PHOTO BY DAVID LE
Lynn native Stephen Basden is averaging 5.5 points per game and shooting 47.8 percent from beyond the arc in his senior season at Endicott.
By HAROLD RIVERA
The 2016-2017 season has been a bright one for the Endicott College men’s basketball team. Local ties are part of the Gulls’ success this season thanks to Lynn native Stephen Basden.
A starting forward for the Gulls, Basden is averaging 5.5 points per game and shooting 47.8 percent from beyond the arc in a season that has seen Endicott peak into the Division 3 men’s basketball national rankings.
Basden, a senior, said Endicott’s success is exactly what he was hoping for entering his final campaign as a Gull.
“The last two seasons have been really successful,” Basden said. “We’re trying to reach that next level, that next round. We want to go out and appreciate the opportunity to play the game of basketball. We have a goal to get better every week and put ourselves in the position to win a (Commonwealth Coast) conference championship in February.”
Aside from reaching the national rankings, the Gulls were also able to earn a memorable milestone for head coach Kevin Bettencourt this season. Bettencourt, a Peabody native and former Division 1 star at Bucknell University, won his 50th game as Endicott’s coach with a 79-67 victory over Regis on Dec. 30 at Salem State’s holiday tournament.
“It was awesome,” Basden said. “He’s an unbelievable coach. He was able to take this senior class and teach us things about basketball as sophomores that we didn’t imagine we’d know. It was nice to be a part of that for him and for him to get some recognition.”
Basden has made strides as an outside shooter this season, raising his 3-point percentage from 18.8 percent in his junior year to his current 47.8 percent mark. He credited his teammates for putting him in position to knock down shots.
“When it comes to shooting, I play around three really good scorers,” Basden said. “It’s about having the opportunity and being confident about it. My role wasn’t to shoot as much when I was younger. When I put myself in the right spot, I can knock down a lot of shots.”
He added, “It came to fruition for me this season, to be able to make shots with the opportunities I’m given. I’m proud to see the things that I worked on in the off-season are showing themselves in the season.”
Although he was raised in Lynn, Basden attended Governor’s Academy in Byfield before enrolling at Endicott. He starred on the Governor’s varsity basketball team all four years while also playing football and lacrosse.
Despite the fact that he isn’t a basketball product from a Lynn high school, Basden still holds a close connection to the rich tradition in his hometown.
“For me to be a part of the basketball history in Lynn is awesome,” Basden said. “From the Thundercats, to Lynn travel teams, to the Shoe City Classic. For me to see older guys play, and then get the chance to do it myself, is really special. I can’t say any of my success would’ve came without the competition and coaches that Lynn provides.”
He added, “I’m very fortunate and appreciative of the support I’ve gotten from individuals in Lynn, especially from my mom, Dalene. Lynn is a special place and it creates special people.”
Now that his career as a Gull is winding down, Basden’s goal is to help Endicott make noise in the Commonwealth Coast Conference and in the Division 3 national tournament. The Gulls won the CCC in the past two years, and Basden’s hopeful they’ll make it three.
“It would be an unbelievable accomplishment,” Basden said of the possibility of winning the conference three seasons in a row. “That’s only been done once in our conference (Endicott 2004-2006). However the season ends, it’ll be the time we spent together that we remember the most. My career has been unbelievable because of the relationships I’ve built with teammates and coaches.”
The Gulls, 13-4 and 8-2 in conference play, are currently second in a three-way race for for the top spot in the CCC with Roger Williams (first) and Nichols (third).
Nichols is led by fellow Lynn native Marcos Echevarria, a hometown friend of Basden’s.
“Me and Marcos went to the same elementary school so we’re really good friends,” Basden said. “It’s fun getting to play against him. It’s special to see two kids from Lynn playing on the same court. We’re well represented.”
Basden’s set to graduate in May and is hoping to step into the field of marketing. He said the education he’s received at Endicott has prepared him for his future endeavors.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have three field experience opportunities in my time at Endicott,” Basden said. “I want to do something in marketing with creative freedom. When May comes around, hopefully I’ll have the options. I think Endicott has been able to prepare me for that moment.”
Harold Rivera can be reached at [email protected].