For more than 40 years, basketball teams from the around the region have come to the Bangor Auditorium during the late winter months to play basketball. In return, they have left fans of the sport a life-time full of memories.

There have been many great teams. And many great players. A number of these players, however, stand above the thousands of other hoopsters that have competed during that magical event known as the Eastern Maine basketball tournaments.

They have electrified crowds with their play. They have shot many shots and they have scored many points.

In the summer of 1985, Bangor Daily News staff writer John Nash spent almost a month in the NEWS library researching the tournament’s highest single-game scorers.

The NEWS has been updating that list ever since.

From Cony’s Bill Burney, who scored 53 points in 1969 – still the highest ever total in a tournament game by an EM participant – to the 26 points scored by East Grand’s Sue Hannington in 1983 state game – No. 10 in girls’ Class D, what you find on this page is the list of the most prolific single-game scorers in Eastern Maine Tournament History.

The best of the best

BOYS

1. 53, Bill Burney, Cony, 1969

2. 51, Matt Rossignol, Van Buren, 1985

3. 48, Troy Scott, Lawrence, 1989

4. 45, Steve Pound, Stearns, 1968

5. 44, Robert Alley, Jonesport-Beals, 1984

6. 43, Dean Smith, Foxcroft, 1986; Dick Smith, MDI, 1954

8. 42, Dana Conners, Easton, 1961

9. 41, Mitchell Beal, Jonesport-Beals, 1980; Keith Collier, Oakfield, 1970; Chris Lawrence, MDI, 1990; Danny Pert, GSA, 1972; Jeff Sturgeon, Old Town, 1980

GIRLS

1. 46, Stephanie Carter, Schenck, 1988

2. 43, Emily Ellis, Mount View, 1981

3. 38, Julie Bradstreet, Cent. Aroostook, 1988; Ruth Gagnon, Schenck, 1980; Meaghan Lane, Cony, 1990

6. 37, Bradstreet, Central Aroostook, 1988; Karen Nadeau, Wisdom, 1977

8. 36, Ellis, Mount View, 1981

9. 35, Amy Banks, Brewer, 1979; Diane Nagle, Houlton, 1985; Carter, Schenck, 1987; Carter, Schenck, 1989; Toni Farrenkopf, John Bapst, 1980