Bangor fell short in its bid to win its first girls' basketball state championship since 1982, but the future looks bright for the Rams. Their inside tandem of 6-foot-2 Cordelia Stewart and 6-1 Mary Butler will be back next season, as both are sophomores.

McAuley, meanwhile, will be heavily favored to win a fourth consecutive Class A title next year. The Lions return four starters, including standout guard Allie Clement and 6-2 Olivia Smith.

CINDY BLODGETT, the former UMaine women's coach who is now an assistant at Rhode Island, watched the McAuley-Bangor game from press row. Blodgett had to be impressed with Smith, who scored 20 points on some impressive moves. Smith showed she's a Division I prospect, and she still has another season to go.

Jack Cosgrove, UMaine's football coach, was part of the large Bangor cheering section. Cosgrove's daughter, Carly, is a top reserve for the Rams.

ATTENDING THE Hampden Academy-South Portland Class A boys' final was former Bangor Coach Roger Reed, who now serves in the state legislature. Reed retired from coaching after last season. He coached Bangor to eight Class A state titles, though he was on the losing end of an epic five overtime game  against South Portland in 1992 at the Cumberland County Civic Center. The star of that South Portland team, John Wassenburgh, was also at the game.

About this Blog

VarsityMaine The Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram put a priority on high school sports coverage, and this blog is a place for all our reporters to put news and notes from around the state.

From football to field hockey, from cross country to volleyball, our goal is to keep you informed of the happenings in all high school sports.

Click below for sport-specific posts.

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About the Author

Maine High School Sports Bloggers

Paul Betit is an Augusta native and graduate of the University of Maine. He has covered Maine high school sports for more than 30 years and is entering his seventh season as a beat writer covering the Portland Pirates. In his spare time, Betit writes mystery-suspense novels. Occasionally, he tries to sink his second career hole-in-one.

Glenn Jordan came to Maine in 1994 to cover the nascent Portland Sea Dogs. After eight baseball seasons and three children – the last two within 18 minutes of each other – he became a part-time writer. Among the sports he covers are now are tennis, skiing, swimming and running. He has a degree in philosophy from Dartmouth, a decent forehand and a penchant for checkers.

Mike Lowe is a Massachusetts native who feels he's lived long enough in Maine (since 1982) to have roots here. He graduated from Boston University and has worked in New Hampshire and Maine, covering everything from the Little League World Series to the Summer Olympics. When he has free time – Ha! – he likes to read, collect comic books and watch the grass grow from his hammock.

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