Tuesday and Friday winter nights at Stonington High's gym just won't be the same without Heather Buck in a Bears' uniform.
There will be a lot of seating available, unlike during the last few years when Buck made SHS girls' basketball into the area's No. 1 athletic show during winters. Her SHS career ended March 1 when East Lyme upended Stonington in the Class L quarterfinals, 55-50.
Buck's resume is unrivaled in Stonington and perhaps ECC girls' basketball history. Only Killingly super-shooter Tracy Lis, who scored more than 3,000 career points and later compiled a Hall of Fame career at Providence College, can be compared in a discussion with Buck's greatness.
Buck's capsulized accomplishments:
Nearly 2,200 career points-1,000 more than the previous record holder.
Gatorade State Player of the Year as a junior.
New Haven Register State Player of the Year as a sophomore.
Hartford Courant State Player of the Year as a junior.
Class M state finalist as a freshman.
Class M state champ and title game MVP (27 points) as a sophomore.
ECC tournament champ and MVP as a senior.
Full scholarship to the University of
Connecticut.
No. 5 ranked center in nation, rated 21st overall senior.
As she has in every big game, Buck came up big in her finale with 39 points and 22 rebounds. Ultimately, as has been the case since the Bears won the Class M state title in 2005-2006, Buck has missed the services of a standout second or third player she enjoyed her first two years when Jacquie Fernandes and Andrea Buck contributed mightily to two consecutive state final games.
Aside from the disappointment of not returning to Central Connecticut State University for another title shot, Buck has no regrets about anything during her SHS career.
"It's sad, exciting, and scary all at the same time," Buck said. "I'll miss it here, but it's exciting to be moving on. I'm not getting into the whole reflection of my career ending, but it's been really fun and I've enjoyed myself here."
At times, especially this season, you couldn't blame Buck if she felt tired of high school basketball: the triple-team defenses, over-the-top physical play, and adjustments she had to make to mentor new varsity contributors. You couldn't blame Buck for feeling that part of her graduated along with the four seniors, Fernandes, Buck, Kasey Solar, and Morgan Rein, who helped SHS win the state title.
That was a perfect starting five. The Bears have fielded markedly different supporting casts in Buck's final two seasons. Four new starters joined Buck during a 19-5 season last year, which ended with a Class M second-round loss. Three new starters joined Buck this year. A number of key players decided they had enough of being Buck's supporting cast and didn't come out for the team this year.
You never heard Buck complain about her young teammates. Ironically, rumors had Buck leaving Stonington to play at, perhaps, Norwich Free Academy or a prep school after her sophomore seasons. The whispers intimated that her game would stagnate if she stuck with a "rebuilding" team...as if a 39-10 record in the two last years was rebuilding.
Ultimately, it was Buck who stuck it out while some supporting cast members left for other interests.
"It's inherent that teams are going to change because players graduate," Buck said. "The four teams I played on meshed in different ways, although we always carried the same principles and fundamentals taught to us by Coach [Paulla] Solar."
Recalling key moments of SHS' girls' basketball show, starring Buck, it started as a traveling road show. During the 2004-2005 season, Stonington's gym was renovated, forcing the Bears to play mostly road games with some selected home games at Wheeler's gymatorium. Buck led SHS to the ECC title game and then the Class M final, where the Bears were beaten in overtime during a controversial loss to Windham. (Remember the technical foul when a SHS player wore a uniform number different than the one listed in the official CIAC roster?)
SHS was on a mission the following season to return to Central. Despite a couple of losses to a strong Waterford, the Bears were spectacular all season during a 24-2 run. Buck scored 27 in the title victory against Holy Cross of Waterbury.
Buck's recruiting saga dominated her junior season. Big-time college coaches, including UConn's Geno Auriemma, scouted Buck and added a celebrity atmosphere to Bear home games. A lifelong Husky fan, Buck decided to stay home and selected UConn as her college choice.
Buck can look forward to many positive possibilities at UConn: Big East championships, Final Four berths, ESPN exposure, hopefully meaningful playing time, and possible WNBA overtures if she pans out the way some believe she will in time. Tina Charles will command most of the meaningful minutes at center for the next two seasons, however.
Buck's skill for her size, passing ability, overall defensive acumen (blocks and steals), and court intelligence projects her as a prime contributor to the Huskies. Auriemma seemingly can get any recruit he wants, so he sees plenty of potential in Buck.
Nevertheless, the loss to East Lyme hit her hard. There wasn't one trace of "big deal, I still have my scholarship" evident.
Aside from her physical gift of 6-4 height, Buck is blessed with integrity. Taking it easy, knowing she had her scholarship in store, and taking precautions to avoid injuries weren't options. She gave maximum effort at all times.
"Playing for Stonington has given me so many memories," Buck said. "In basketball, you get to meet so many people and build relationships. I'll always come back here."