The sight of college coaches scouting and recruiting is a tournament mainstay, but at least one of the Eastern Maine standouts who made an appearance at the Bangor Auditorium last week doesn’t have to worry about all that anymore.

John Bapst of Bangor’s Hillary Laferriere has decided on the University of New England, where she will join Nokomis of Newport guard Kelley Paradis next fall. Laferriere said Lawrence of Fairfield guard Megan Gilbert has also decided on UNE.

Laferriere also considered University of Southern Maine in Gorham, but her sister Heather is already at UNE.

“I feel really comfortable on that campus and my sister goes there, so I have family there,” said Laferriere, a 5-foot-11 forward. “I’ve been there a lot, I know the coach and a lot of the players. [Coach Anthony Ewing] called me, so I decided to go there.”

Laferriere and many of her Bapst teammates were in the stands Saturday to cheer on Mattanawcook Academy, which fell to Waterville 60-40. The Crusaders even made T-shirts in MA’s maroon to show their support, even though MA beat Bapst in the semifinals Wednesday. Laferriere said she is friends with Lynx senior Brianna Hanscom through travel teams.

“We’re friends with them,” Laferriere said. “You want to support the team that beats you.”

jbloch@bangordailynews.net

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