Longtime Downeast basketball referee Tony Tammaro died last summer, but his colleagues at the Downeast Board of Officials are keeping his memory alive with the retirement of Tammaro’s referee jersey.

Tammaro was one of the founding fathers of the Downeast Board of Officials, IAABO Board 18. He died on Aug. 27, 2002, at the age of 82.

“Tony was given the nickname, ‘The Godfather,’ by his fellow officials in the Downeast area. He was the [rules] interpreter of our board for all but the last two years. He stopped because his wife Marge was quite sick. He was the one who taught us for years and years and years,” said Bob Ferry, the secretary-treasurer of the board.

The jersey was retired at Woodland High School during a girls basketball game between Woodland and Calais.

Ferry said the jersey will be displayed in the school’s trophy case for the remainder of the school year. It will then rotate through eight other schools for one year each before being returned to stay at Woodland, Tammaro’s hometown.

The other schools involved are Calais, East Grand of Danforth, Shead of Eastport, Lubec, Washington Academy of East Machias, Machias, Narraguagus of Harrington, and Jonesport-Beals.

Also to honor Tammaro, the players at those schools are wearing black bands on a shoulder strap of their uniform and the referees have a black patch with the letters “TT” on their left sleeves.

Tammaro refereed for approximately 60 years and in eight decades. Ferry said Tammaro worked more than 5,000 high school games, in addition to having refereed college basketball games in New England, Harlem Globetrotters games, and a Boston Celtics game.

“He refereed for 37 straight years at the Bangor Auditorium [during the Eastern Maine tournament]. That’s not an automatic thing. You have to be recommended,” Ferry said.

Patriots top Class C boys

After a 6-12 boys basketball season a year ago, the Penquis Valley Patriots of Milo are surprising a lot of people, including their coach, Tony Hamlin.

The Patriots currently sit atop the Eastern Maine Class C Heal points standings with an 8-0 record.

“We worked hard over the summer,” Hamlin said. “We’ve played better than I expected. Our biggest player is just 6-foot-1. But we’re very quick.”

The team features a pair of brother acts that have been productive. Junior Justin Allen and sophomore Jordan Allen are the brothers of former Penquis star Jeremy Allen, who was a NEWS All-Maine second teamer in 2001.

Brothers Dustin Perkins, a senior, and sophomore Devin Perkins also play significant minutes for the Patriots.

“When you get brothers playing together, there’s almost a silent communication. They maximize each other’s abilities,” Hamlin said.

Senior Steve Kissell is just 6-1 but Hamlin says he is very athletic.

Senior Colby Chase combines with the Allen brothers to put pressure on the opposition’s guards. The Patriots’ style is to hold teams in the 30s and 40s, and their man-to-man defense is aggressive and designed to overplay the passing lanes.

Offensively, Jordan Allen is averaging 15 points per game, but Hamlin said anyone on the team can lead them on a given night. Senior Brandon McKenzie tapped in a rebound at the buzzer to beat Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln last week. Dustin Perkins scored 21 points in that game. In a win over Schenck of East Millinocket, the Patriots had five players in double figures.

Still, Hamlin has been around long enough to not be overly excited at this point in the season. Prior to last year’s down season, Penquis had been in three Eastern Maine finals and won two in the previous five years.

“We’re just hoping to get in the top five and not have to play a playoff game to get to Bangor [for the tournament],” Hamlin said.

Patterson breaks Dexter record

Travis Patterson said that breaking Dexter’s all-time career basketball scoring record has been a goal of his since his freshman year at the school. Last Thursday night, the 5-11 senior did just that, scoring 32 points in a win over Penobscot Valley of Howland. In the process he rolled by Alex Guiski’s old school record of 1,244 points.

“It felt great really. It’s something that was a goal. It was a personal goal,” Patterson said.

Guiski set the old mark while playing at the school from 1986 to 1990.

Now that he has put the record behind him, Patterson has his sights set on a new goal. He’d like to see his team do some damage at the Eastern Maine Class C basketball tournament.

“I want to win a game down there. Stick around a little bit. I’ve been to the tournament three times and have lost each time. I’d like to win one,” Patterson said.

Don Perryman can be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or dperryman@bangordailynews.net