East-West all-stars set for big weekend

BANGOR – Jamie Bailey’s high school basketball career ended nearly six weeks ago, as Narraguagus of Harrington fell to Dexter in an Eastern Maine Class C boys preliminary-round contest.

Keriann Patterson’s schoolgirl basketball career ended Feb. 28 at the Augusta Civic Center, where she helped Dexter defeat Dirigo of Dixfield to win the Class C state championship.

But Bailey and Patterson are among 80 high school players who will get one last chance to show off their skills at the 24th annual Maine McDonald’s East-West Senior All-Star Games to be held Saturday at Husson College’s Newman Gymnasium.

The games begin at 10 a.m. with the girls Classes C-D contest, followed by the C-D boys at 11:25, the A-B girls at 12:50 p.m., and the A-B boys at 2:15.

Patterson continues a family all-star tradition, following brothers Brent, who played for the East C-D stars in 2000, and Travis, who participated last year.

“I remember watching my brothers play, and it seemed like a good way for them to cap off their careers,” said Patterson, a 5-foot-7 guard who will attend Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., next fall. “I never thought I’d ever play in this. I’m excited.”

The all-star game will cap off a remarkable two-sport run for Patterson and Dexter High classmate Brittany Veazie, also on the East C-D all-star team.

The two were teammates for four years in both field hockey, where they helped the Tigers compile a 71-0-1 record and win four state championships, and basketball, where they played key roles as Dexter amassed a 77-9 record, two Eastern Maine Class C titles, and this year’s state championship.

Given that the tandem went a combined 148-9-1 in the two sports, Patterson hopes her all-star experience will end in similar fashion.

“It would be nice to win,” she said. “I guess I’d like to go out with a win.”

While Bailey, a 6-2 guard from Columbia Falls, hasn’t played a countable game since Narraguagus fell at Dexter 59-38 on Feb. 10, he has competed in the Downeast Athletic Conference Senior Showcase and participated in three all-star practices.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Bailey, who will attend Maine Maritime Academy in the fall. “I’ve had a really good time with it, but it’s a different experience playing with guys I usually play against.”

Bailey said he was particularly interested in practicing with East C-D teammates Josh Madden of Class D state champion Calvary Chapel of Orrington and Bryan Grew of Eastern D runner-up Central Aroostook of Mars Hill.

“I had played with a lot of the other guys before, but not with them, so I was looking forward to it,” he said. “They’re good.”

Bailey’s pregame assessment of his newest team seems consistent with its all-star makeup.

“We run the floor well,” said. “We’re all guards.”

All-star weekend activities begin tonight with a banquet at Husson that will be highlighted by the announcement of the 2004 Mr. and Miss Basketball award recipients.

Finalists for Mr. Basketball are Ralph Mims of Brunswick, Rocco Toppi of Portland, and Corey Tielinen of Oxford Hills of South Paris.

Kara Borelli of Westbrook, Abby Marsteller of Greely of Cumberland Center, and Erika Stupinski of Mount Ararat of Topsham are Miss Basketball finalists.