Former University of Maine and schoolgirl basketball stars Bracey Barker and Heather Ernest have signed contracts to continue playing in Germany for the 2008-09 season.

The Web site eurobasket.com reported the signings earlier this month. Barker and Ernest play for New Basket Oberhausen in the women’s league, which is called the Damen Basketball Bundesliga (DBBL).

Barker, a 2007 UMaine graduate who is from Bar Harbor, is leading Oberhausen with 18.5 points per game while pulling down 5.1 rebounds. She is the fourth-leading scorer in the league.

Temple native Ernest, who wrapped up her Maine career in 2004, averages 15.5 ppg and a team-best six rpg. She is in her second year playing in Germany and first on the Oberhausen team.

Ernest scored 32 points to go with six rebounds in Wednesday’s 100-80 win over Chemnitz. Barker added 13 points and eight rebounds.

Oberhausen wrapped up the regular season with a 30-10 record, the third-best mark in the league, and will start postseason play April 5-6 with a matchup against the Halle Lions.

Barker was a member of MDI High School’s 2001-2003 Class B state title teams. Ernest led Mt. Blue of Farmington to Class A crowns in 1999 and 2000. Both were named Miss Maine Basketball in their senior high school seasons.