Gene Hunter Award winners announced

The winners have been announced for the annual awards in Scarborough youth basketball that recognize both the player and the coach who have shown the greatest interest in improving physical skills.

The awards, named after legendary coach Gene Hunter, go this year to Coach Jason Littlefield, and player Seth Huntington.

“Coach Littlefield is described by those who work with him in Community Services basketball and Travel Basketball as someone who cares deeply about whether the kids learn the game, and improve their physical skills,” said Dan Warren of the Hunter Committee. “We heard many instances of his working with kids after practice, and after games to help them develop skills they will need for the next level. That was refreshing to hear since so many adults at the K-8 level are just into win, win, win.”

Warren said Huntington was nominated by adult coaches, and even a fellow player.

“Seth is a kid whose name came up a lot in the selection process the past two years. He is known as a kid who works out a lot, shoots at home a lot to improve, and also tries to get stronger to be a better player for his team,” Warren said.

Littlefield is a coach in the Scarborough Travel Basketball program, and has been named as co-coordinator next year of the league.

Seth Huntington is a fifth-grader whose father is Steve Huntington, a former assistant varsity coach of SHS boys basketball who this year took over as varsity girls coach at Cheverus.

Seth plays on an AAU called the Blue Waves.

“Both of these selections would be ones that would please Gene Hunter,” said Warren. “Coach Hunter was all about doing the fundamentals right – boxing out to rebound better, having good footwork to play strong defense, making sure young kids only shot far from the hoop if they could use good mechanics to do so. Coach Littlefield and Seth Huntington seem to be of the ‘Hunter School’ of thought.”

Hunter coached at Morse High School and South Portland High School before retiring and moving to Scarborough. Once here, the middle school persuaded him to come out of retirement in his late 70s to coach middle school ball. He was known for putting on free clinics for kids that were well attended, and well run.

There will be a ceremony soon where the award recipients will be recognized, and their photo taken with a representative of the Hunter Committee.

For information on the Hunter Awards, contact Warren at 883-4167 or by email at [email protected].

Safe Voices Walk/Run be held May 31

Safe Voices will be holding its annual Walk/Run to End Domestic Violence on Sunday, May 31, at Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston.

A 5K run will begin at 9 a.m. and the 1-mile walk will begin at 10 a.m. Registration for both events opens at 8 a.m. on May 31; pre-registration is available on www.safevoices.org. Strollers and well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome.

The purpose of the event is to spread awareness about domestic abuse and engage the community in supporting every person’s right to feel safe and live free from violence. All money raised will fund vital services to victims of domestic violence in Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties.

In 2014, Safe Voices provided 9,478 hours of advocacy to 1,660 victims of domestic violence in addition to providing 5,724 shelter bed nights and education to 8,252 participants.

Participants can raise money by collecting pledge donations and registering for either the 1-mile walk or the 5K run.

Prizes will be given at different fundraising levels. Top-tier runners in each age group will also receive awards. The first 150 registrants for the 5K get a free event T-shirt. The first 100 registrants for either the 1-mile walk or the 5K who raise a minimum of $50 will also receive a T-shirt. (Limit 1 shirt per registrant.)