Bears’ Cony grads get ‘homecoming’ UMaine, Retrievers to play in Augusta

The Augusta Civic Center, home of the Western Maine Classes B-C-D high school basketball tournament, has been bustling with activity for seven straight days.

Sunday afternoon, central Maine fans will have the chance to check out some Division I basketball as the University of Maine women play Maryland Baltimore County in a 1 p.m. America East game.

Coach Sharon Versyp’s 18-5 Black Bears, who usually play one “home” game per season in either Portland or Augusta, put their 13-game winning streak on the line against the 3-19 Retrievers, who are in their first season in America East.

Sunday’s contest will serve as a homecoming, and a sendoff of sorts, for UMaine senior Julie Veilleux. The former Cony High School standout has the opportunity to play in her hometown in front of family, friends, and neighbors.

Bears freshman Ashley Underwood of Benton, another Cony High product, also makes her triumphant return to Augusta.

“I think it’s good and exciting for them,” Versyp said. “Hopefully, we’ll still have the home-court advantage.”

Versyp said playing in Augusta and Portland helps expose UMaine to potential fans who might not otherwise get to see a game in Orono.

“It’s nice to go to a different area of the state and get more people to back us,” Versyp said. “It’s a nice thing.”

The Bears have been resting up a bit in the wake of Wednesday’s come-from-behind win at Boston University. Versyp gave the team Thursday off, then had them go through only a walk-through with some foul shooting on Friday.

“We don’t have a lot of time left [before the tournament],” Versyp said. “There’s lots of fatigue and a lot of classwork.”

Versyp believes in having shorter, more intense practices late in the season in the hope the players won’t become run-down or injured in their drive toward the postseason.

“We’ve been able to give them off Sundays and Thursdays to stay refreshed and keep up on their academics,” Versyp said.