BANGOR — Edward Little and Spruce Mountain basketball players were among the winners when the state’s annual season awards and seniors all-star games were held the weekend March 8 and 9.
George Kampstra, a member of Edward Little High School’s Unified Basketball team, was named the 2019 Joshua Titus Spirit of the Game winner on Friday, March 8.
The award is named after its first recipient, Titus, who also was a ball player at the Auburn high school.
Edward Little’s Mol Maiwen was a finalist for the title of Mr. Maine Basketball, which went to Matt Fleming of Bangor High School March 8.
Spruce Mountain’s Haley Turcotte was the three-point shooting champion during the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches 39th annual Maine McDonald’s All-Star High School Senior Basketball Games on Saturday, March 9.
Other winners during the senior games and competition March 9 were Peyton Grant, Dexter, girls foul-shooting champion, 49/50; Parker Desjardins, Forest Hills, boys foul shooting champion, 47/50; Andrew Storey, Greeley, slam dunk champion. The game winners were AA/A/B Girls, South 69-51; AA/A/B Boys, North 120-118; C/D Girls, South 53-47; C/D Boys, South 111-102.
The games and individual competitions, in which 122 players participated, were held throughout the day at Husson University in Bangor.
On March 8, the night before the competition, Kampstra was presented with the Spirit of the Game award for his contributions above and beyond basketball, presenters said.
His presence on the team has opened the eyes, minds and hearts of so many who now understand what makes George, George, they said. He also is a huge fan in the Red Eddies family and is there to cheer on all of players at the basketball games.
The 2019 Patrick Thibodeau Spirit of the Game Award was presented to Grace Stacey of Portland High School, who has impressed her coaches and teammate in basketball, soccer and softball. When two sisters came from the city of Goma in the Republic of the Congo to Portland High School to play on the basketball team, Stacey immediately befriended them. When their living arrangements became challenging, Stacey not only convinced her parents to welcome them into their home, but to take legal guardianship.
A Spirit of the Game Award was also presented to Old Town’s Gabby Sherman in recognition of her determination and courage. When Sherman was 13, she was diagnosed with brain cancer. Since that time, she has undergone five surgeries. In addition to receiving daily chemo treatments and attending school, she is the manager of the Old Town Coyote Girls’ basketball program.
Other awards presented were Mr. and Miss Maine Basketball, Anna DeWolfe of Greely High School, and Fleming.
Academic All-State Scholarship Recipients — Celine Lawrence of Marshwood High School in Eliot; Alex Austin of Scarborough High School.
MABC Media Award and Bob Brown Contributor Award — Roger Reed, assistant coach at Hermon High School (Bob Brown Award), Travis Lee and Joe Bailey, Hoops 8 (Maine Media Award)
