adjustment to the varsity.

Ek has joined with Shaw in being a strong leader.

“We have one goal and that’s to win the state title,” said Ek.

“I think we have the pieces to do it.”

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

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