`B’ games kick off tourney

1993 Schoolboy, Schoolgirl Basketball Tournament

The new logos painted on the seasoned Bangor Auditorium hardwood floor feature the words “Championship Fever.”

Thousands of high school basketball players and fans will be hit by this annual winter “bug” beginning Friday night, when the Eastern Maine Classes B-C-D Basketball Tournament tips off at the Auditorium.

When the action begins Friday, there will be 48 teams, 24 boys and 24 girls, chasing regional championships. Within a week’s time, the field will be down to the 12 finalists.

Friday night’s games feature matchups between the Nos. 3 and 6 seeds in Class B. Perennial powerhouse Houlton, the third seed at 12-6, plays No. 6 Mount Desert Island (8-10) in the schoolgirl tournament opener at 7:05 p.m.

The boys contest, scheduled for 8:35 p.m., will pit defending Class B state champion Rockland (9-7), the No. 3 seed, against sixth-seeded Fort Kent (8-10) at 8:35 p.m.

Coach John Donato’s Shiretowners are making their 13th straight appearance at the Bangor Auditorium. Houlton’s tournament tradition is unparalleled in the schoolgirl ranks as the Shires have posted a 33-9 record (79 percent) in postseason play.

Houlton looks to the experience and leadership of senior center Liz Nelson, senior guard Jessica Sullivan, junior forward Andrea Spencer and junior guard Erika McCarthy.

Mount Desert Island, under Charlie Farley, is making its first trip to the Auditorium since 1990. The Trojans, who have only one senior, are likely to start four underclassmen and one junior.

MDI is paced by junior guard Robin Sue MacLeod, sophomore center Jill Pellitier, soph forward Anna Hathaway, and freshman guard Chafee Emory.

Rockland has made its way back to the tournament despite some key personnel losses off last year’s title team. Coach Chris Elkington’s Tigers look to senior forward Mark Fishman, junior forward Mike Norton, and junior guard Jamie York to set the pace.

Fort Kent, under Larry Murphy, will make it back-to-back tourney appearances with this year’s trip to Bangor. The Warriors, who are coming off a challenging Aroostook County schedule, have a balanced attack that features junior guard Laughn Berthiaume, junior center Brad Currier, freshman guard RyLaughn Berthiaume, junior center Brad Currier, freshman guard Ryan Martin and frosh forward Corey Thibodeau.