While their friends will be on family vacations or playing in the state Little League tournament, a group of boys from the Bangor area will be competing against teams from all over the country at the Amateur Athletic Union’s 13-and-under National Basketball Tournament in San Antonio, Texas.

Eight boys from Hampden, Bangor, Brewer, Orrington, and Bucksport will travel to San Antonio on July 31 to play in the week-long, national tournament.

The boys are Dan Martin, Jacob Quint and Aaron Peppard of Hampden; Jason Largay of Orrington; Jason St. Pierre and Mike Thomas from Bangor; Chris Corson of Brewer; and Greg Gobel of Bucksport.

The tournament will begin Aug. 2 and continue through the championship game on Aug. 8.

The Hampden Basketball Club won the right to travel to the AAU Nationals after winning the 13-and-under age group AAU state tournament at Colby College in Waterville the last weekend in April.

Hampden beat a team from Westbrook by three points in overtime of the state final to finish with a 3-0 record and capture the tourney title.

Before the title game, Hampden’s average margin of victory was 20 points per game.

“The kids really impressed me in that tournament, ” said head coach Dewey Martin of Hampden. “Especially since we really haven’t had much chance to practice – before or after the tournament.”

Martin has taken what he calls a laid-back approach to coaching the team, allowing the boys to play baseball and other summer sports rather than forcing them to devote all of their time to basketball.

“Once they get to high school, most of them will have to start concentrating on only one or two sports, so why not let them enjoy their summers now while they still can?” Martin asked.

Martin’s approach seems to have paid off as the players have gone into each game loose and eager to play.

“This is a dedicated group of kids,” Martin said. “They get along well and nobody tries to be a star.”

The team’s strength is its frontcourt. Martin wants to improve on the team’s fastbreak offense and zone defense to better compete at the Nationals.

The Hampden resident and long-time youth sports coach decided to form and coach a team after reading about the AAU playoffs in the Bangor Daily News.

The Hampden players have arranged to play in the Bronco Basketball Camp at Hampden Academy next week to get in some game action before the trip.

The tournament could attract more than 60 teams from all over the U.S. It is organized in a pool format in which the top two teams after a round in each pool advance to the next round.

Martin and assistant coach Mark Taylor, a former Husson College basketball player, have estimated the team will need to raise at least $6,500 to make the trip. Each player must raise at least $325.

So far, the team has raised money by selling raffle tickets. Players will also man a table at a July 12 baseball card show at the Brewer Eagles Club to sell cards and solicit donations.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the team’s trip may call Dewey Martin at 862-4598.