Growing up, Kelly Butterfield had plenty of people to play hoops with — she and her seven brothers and sisters enjoyed frequent games of H-O-R-S-E and 3-on-3 at her family’s farmhouse in Gorham.
Butterfield continued to play hoops with her siblings on the hardwood. And in 1980, the junior teamed with older sister Karen and younger sister Kathie on the Gorham squad that captured the third of its four straight Class B state crowns. All four of those state championships were with her highly respected and appreciated coach, George Stevenson.
After one state win, her dad “Red” covered the entire front of their house in sheets with the message: State Champs dwell here.”
Butterfield, or “Buttah” as friends called her, scored 1,123 points for the Rams during their title reign from 1978 to 81. Rebounding, though, was the 5-11 power forward’s focus and forte.
“Rebounds were my teammates’ passes to me. I had to learn to get them or I was never going to see the ball,” she says to tease her teammates, many of whom are still very close friends.
Butterfield was a cog for the 1979 Gorham squad that established team records for most points in a game (85) and most points in a regional tourney (222). And in 1980, she set Class B Western Maine tourney records for most free throws in a game (15) and most free throws in a tournament (26).
After her remarkable high school career, the three-time All-State player went on to star at the University of New Hampshire.
While earning a degree in business at the Whittemore School of Business and Economics, she scored 1,030 points — 18th most in Wildcat history — and snared 678 boards — 9th in school history.
Butterfield then embarked on a professional career, winning a national championship with the Waterford Wildcats during one of her two seasons in Ireland. And during her two seasons in Australia, Butterfield’s Adelaide-based squad competed with Olympians.
The UPS international account manager says her hoop experiences — from backyard games to playing professionally — have been incredible.
“I thought I would remember the matchups,” she says. Instead, she recalls the hard work, camaraderie, friendships, community celebrations and post-championship parades.
“This is truly an honor,” Butterfield says of her induction into the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame, adding it’s difficult to accept the individual award because of the support and contributions she’s received from coaches, teammates and family.
“I hope they feel this is theirs.”
