BANGOR — Dustin Cole and Allie Clement stepped out of their roles as team players to claim the individual Mr. and Miss Maine Basketball Awards Friday night.
Cole, a senior guard from Bonny Eagle High, and Clement, a senior guard from four-time Class A state champion McAuley, were joined by dozens of other all-star players at the annual dinner that precedes Saturday’s Maine McDonald’s Senior All-Star Basketball Games at Husson University.
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Cole and Clement and their coaches admitted to nervousness as the nearly four-hour dinner continued. Hampden Academy’s Zach Gilpin and Isaiah Bess were the other male finalists. Clement was joined on the dais by Tiana-Jo Carter of Lake Region and Parise Rossignol of Van Buren.
“Yes, this is an individual award, but my teammates were the reason we were so successful,” said Clement, whose McAuley teams were 88-3 and had a 56-game winning streak.
“I was sweating,” said McAuley Coach Bill Goodman. “Look at the other finalists. I’m so happy for Allie. She’s such a great person.”
Cole also talked about his teammates, and about realizing he and his fellow seniors wouldn’t play for Bonny Eagle again.
“I so much wanted Dustin to experience this,” said Bonny Eagle Coach Phil Bourassa. “We weren’t able to get him a state championship. This is like the crowning achievement to an unbelievable career.”
Mikayla Turner of Messalonskee and Erik Taylor of Spruce Mountain received $2,000 academic scholarship awards. Gilpin and Connor Kane of Dirigo received Spirit of the Game awards.
Steve Solloway can be contacted at 791-6412 or at:
ssolloway@pressherald.com
Twitter: SteveSolloway
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