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.”
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