Tourney Time 2019

TOURNEY TIME 2019

A Special Advertising Section of the Bangor Daily News l Friday, February 15, 2019

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TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

Outgoing Maine Basketball Commissioner shares six decades of tourney memories

BY ERNIE CLARK, BDN STAFF

P

eter Webb’s connections with the high school basketball tournaments span more than six decades.

As a youngster, the Houlton native would go to the high school gym in his hometown known as “the Castle” or to Presque Isle to watch small-school teams from throughout Aroostook County battle through regional play to qualify for the Eastern Maine tournaments in Classes M and S. “I’d be in Houlton and teams like Sherman, On the Cover: Members of the Southern Aroostook girls basketball team kiss the gold Island Falls, Bridgwater and Hodgdon would ball following their 54-37 victory over Vinalhaven for the Class D state title at the Augusta be playing and two of them would go, and Civic Center on March 3, 2018. The Warriors return to the tourney this season and hope to then up in Presque Isle there were the Mapletons and Eastons and two of them defend their title. Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times would go,” said Webb, now 80 and in his final year as Maine’s basketball commissioner.

“It was fun to watch those games, and of course those teams had a lot of great players.

That was back when (Boston Celtics legend) Bob Cousy came up to Bridgewater and spoke at their banquet.”

Webb’s own playing experience earned him and his team the chance to play in the first Eastern Maine Class L tournament to be played at the “new” Bangor Auditorium in 1956, his senior year at Houlton High School.

“Of course every game was always full,” recalled Webb of the sold-out crowds for those tournaments, which were contested on three consecutive days.

Sixth-seeded Houlton upended No. 3 Old Town 59-44 in the quarterfinals before bowing to No. 2 Stearns of Millinocket 67-45 in the semifinals.

Houlton went on to play Rockland in a consolation game that year in what likely was the first game ever played in Maine with a shot clock -- just one year after the NBA had begun using a 24-second clock for its games.

“Why and how and what the connection was I don’t know, but they brought the

24-second clock from Boston Garden up for that game and we played with it,” Webb said.

“It didn’t go off once.”

Webb has only one regret about his own tournament playing experience.

“I was a good ballplayer and I had red hair so I was noticed, and I’ll never forget after my game walking up the bleachers to watch the next game,” he said. “We had our letter jackets on and this little fellow came up to me and wanted an autograph and I ignored it.

“I’m sure he doesn’t lose sleep over it today but it was one of the things I’ve regretted in my life.”

Webb went on to play sports at Ricker College in Houlton before embarking on a career in education, and he joined the officiating ranks during the 1961-1962 season.

Three years later, he qualified to officiate his first high school tournament and worked his first game at the Brewer Auditorium where some of the small-school contests of the time were played.

“Becoming a official was like I had made the Red Sox,” said Webb. “It was a big, big thing to make the tournament.”

Not only was the tournament the place for officials to be rewarded for their work during the regular season, it often was where they would gain assignments for the following year in the days before there was an assigner.

“At tournament time back then, a lot of the athletic directors were in the back corridors trying to line up officials for the next season,” Webb said. “They’d ask you about the dates they had open and you’d take them if you could, but short of being sick upon sick, if you turned a date back that next season, you might not hear from that AD again.”

Webb went on to have a storied career as an umpire in softball and baseball -- his

TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

LINDA COAN O’KRESIK | BDN MAINE BASKETBALL COMMISSIONER PETER WEBB, 80, IS SERVING HIS FINAL YEAR IN THAT POST AFTER HOLDING IT FOR THAN A QUARTER-CENTURY.,

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TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

favorite sport -- and as a basketball official.

He worked more than 1,500 varsity basketball games over five decades and served as Maine’s assistant basketball commissioner for 13 years before being promoted to his current post, where he has served for more than a quarter-century.

Webb also became a prominent contributor to the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials as a longtime member of that organization’s executive committee -- a run highlighted by a term as IAABO president in 2002.

Webb has witnessed numerous changes in the game over the years, from the coaching box to the 3-point shot to the effect of the southward migration of the state’s population.

When Webb played there were seven Class L (now A or AA) schools in Aroostook County alone: Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Fort Kent, Houlton, Limestone, Madawaska and Presque Isle. Today there are none, with just two Class B schools left in The County in Caribou and Presque Isle.

But to Webb the biggest change in the

Maine high school basketball tournament scene was the addition of the girls tournament by Heal Points during the mid1970s. The first Eastern Maine girls tourney was held at Husson University in Bangor and at the Brewer Auditorium in 1975, with the event joining the boys tourney at the Bangor Auditorium in 1980, Webb recalled.

“It wasn’t long after Title IX came along in 1972,” said Webb, a 2015 inductee into the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame. “Having the girls tournament was a giant thing, a big thing for basketball in the state.”

And while the new Bangor Auditorium was replaced by the Cross Insurance Center in 2013, the atmosphere within the “Mecca” remains one of Webb’s overriding memories at tournament time.

“For coaches who have been around, players who played there, officials who worked the games, the Bangor Auditorium was the place,” he said. “You hear people say that they’d walk in there and shivers would go up their spine whether you were playing or a fan.

“It was also the best-lighted place I’ve

LINDA COAN O’KRESIK | BDN

ever been in for basketball, and the sounds … it was made for that.”

While continued changes are inevitable -most recently the expansion from four to five classes -- Webb says visits to observe games and tournaments in other states through his IAABO work have reinforced his belief that Maine high school basketball remains on solid footing.

“I was just down to Machias a week ago to watch Machias and Woodland play and it was packed,” said Webb. “In some ways their rivalry is as big as it is anywhere, but everyone was well behaved and it was a great atmosphere.

“Our high school boys and girls basketball doesn’t take a back seat to any of those other states, and neither does our officiating.”

TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

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JOSEPH CYR | HOULTON PIONEER TIMES

Woodland’s Drew Hayward (right).

BDN ALL-TOURNEY BOYS BASKETBALL TEAMS, 2010-2018 *William C. W arner Most Valuable Player

2018 CLASS A • Ian McIntyre* (Hampden Acad.)

• Kory Winch (Hampden Acad.)

• Jordan Roddy (Cony) • Gabe Allaire (Medomak Valley) • Josh Smestad (Nokomis)

CLASS B • Riley Swanson* (MDI) • Graham Good (MDI) • Nate Desisto (Orono) • Isaac Varney (Hermon) • Ethan Mailman (Central)

CLASS C • Taylor Schildroth* (George Sevens) • Tyler Pye (Bucksport) • Justin Thompson (Schenck) • Jimmy Buzzell (Hodgdon) • Nick Szwez (George Stevens)

CLASS B • Keenan Marseille* (Hermon) • Griffin Guerrette (Presque Isle) • Cody Hawes (Hermon) • Andrew Phelps (MDI) • Garrett Trask (Hermon)

CLASS C • Taylor Schildroth* (GSA) • Max Mattson (GSA) • Chris Giberson (Fort Fairfield) • Isaac Cyr (Fort Fairfield) • Justin Thompson (Schenck)

CLASS D • Jacob Doody* (Easton) • Jacob Godfrey (Machias) • Jackson Mathers (Southern Aroostook) • Logan Halvorson (Easton) • Jake Flewelling (Easton)

CLASS C • Taylor Schildroth* (George Stevens Acad.)

CLASS D • James Mersereau* (Machias) • Jordan Grant (Machias) • Nolan Altvater (Southern Aroostook) • Jackson Mathers (Southern Aroostook) • Jacob Flewelling (Easton)

• Max Mattson (George Stevens Acad.)

• Isaac Cyr (Fort Fairfield) • Jared Harvey (Fort Fairfield) • Cayden Spencer-Thompson (Mattanawcook Acad.)

CLASS D • Justin Worden* (Woodland) • Drew Hayward (Woodland) • Adam Robinson (Jonesport-Beals) • Alessandro Marotta (Machias) • Riley Dionne (Schenck) HONORABLE MENTION: • Ryan Alley (Jonesport-Beals) • Dean Grass (Bangor Christian) • Travis Thompson (Schenck) 2017 CLASS A • Nathan Violette* (Messalonskee) • James Kouletsis (Messalonskee) • Michael Norton Jr. (Oceanside) • Cooper Wirkala (Oceanside) • Jordan Roddy (Cony)

2015 CLASS A • Nick Gilpin* (Hampden) • Brendan McIntyre (Hampden) • Isaiah Harris (Lewiston) • Trever Irish (Lewiston) • Nick Mayo (Messalonskee)

2016 CLASS AA • Andrew Fleming* (Oxford Hills) • Amir Moss (Portland) • Terion Moss (Portland) • Malik White (Deering) • Griffin Foley (Portland)

CLASS B • Nicholas DePatsy* (Medomak Valley) • Justin Martin (Winslow) • Micah Williamson (Medomak Valley) • Eric Hoogterp (Old Town) • Riley Swanson (MDI)

CLASS A • Keenan Hendricks* (Oceanside) • Nicholas DePatsy (Medomak Valley) • Nick Mazurek (Oceanside) • Cameron Allaire (Medomak Valley) • Nick Gilpin (Hampden Acad.)

CLASS C • Tyler Niles* (Calais) • Kyle Bouchard (Houlton) • Andre Paul (Calais) • Nate DeSisto (Orono) • Kyle Johnson (Calais)

CLASS B • Bruce St. Peter* (Ellsworth) • Bryce Harmon (Ellsworth) • Donovan Savage (Caribou) • Jake Koffman (Orono) • Nick Bagley (Ellsworth)

CLASS D • Chris Giberson* (Fort Fairfield) • Hunter Beaulieu (Fort Fairfield) • Logan Wood (Machias) • Robbie Watson (Fort Fairfield) • Cameron Bragg (Washburn)

2014 CLASS A • Zach Gilpin* (Hampden) • Nick Gilpin (Hampden) • Andrew Fleming (Oxford Hills) • Blake Gordon (Brunswick) • Isaiah Bess (Hampden)

2013 CLASS A • Zach Gilpin* (Hampden) • Spencer Carey (Lawrence) • Xavier Lewis (Lawrence) • Quin Leary (Edward Little) • Nick Gilpin (Hampden)

CLASS B • Garvey Melmed* (Old Town) • Dayne Savage (Caribou) • Tyler Thayer (Hermon) • Adam Richardson (Old Town) • Nick Bagley (Ellsworth)

CLASS B • John Murray* (Medomak Valley) • Ryan Ripley (Medomak Valley) • Jonathan Phelps (MDI) • Adam Gray (MDI) • Ryan Rebar (Foxcroft)

CLASS C • Kyle Bouchard* (Houlton) • Trevor Lyford (Penquis) • Cherif Fall (Lee) • Kyle Johnson (Calais) • Nick Guiod (Houlton)

CLASS C • Isaiah Bess* (Penquis) • Trevor Lyford (Penquis) • Kyle Bouchard (Houlton) • Devin Hall (Calais) • Nick Guiod (Houlton)

CLASS D • Chris Hudson* (Hodgdon) • Jacob Rioux (Van Buren) • Cameron Landry (Southern Aroostook) • Hunter Turner (Easton) • Nolan Altvater (So. Aroostook)

CLASS D • Steven Decker* (Central Aroostook) • Chris Hudson (Hodgdon) • Joe Stiles (CAHS) • Chandler Brewer (CAHS) • Mitch Worcester (Washburn)

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TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

2012 CLASS A • Christian McCue* (Hampden) • Cam Sennick (Mt. Blue) • Fred Knight (Hampden) • Eric Berry (Mt. Blue) • Quin Leary (Edward Little)

2011 CLASS A • Bo Leary* (Edward Little) • Josiah Hartley (Bangor) • Graham Safford (Hampden) • Zach Blodgett (Bangor) • Tim Mains (Edward Little)

2010 CLASS A • Yusef Iman* (Edward Little) • Dom Drake (Brewer) • Ray Bessette (Brewer) • James Philbrook (Edward Little) • Clark Noonan (Bangor)

CLASS B • Jake Palmer* (Gardiner) • Jayson Burke (MDI) • Aaron Toman (Gardiner) • Adam Gray (MDI) • John Murray (Medomak Valley)

CLASS B • Tyler McFarland* (Camden Hills) • Andrew Austin (Ellsworth) • Keegan Pieri (Camden Hills) • Chris Braley (Nokomis) • Joel Gabriel (Camden Hills)

CLASS B • Tyler McFarland* (Camden Hills) • Keegan Pieri (Camden Hills) • Ryan Petros (Ellsworth) • Alex MacKenzie (Medomak Valley) • Mike Cochrane (Mount View)

CLASS C • D.J. Johnson* (Lee) • Kyle Bouchard* (Houlton) • Boubacar Diallo (Lee) • Trevor Lyford (Penquis) • Isaiah Bess (Penquis) • Chase Vicaire (Mattanawcook)

CLASS C • A.J. Harris* (Lee Acad.)

• Joe McCloskey (Penobscot Valley) • Gabe O’Brien (Sumner) • Artie Makovskis (Lee Acad.)

• Tylor Martin (Sumner)

CLASS C • Ben Teer* (Washington Acad.)

• Cam Shorey (Calais) • Noah Von Rotz (Washington Acad.)

• Josiah Richard (Foxcroft) • Bryce Colbeth (Washington Acad.)

CLASS D • Mike McClung* (Central Aroostook) • Garet Beal (Jonesport-Beals) • Caleb Kelly (Central Aroostook) • Mitch Worcester (Washburn) • Brian Getchell (Machias)

CLASS D • Brandon Theriault* (Schenck) • Travis Noyes (Schenck) • John McNamee (Schenck) • Jared Waite (Schenck) • Justin Alley (Jonesport-Beals)

CLASS D • Garet Beal* (Jonesport-Beals) • Sam Grindle (DIStonington) • Matthew Alley (Jonesport-Beals) • Mike McClung (Central Aroostook), • Justin Alley (Jonesport-Beals) GABOR DEGRE | BDN

Mattanawcook Academy’s Cayden Spencer-Thompson.

TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

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BDN reporter recalls some highs and lows of a relationship with basketball

BY ERNIE CLARK, BDN STAFF

D

OVER-FOXCROFT, Maine -- My first experience with high school basketball came back in middle school.

It was the annual Dover Grammar School spelling bee, and I figured I was one of the favorites to move on to the Piscataquis County finals until that dream came to a crashing halt.

I recall having spelled a few words correctly, then came the word “tenant.”

Since my dad and mom had housed myself and my four siblings in the home

they purchased in 1954 I had no particular reason to know that word or how to spell it.

My frame of reference for how I thought the word was spelled came from listening to the likes of Eddie Owen, Joe Gould and George Hale broadcast high school games on the radio and reading all the write-ups of the day in the Bangor Daily News.

Through the media I had heard of Tom Tennett, who was playing for Bangor High School at the time.

Guess how I spelled tenant in the

spelling bee?

Sit down, Clark.

My bittersweet relationship with high school basketball continued through high

school -- and what has turned out to be the glory years of the sport at Foxcroft Academy.

Not that I had much to do with it.

Foxcroft was one of the favorites to win the 1975 Class B state championship after falling to Orono in the regional final a year earlier.

The Ponies were led by 6-foot-8 center Kevin Nelson, the pride of Southeast Monson, who went on to play at the University of Maine and is now a member

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TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

FOXCROFT ACADEMY PHOTO

Foxroft Academy’s Kevin Nelson (center) and Jeff Dunn show off the Eastern Maine Class B championship trophy with coach Skip Hanson at the Bangor Auditorium in February 1975. The Ponies went on to win the state championship. Part of BDN writer Ernie Clark’s bittersweet relationship with high school basketball occurred with that team.

TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

of the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame.

Coach Skip Hanson carried just 11 players on the roster, with Nelson one of the nine seniors along with juniors Kenny Burtchell and Peter Snow.

The 12th spot on the roster went to the best player in each night’s JV game.

This slightly built, left-handed sophomore guard got to play up one evening, but the lingering memory of that experience is of missing a “high-percentage shot” that would have put Foxcroft over the 100-point mark in a game at Central of Corinth.

It wasn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of the season. Foxcroft went on to defeat Medomak Valley of Waldoboro 56-53 in an epic state final as my family and I watched from high inside a soldout Augusta Civic Center.

But it’s the only basketball state title in school history, and I had missed my chance to make a contribution -- albeit a minute one.

Karma came during my next two years on the varsity -- bridge years, I call them.

We went 6-12 and 4-14 in the aftermath of the state-championship season that sent coach Hanson off to a successful career in school administration and leaving his successor, Rusty Clukey, thinking there was nowhere to go but up.

At least that was true. Clukey and Foxcroft returned to the Eastern B final in 1979 before falling to Keith Ogden and the Bucksport Golden Bucks.

Since then this relationship with high school basketball has been as an observer, and it has been one of the pleasures of this profession.

One of the most impressive teams I’ve seen was the 1985 Class A state championship team from Waterville High School. The Purple Panthers were so deep that reserves from coach Ken Lindlof’s club went on to play collegiately.

Waterville was nearly as dominant the following season, and seemed poised to repeat its 1985 success after ripping rival

Lawrence 89-33 at Colby College on the Fairfield school’s senior night.

But the Bulldogs had the final laugh.

Guided by first-year head coach Mike McGee, Lawrence stunned Waterville in the EM championship game, getting a lastsecond shot by freshman Troy “Goose” Scott to force overtime and then controlling the extra period to earn an improbable 56-53 victory that ranks as perhaps the biggest upset I’ve ever witnessed.

That 1986 Eastern Maine tournament was one of the most memorable not only because of Lawrence’s heroics but because of the night the Bangor Auditorium roof leaked.

The Class B girls final between Houlton and Mount View of Thorndike was set to begin at 7:05 p.m., but a leak near center court delayed the proceedings for 75 minutes. By the time the boys game started, it was after 10 p.m. -- when the second game of the doubleheader normally would be nearing its end.

That boys final between Dexter and Rockland evolved into one of the more memorable -- and perhaps latest-ending -contests in state history.

Twice Rockland extended the game on late shots by John Post, and a third time it was teammate Dan Gargan whose buzzer-beater kept the big Bangor Auditorium crowd in doubt.

Finally Dexter got the last score, a runner by Marty Keaveney in the final seconds, to outlast Rockland 63-61 in five overtimes.

The game ended at 12:18 a.m., and five minutes later my work was done. Finally, a personal basketball victory, at the tournament of all places.

Then there was one memorable contest I sort of witnessed.

I was tasked to cover the 1992 Class A girls state final in Portland that capped off the second of the Cindy Blodgett-led Lawrence Bulldogs’ four straight state titles.

I hung around to watch the highly competitive Bangor-South Portland boys game, but opted at halftime to leave for the 75-mile drive home to central Maine.

There was no radio coverage to speak of between the locations, meaning I’d have to wait to find who won on the 11 o’clock news.

I timed it just right, arriving home at about 11:15 p.m., just when the late Channel 5 sports report would air.

I turned on the TV, and there they were, highlights of the Bangor-South Portland game -- or at least I thought they were just highlights.

It turned out to be the end of Channel 5’s live coverage of the game, in this case the fourth and fifth overtimes of a classic won

by John Wassenbergh and South Portland 81-79.

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Not all was lost for Bangor. The Rams won the state title the next year, the first of eight gold balls captured by the program under Hall of Fame coach Roger Reed.

There are so many other magical basketball moments I’ve missed over the years, like Tim Scott’s “miracle minute” that propelled Ellsworth past Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln in the 1988 Eastern B final and Joe Campbell’s last-second shot that gave Bangor the 2001 Class A state championship over heavily favored Deering of Portland.

But that’s what makes tourney time so special. You never know what you’re going to see next.

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TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

2018 - 2019

BOYS NORTH TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE QUARTER FINALS

SEMI FINALS

FRIDAY, FEB. 15 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR

TUESDAY, FEB. 19 AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND

THURSDAY, FEB. 21 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR

Class AA AA5 -- AA1 winner vs.

AA2 winner, 2:00 p.m.

AA6 -- AA3 winner vs.

AA4 winner, 3:30 p.m.

Class D D5 -- D1 winner vs.

D2 winner, 2:05 p.m.

D6 -- D3 winner vs.

D4 winner, 3:35 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20 AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER

FRIDAY, FEB. 22 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR

Class A A5 -- A1 winner vs.

A2 winner, 7:00 p.m.

A6 -- A3 winner vs.

A4 winner, 8:30 p.m.

Class C C5 -- C1 winner vs.

C2 winner, 2:05 p.m.

C6 -- C3 winner vs.

C4 winner, 3:35 p.m.

Class B B1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 5:00 p.m.

B2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 16 AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER Class A A1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 3:30 p.m.

A2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 5:00 p.m.

A3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 7:30 p.m.

A4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 9:00 p.m.

AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR Class B B3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 10:35 a.m.

B4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 3:05 p.m.

Class D D1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 7:35 p.m.

D2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 9:05 p.m.

MONDAY, FEB. 18 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR Class D D3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 2:05 p.m.

D4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 3:35 p.m.

TUESDAY, FEB. 19 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR Class C C1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 9:30 a.m.

C2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 11:05 a.m.

C3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 7:05 p.m.

C4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 8:35 p.m.

AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR Class B B5 -- B1 winner vs.

B2 winner, 2:05 p.m.

B6 -- B3 winner vs.

B4 winner, 3:35 p.m.

TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

FINALS FRIDAY, FEB. 22 AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND

SATURDAY, FEB. 23 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR

Class AA AA7 -- A5 winner vs.

A6 winner, 6:30 p.m.

Class D D7 -- D5 winner vs.

D6 winner, 10:35 a.m.

AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER

Class B B7 -- B5 winner vs.

B6 winner, 3:35 p.m.

Class A A7 -- A5 winner vs.

A6 winner, 8:45 p.m.

Class C C7 -- C5 winner vs.

C6 winner, 8:35 p.m.

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TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

2018 - 2019

BOYS SOUTH TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE QUARTER FINALS

SEMI FINALS

FRIDAY, FEB. 15 AT PORTLAND EXPO

TUESDAY, FEB. 19 AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND

THURSDAY, FEB. 21 AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND

Class AA AA5 -- AA1 winner vs.

AA2 winner, 6:30 p.m.

AA6 -- AA3 winner vs.

AA4 winner, 8:00 p.m.

Class B B5: B1 winner vs.

B2 winner, 6:00 p.m.

B6: B3 winner vs.

B4 winner, 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20 AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND

AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER

Class A A3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 6:00 p.m.

A4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 7:45 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 16 AT PORTLAND EXPO Class B B1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 10:00 a.m.

B2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 11:30 a.m.

B3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 2:30 p.m.

B4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 4:00 p.m.

Class A A1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 7:00 p.m.

A2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 8:30 p.m.

AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER Class D D3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 11:30 a.m.

D4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 1:00 p.m.

MONDAY, FEB. 18 AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER Class D D1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 8:30 a.m.

D2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 10:00 a.m.

Class C C1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 3:30 p.m.

C2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 5:00 p.m.

C3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 7:30 p.m.

C4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 9:00 p.m.

Class A A5: A1 winner vs.

A2 winner, 6:00 p.m.

A6: A3 winner vs.

A4 winner, 7:30 p.m.

AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER Class D D5 -- D1 winner vs.

D2 winner, 10:00 a.m.

D6 -- D3 winner vs.

D4 winner, 11:30 a.m.

Class C C5 -- C1 winner vs.

C2 winner, 7:00 p.m.

C6 -- C3 winner vs.

C4 winner, 8:30 p.m.

TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

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FINALS FRIDAY, FEB. 22 AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND CLASS AA AA7 -- AA5 winner vs.

AA6 winner, 8:00 p.m.

Class A A7 -- A5 winner vs.

A6 winner, 7:45 p.m.

AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER

SATURDAY, FEB. 23 AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND

Class D D7 -- D5 winner vs.

D6 winner, 2:45 p.m.

Class B B7 -- B5 winner vs.

B6 winner, 2:45 p.m.

Class C C7 -- C5 winner vs.

C6 winner, 8:45 p.m.

GABOR DEGRE | BDN

Mattanawcook Academy coach Lucas Turner.

2019 BOYS STATE FINALS FRIDAY, MARCH 1 AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER Class A North champion vs. South champion, 7:45 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 2 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR Class D North champion vs. South champion, TBA Class C North champion vs. South champion, 8:45 p.m.

AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND Class B North champion vs. South champion, 2:45 p.m.

Class AA North champion vs. South champion, 9:00 p.m.

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TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

2018 - 2019

GIRLS NORTH TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE QUARTER FINALS

SEMI FINALS

FRIDAY, FEB. 15 AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER

MONDAY, FEB. 18 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20 AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND

THURSDAY, FEB. 21 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR

Class A A1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 3:00 p.m.

A2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 4:30 p.m.

A3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 7:00 p.m.

A4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 8:30 p.m.

Class D D1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 9:30 a.m.

D2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 11:05 a.m.

D3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 7:05 p.m.

D4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 8:35 p.m.

Class AA AA5 -- AA1 winner vs.

AA2 winner, 2:00 p.m.

AA6 -- AA3 winner vs.

AA4 winner, 3:30 p.m.

Class D D5 -- D1 winner vs.

D2 winner, 7:05 p.m.

D6 -- D3 winner vs.

D4 winner, 8:35 p.m.

AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR

TUESDAY, FEB. 19 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR

AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER

FRIDAY, FEB. 22 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR

Class B B1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 8:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 16 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR Class B B2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 9:05 a.m.

B3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 1:35 p.m.

B4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 4:35 p.m.

Class C C1 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 2:05 p.m.

C2 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 3:35 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR Class C C3 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 9:30 a.m.

C4 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 11:05 a.m.

Class A A5 -- A1 winner vs.

A2 winner, 2:30 p.m.

A6 -- A3 winner vs.

A4 winner, 4:00 p.m.

AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR Class B B5 -- B1 winner vs.

B2 winner, 7:05 p.m.

B6 -- B3 winner vs.

B4 winner, 8:35 p.m.

Class C C5 -- C1 winner vs.

C2 winner, 7:05 p.m.

C6 -- C3 winner vs.

C4 winner, 8:35 p.m.

TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

FINALS FRIDAY, FEB. 22 AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND

SATURDAY, FEB. 23 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR

Class AA AA7 -- AA5 winner vs.

AA6 winner, 2:00 p.m.

Class D D7 -- D5 winner vs.

D6 winner, 9:05 a.m.

AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER Class A A7 -- A5 winner vs.

A6 winner, 7:00 p.m.

Class B B7 -- B5 winner vs.

B6 winner, 2:05 p.m.

Class C C7 -- C5 winner vs.

C6 winner, 7:05 p.m.

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TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

2018 - 2019

GIRLS SOUTH TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE QUARTER FINALS

SEMI FINALS

SATURDAY, FEB. 16 AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER

TUESDAY, FEB. 19 AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER

TUESDAY, FEB. 19 AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND

THURSDAY, FEB. 21 AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER

Class D D3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 8:30 a.m.

D4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 10:00 a.m.

Class C C1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 2:30 p.m.

C2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 4:00 p.m.

C3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 7:00 p.m.

C4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 8:30 p.m.

Class AA AA5 -- AA1 winner vs.

AA2 winner, 10:00 a.m.

AA6 -- AA3 winner vs.

AA4 winner, 11:30 a.m.

Class D D5 -- D1 winner vs.

D2 winner, 10:00 a.m.

D6 -- D3 winner vs.

D4 winner, 11:30 a.m.

AT PORTLAND EXPO

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 20 AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND

Class C C5 -- C1 winner vs.

C2 winner, 2:30 p.m.

C6 -- C3 winner vs.

C4 winner, 4:00 p.m.

MONDAY, FEB. 18 AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER Class D D1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 8:30 a.m.

D2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 10:00 a.m.

AT PORTLAND EXPO Class A A1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 1:00 p.m.

A2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 2:30 p.m.

A3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 6:00 p.m.

A4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 7:30 p.m.

Class B B1 -- No. 3 vs. No. 6, 10:00 a.m.

B2 -- No. 2 vs. No. 7, 11:30 a.m.

B3 -- No. 4 vs. No. 5, 1:00 p.m.

B4 -- No. 1 vs. No. 8, 2:30 p.m.

Class A A5 -- A1 winner vs.

A2 winner, 10:00 a.m.

A6 -- A3 winner vs.

A4 winner, 11:30 a.m.

AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND Class B B5 -- B1 winner vs.

B2 winner, 1:00 p.m.

B6 -- B3 winner vs.

B4 winner, 2:30 p.m.

TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

FINALS FRIDAY, FEB. 22 AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND Class AA AA7 -- AA5 winner vs.

AA6 winner, 3:45 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEB. 23 AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER Class D D7 -- D5 winner vs.

D6 winner, 1:05 p.m.

Class C C7 -- C5 winner vs.

C6 winner, 7:05 p.m.

AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND Class B B7 -- B5 winner vs.

B6 winner, 1:00 p.m.

Class A A7 -- A5 winner vs.

A6 winner, 6:00 p.m.

JOSEPH CYR | HOULTON PIONEER TIMES

Young Southern Aroostook fans.

2019 GIRLS STATE FINALS FRIDAY, MARCH 1 AT AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER Class A North champion vs. South champion, 6:05 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 2 AT CROSS CENTER, BANGOR Class D North champion vs. South champion, TBA Class C North champion vs. South champion, 7:05 p.m.

AT CROSS ARENA, PORTLAND Class B North champion vs. South champion, 1:00 p.m.

Class AA North champion vs. South champion, 6:00 p.m.

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TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

BDN ALL-TOURNEY GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAMS, 2010-2018 * Owen Osborne MVP 2018 Class A • Bailey Donovan* (Hampden Acad.)

• Brooklyn Scott (Hampden) • Ally Turner (Messalonskee) • Gabrielle Wener (Messalonskee) • Annie Cooke (Skowhegan) Class B • Emily Wh eaton* (Presque Isle) • Haley Ward (Winslow) • Paige Trask (Winslow) • Maeghan Bernard (Winslow) • Lauren Plissey (Hermon) Class C • Kolleen Bouchard* (Houlton) • Peyton Grant (Dexter) • Avery Herrick (Dexter) • Sydney Allen (Central) • Lauren Cook (Calais) Class D • Makaelyn Porter* (Southern Aroostook) • Kacy Daggett (SA) • Kassidy Mathers (SA) • Emily Curtis (Woodland) • Natalie Rickards (Katahdin) 2017 Class A • Sophie Holmes* (Messalonskee) • McKenna Brodeur (Messalonskee) • Ally Turner (Messalonskee) • Chelsea Crockett (Nokomis) • Sidney Moore (Nokomis)

JOSH O’DONNELL | BDN

Hampden Academy’s Bailey Donovan (right).

Class D • Holly Preston* (Shead) • Madison Greenlaw (Shead) • Kylie Vining (Southern Aroostook) • Kassidy Mathers (Southern Aroostook) • Isabelle Morin (Easton) 2016 Class AA • Emily Jacques* (Edward Little) • Jordyn Reynolds (Edward Little) • Tianna Sugars (Oxford Hills) • Tasia Titherington (Deering) • Karli Stubbs (Edward Little) Class A • Nia Irving* (Lawrence) • Sophie Holmes (Messalonskee) • Dominique Lewis (Lawrence) • Lauren Chadwick (Gardiner) McKenna Brodeur (Messalonskee) Class B • Kolleen Bouchard* (Houlton) • Emi Higgins (Hermon) • Heather Kervin (Winslow) • Emily Wheaton (Presque Isle) • Natalie Hill (Houlton) Class C • Kelli Kennedy* (Narraguagus) • Sami Ireland (Penobscot Valley) • Amy Hallett (PVHS) • Chelsey Pelkey (Fort Fairfield) • Kayla Toppin (Narraguagus)

Class B • Kolleen Bouchard* (Houlton) • Rylee Warman (Houlton) • Emi Higgins (Hermon) • Abby Simpson (Foxcroft Acad.)

• Emily Wheaton (Presque Isle)

Class D • Cierra Seeley* (Shead) • Tate Dolley (Machias) • Holly Preston (Shead) • Karli Levesque (Central Aroostook) • Emmy Churchill (Washburn)

Class C • Megan Peach* (Dexter) • Abby Webber (Dexter) • Morgan Dauk (George Stevens Acad.)

• Emma Alley (Stearns) • Erin Speed (Piscataquis Community)

2015 Class A • Nia Irving* (Lawrence) • Mary Butler (Bangor) • Dominique Lewis (Lawrence) • Julia Champagne (Brunswick) • Paige Belanger (Lawrence)

Class B • Hannah Graham* (Presque Isle) • Krystal Kingsbury (Presque Isle) • Morgan Carver (Gardiner) • Rachel Pease (Camden Hills) • Mary Toman (Gardiner) Class C • Kolleen Bouchard* (Houlton) • Michaela White (Dexter) • Katie Condon (Houlton) • Maddy McVicar (Calais) • Megan Peach (Dexter) Class D • Mackenzie Worcester* (Washburn) • Joan Overman (Washburn) • Chelsey Pelkey (Fort Fairfield) • Megan Jellison (Fort Fairfield) • Emmy Churchill (Washburn) 2014 Class A • Mikayla Morin* (Oxford Hills) • Anna Winslow (Oxford Hills) • Emily Quirion (Cony) • Taylor Johnson (Skowhegan) • Miranda Nicely (Mt. Blue) Class B • Hannah Shaw* (MDI) • Kelsey Shaw (MDI) • Taylor Shaw (Nokomis), • Hannah Graham (Presque Isle) • Brianna Skolfield (Foxcroft) Class C • Maddy McVicar* (Calais) • Paige Gillespie (Calais) • Katie Condon (Houlton) • Hannah Clement (Orono) • Elea Kass (Orono) Class D • Parise Rossignol* (Van Buren) • Carmen Bragg (Washburn) • Carsyn Koch (Washburn) • Mackenzie Worcester (Washburn) • Morgan Thompson (Schenck)

TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

2013 Class A • Cordelia Stewart* (Bangor) • Mary Butler (Bangor), • Denae Johnson (Bangor), • Josie Lee (Cony), • Mallory Nelson (Mt. Ararat)

2012 Class A • Mia Diplock* (Cony) • Kory Norcross (Edward Little) • Josie Lee (Cony) • Tianna Harriman (Edward Little) • Katie Brochu (Bangor)

2011 Class A • Michaela Stephenson (Hampden) • Julia Snyder (Hampden) • Ashlee Arnold (Edward Little) • Mary Badeen (Messalonskee) • Megan Pelletier (Messalonskee)

2010 Class A • Whitney Jones* (Skowhegan) • Adrienne Davis (Skowhegan) • Michaela Stephenson (Hampden) • Lydia Caputi (Brunswick) • Hannah Dexter (Messalonskee)

Class B • Chandler Guerrette* (Presque Isle) • Megan Ireland (Presque Isle) • Jordan Knowlton (Camden Hills) • Hannah Shaw (MDI) • Anna Mackenzie (Nokomis)

Class B • Chandler Guerrette* (Presque Isle) • Hannah Graham (Presque Isle) • Kayla Richards (Presque Isle) • Marissa Shaw (Nokomis) • Alanna Vose (Medomak Valley)

Class B • Julie Smith (Nokomis) • Kelsie Richards (Nokomis) • Emilee Reynolds (Nokomis) • Kayla Richards (Presque Isle) • Ericka Christensen (Medomak)

Class B • Marissa Shaw* (Nokomis) • Mary Badeen (Nokomis) • Kara Batchelder (Nokomis) • Megan Phelps (MDI) • Chandler Guerrette (Presque Isle)

Class C • Maddy McVicar (Calais) • Taylor Blood (Mattanawcook) • Meagan Cavanaugh (Calais) • Jillian Woodward (Orono) • Kelli Kennedy (Narraguagus)

Class C • Sigrid Koizar* (Stearns) • Max McHugh (Central) • Sam Brownell (Central) • Maddy McVicar (Calais) • Brianna Skolfield (Central)

Class C • Taylor Seeley (Washington Acad.)

• Christy Smith (Washington Acad.)

• Jade Keezer (Orono) • Hannah Pray (Central) • Bekah Campbell (Central)

Class D • Carmen Bragg* (Washburn) • Kristin Thompson (Schenck) • Morgan Thompson (Schenck) • Mackenzie Worcester (Washburn) • Mariah Wiley (Hodgdon)

Class D • Mackenzie Worcester* (Washburn) • Carsyn Koch (Washburn) • Parise Rossignol (Van Buren) • Victoria McIntyre (Central Aroostook) • Jennah Steamer (Hodgdon)

Class D • Carmen Bragg (Washburn) • Nicole Olson (Washburn) • Rebecca Campbell (Washburn) • Amanda Hotham (Fort Fairfield) • Britnie Jones (DI-Stonington)

JOSEPH CYR | HOULTON PIONEER TIMES

Southern Aroostook’s Makaelyn Porter.

Class C • Nicole Osborne (Calais) • Alex McVicar (Calais) • Hannah Pray (Central) • Andi Flannery (Washington Acad.)

• Vanessa Lougee (Foxcroft) Class D • Amanda Hotham (Fort Fairfield) • Vicki McIntyre (Central Aroostook) • Brooke Beaulieu (Fort Fairfield) • Liz Goodall (Southern Aroostook) • Whitney Holmes (Bangor Christian)

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TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

Veteran North tournament personnel enjoy renewing acquaintances amidst exciting atmosphere

BY LARRY MAHONEY, BDN STAFF

Y

ou may not know their names, but if you attend the Classes B, C and D North high school basketball tournament every year, you certainly know their faces.

Phil Mateja, Becky Bubar and Paul Soucy are among the dozens of people who work at the tournament each year.

Mateja is the certified athletic trainer, Bubar is one of the public address announcers and Soucy has had a number of different jobs including floor manager, doorway guard, scorekeeper, media coordinator and organizer for the bands

and cheerleaders.

“Another job I did was serve as the athletic trainer when Wes Jordan would be on a spring trip with the University of Maine’s baseball team,” said Soucy. “I was the trainer at Brewer High when I was coaching.

“I wasn’t a certified trainer so I prayed that there wouldn’t be any serious injuries,” quipped Soucy.

One of Soucy’s favorite memories involved a man who was a custodian at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln.

Soucy was the floor manager.

“He came down to me and said he would like to sweep the court for the Mattanawcook game,” recalled Soucy. “I thought he was pulling my leg or someone was setting me up for a joke.

“So I asked him why he wanted to sweep the court,” continued Soucy. “He said he loved basketball and always wanted to sweep the floor. He would be honored if he could. He had brothers who played for Stearns in the tournament and he didn’t play basketball so the only way he was going to get on the court was if he could sweep it.”

His wish was granted and he swept half the court while a City of Bangor employee swept the other half. “(He said) it was one of the best things to ever happen to him,” said Soucy, who began working at the tournament in 1973 but did take three years off when he was an athletic director.

Soucy also spent two years as a public address announcer when the opening rounds of the girls tournament were played at Husson University in Bangor.

“I was doing a game involving Wisdom High School (of St. Agatha). They had a

CALEB RAYNOR | BDN

Tournament official Paul Soucy pulls an overzealous Deering fan off the press table during the Class A state final between Bangor and Deering at the Bangor Auditorium in 2001.

TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

lot of French names so I spelled their names out phonetically. But I couldn’t find the list. I left the microphone on and I said, ‘Dennis (Kiah), what did you do with my list?

“I butchered the names my first year,” said Soucy, whose favorite part of going to the tournament is seeing people year after year.

This will be the 19th year for Mateja as the certified athletic trainer.

“I can’t wait,” said Mateja. “It’s a great atmosphere. A group of us (workers) will have meals together and exchange stories and laugh.”

It gives him a chance to renew acquaintances with people he has worked with or students he had in class.

“They’ll come by and say ‘hi.’ It makes you feel good. They still remember the old man,” said Mateja.

The day before the tournament opener, Mateja does inventory to make sure he has all the medical supplies he needs.

“A few years ago, we needed three sets of crutches in the first two days,” said Mateja, who has dealt with all kinds of injuries.

He recalls a boy tearing a knee ligament several years ago and needing subsequent surgery and a girl dislocating her kneecap last season.

In addition, he also is usually pressed into duty taping ankles.

“Some years, I’ll tape quite a few ankles or maybe you’ll do four or five a day. You never know,” said Mateja, who also treats

cuts and bruises.

If a player is bleeding, he or she must come out of the game until the bleeding stops.

He noted that some of the Class B schools now have their own athletic trainers.

Mateja said he prefers the Cross Insurance Center to the Bangor Auditorium, primarily for health reasons.

“After being at the Auditorium for 10 days, I didn’t feel right for a few days after (it ended) because of the dust and the atmosphere there. My health has been better after the Cross Center tournaments,” he said.

One of his fondest game memories is Joe Campbell’s basket at the buzzer as Bangor beat heavily-favored Deering 57-56 on St. Patrick’s Day, 2001.

“A guy jumped over my shoulders to get on the floor,” said Mateja.

All three recalled the half-court shot by Brewer’s Jason Leighton that beat Mt. Blue of Farmington in 1995.

“Brewer fans rushed the floor and everyone piled on top of Leighton. He was saying, ‘Get off me, I can’t breathe.’ (Brewer coach) Mark Savage and I were pulling fans and players off him,” said Soucy.

Bubar began working out back at the Bangor Auditorium where the officials and cheerleaders were and eventually took over at the microphone, announcing lineups, substitutions and baskets.

She has done the announcing for over 20 years and also does it for Brewer High

games. Sean Stackhouse and Reid Durost are the others who share the announcing duties with her.

“I see so many people from the BlaineMars Hill area,” said Bubar, a Blaine native and 1972 graduate of Central Aroostook High School in Mars Hill. “It’s fun to watch the children and grandchildren of people I know out there playing. It’s like old home week. It’s nice to catch up with people.

She said the North tournament is a unique experience, one that leaves an impression on visitors who haven’t seen a game in Bangor previously.

Last year, the sound system didn’t work for the first half of a game Bubar was working.

“I just sat there, then I realized what (the P.A. system) means to people because they don’t know what’s going on (without) it,” said Bubar. “It’s nice to be able to let the audience know what’s going on.”

Bubar pointed out that there are six people

21

working together at the scorer’s table.

There are two people keeping the scorebook and one is a spotter along with the public address announcer, the clock operator and an assistant, she said.

Bubar checks with the coaches before the game to get the proper pronunciations of the players’ names. Table personnel will consult with each other if they aren’t sure who scores a basket.

The Cross Insurance Center and the Bangor Auditorium each had their charms, according to Bubar.

“The Cross Center is a lot more comfortable and the acoustics are a lot better,” said Bubar. “But there is something about the old Bangor Auditorium and what that place was like when it was jam-packed. It had an aura.

“But the Cross Center is serving its purpose. It’s a nicer, safer, cleaner place and has more locker room space,” said Bubar.

PETE WARNER | BDN

Presque Isle’s Molly Kingsbury (right) and Emily Wheaton.

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TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

Players at UMaine, Husson share favorite basketball tourney memories

BY LARRY MAHONEY, BDN STAFF

B

efore the 2015 Class D girls basketball state championship game her senior year at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Washburn High School phenom Kenzie Worcester watched her head coach, Diana Trams, try to relieve her players’ pregame tensions.

A lot of the players hadn’t played in a state game before. “(Trams) decided to make this rap (song) about our team and she rapped and danced to it,” grinned Worcester, who is a senior at Husson University in Bangor. “It was one of the most insane pregame things I’d ever

seen.

“But it actually worked. We came out loose and ready to go, not uptight and nervous,” said Worcester, who poured in 37 points to break the 2,000-point milestone and lead Washburn to its fifth straight state title, 60-54, over Rangeley.

Worcester is among several players at Husson and the University of Maine who have fond memories of the Eastern/North Maine tournament.

Worcester and Joan Overman, teammates at Washburn and Husson, each played two years at the Bangor Auditorium and two at

the Cross Insurance Center.

“At the old Auditorium, you had to learn where the dead spots were,” recalled Overman. “One time, the ball hit a dead spot while I was dribbling at half-court. The ball didn’t even come up to my knees. I had to bend over and chuck it at the backboard so I wouldn’t get called for traveling.”

Worcester said she will always cherish the 58-44 win over Fort Fairfield in the 2015 regional final because they overcame an 11point deficit.

“Our coach told us at halftime we had it in the bag because our bad streak was over and

nothing but good was going to happen the rest of the way. Joan had a monster game (23 points),” said Worcester.

The consensus is that the Cross Insurance Center is a better facility, but the atmosphere was better at the Bangor Auditorium because the crowds were closer to the court and louder.

Overman saw her first tournament game as an eighth-grader.

“I didn’t realize how many people were into high school basketball and how many took off work for the whole week to watch,” she said.

KEVIN BENNETT |BDN

Washburn’s Mackenzie Worcester (center) gets a standing ovation for her 1,000th point at the Bangor Auditorium in March 2013.

TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

UMaine fifth-year senior Parise Rossignol followed her dad Matt’s teams to Bangor.

Van Buren’s ninth-year girls head coach is in his 27th season overall.

“It was a dream come true. What stood out was the atmosphere, how loud it was.

Everything seemed magnified by 10,” said Parise, who debuted at the Bangor Auditorium her sophomore year playing for the Crusaders.

“You realized how much Mainers loved going to the tournament and supporting you. A lot of the people there weren’t even from your town, they just liked to see a good basketball game. It’s hard to put into words how special it was,” she added.

“The Cross Center is nicer but when you played at the Auditorium, you felt like you were part of history,” Rossignol said.

UMaine junior Maddy McVicar followed the career of her older sister, Alex, at Calais High School before carving out her own.

“There was an awesome atmosphere at the old Auditorium. It was so much fun. I watched her win the state championship (Class C, 2010) and I knew I wanted to do the same thing. We won the state my junior year (2014). It was really exciting,” said McVicar.

Husson junior Sami Ireland always wanted to play at the Bangor Auditorium but never got the chance. She did play at the Cross Center for Penobscot Valley of Howland.

“I remember walking into the building after getting off the bus and it was like walking in a maze. We had no idea how to get to the locker room,” said Ireland. “They

had a big shot clock in the locker room. It was very high-class.”

Ireland and the Howlers ran into Worcester, Overman and Co. in the 2015 quarterfinals and lost 61-36.

Worcester spent the whole week at the tournament when she was young because her dad, Larry Worcester, was on the Maine Principals’ Association tournament committee.

“We were there for every session. It was my favorite time of the year,” said Kenzie Worcester.

Husson junior Logan Huckins of Calais also spent the whole week watching tournament games before she made it onto the court.

“I loved the atmosphere. It was so loud.

You couldn’t even hear the (referees’) whistles. It was cool to grow up and have the opportunity to play in something you had watched your whole life,” said Huckins.

Husson sophomore Emma Alley of Millinocket recalled losing to archrival Schenck of East Millinocket 49-44 in the Class D quarterfinals her freshman year (2014).

“There were tons of people there. The student sections were crazy. We lost but it was a fun game,” said Alley.

As a senior in 2017, Stearns lost to Dexter 47-44 in the Class C semifinals. Current Husson teammate Megan Peach was the star on that Dexter team.

“That was awful,” said Alley.

“That is one game I will keep forever.

Sorry, love you,” Peach said while grinning

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BDN FILE

Stearns’ Emma Alley (center). at Alley.

Peach said the Cross Center felt huge and she was physically and emotionally affected by it during her tournament there.

“I was a threw-up-in-the-locker room-athalftime wreck,” said Peach. “But it got better over time. It wasn’t as nervewracking my senior year. The adrenaline was always going.”

Peach led Dexter to the C North title in 2017.

UMaine junior Sierra Tapley of Bar Harbor played in the last tournament at Bangor Auditorium and the first year of the Cross Insurance Center, where the Black Bears play their home games.

“It was pretty special to be able to play the last year at the Auditorium and the first

year in the (Cross) Center. (Each) was a part of history,”said the former Mount Desert Island High School star. “It was nostalgic going there watching your favorite high school players and then being able to play there yourself.

“I also remember the bands competing against each other. I used to love that,” said Tapley, a Class B North champion in 2014.

Husson freshman Sydney Allen remembers going to the Shrine Circus at the Auditorium as a youngster and following her team, Central High of Corinth, make its march to the Class C state title in 2012.

“I remember how big the (Cross) Center was. I wasn’t used to it. We lost a tournament game and it really stuck with me. I was mad about it for weeks,” said Allen.

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TOURNEY TIME 2019 • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • February 15, 2019

BDN FILE

Van Buren’s Parise Rossignol.

BDN FILE

Mount Desert Island’s Sierra Tapley.