SKOWHEGAN — Jimmy Reed never expected to be the only senior on the Skowhegan Area High School boys basketball team, but here he is.

“It feels extremely weird. After sophomore year, the other guys just left. I was the only junior last year,” Reed said after the RiverHawks sank Nokomis 57-35 won Friday night. “It’s just weird.”

In a normal season, the state basketball tournament quarterfinals would’ve begun Friday. The COVID-19 pandemic limited this season to just regional play, with no state playoffs, so Reed’s career will not end on the Augusta Civic Center court. Still, he’s playing, and any success the RiverHawks enjoy in the next few years will be in some part because Reed helped a young team grow in a tough season.

Skowhegan senior Jimmy Reed brings the ball up the court as Nokomis defender Carter Rice awaits during a game Friday night in Skowhegan. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Reed’s teammates include three juniors and eight sophomores. On this roster, Reed is an old man.

Reed is a pass-first point guard. On a team that measures experience in how many guys have learners permits, an experienced pass-first point guard is exactly what you want.

“It’s an important position. We need ball security and we need to get it up the floor,” Skowhegan coach Tom Nadeau said.

Reed is not a scoring machine. On this team he doesn’t have to be. Skowhegan has junior guard Levi Obert, who scored 14 points Friday night. Sophomore Kyle LePage, a 6-foot-5 forward who attacks the basket like it wronged his entire family, added 12 points, and 6-6 sophomore Adam Savage scored 14 of his team-high 16 points in the second half to help the RiverHawks pull away.

Reed scored four points, a layup late in the second quarter and another layup to push Skowhegan’s lead to 21 points, 53-32, with just over three minutes to play. He knows to dish the ball and get out of the way. He plays tight man-to-man defense on one of the opponents tougher shooters. Throughout Friday’s game, Reed was on Nokomis’ Madden White, who was held to four points.

Let his teammates do what they do best. That’s his way of demonstrating leadership.

“They’re extremely skilled. I don’t have to tell them anything. They’re extremely hard-working. I pass the ball to them and they score,” Reed said.

“These guys, they’re very close. They go ice fishing a lot, they do things together. The relationship’s there. He’s a good leader,” Nadeau added.

This shortened season will be over soon, and Reed’s weird solo senior season will end. When the RiverHawks take the court next season, his presence will still be felt.