The Mariners psych themselves up before the game. By Anne Berleant
Blue Hill—It happens twice a year, at the season’s start and again as it winds to an end. The two neighboring basketball teams take their turn hosting a game, bringing together fans, parents and players from across the peninsula and island in a family affair of high school basketball. Friends, acquaintances and coworkers greet each other before heading to bleachers on opposite sides of the gym. A rivalry that reaches back decades becomes, in the end, just another basketball game to enjoy, on the court and in the stands.
Eagle senior Taylor Schildroth controls the ball down court with Mariner junior Tobey Snow (23) and freshman Nathan Thompson (3) closing in. By Anne Berleant
The results may have been a lopsided 74-38 win for the Eagles January 31 as the George Stevens Academy varsity boys team hosted the Deer Isle-Stonington Mariners but, after all, the schools play across two classes and the Eagles have their strongest boys team in about 15 years, just as the Mariner girls have theirs.
Both boys teams are headed to the playoffs, the Eagles in Class C, where they hold the top ranking with one regular season game left to play February 8, and the Mariners in Class D, where they face a preliminary playoff game February 14.
Mariner senior Mason Oliver looks for a way through the Eagles defense. By Anne Berleant
The Mariners posted a 50-38 win over Class C Searsport in their final regular season game February 6, while the Eagles, in their final game at home, went on a 12-point fourth-quarter run to secure a 65-47 win over Mattanawcook. The Eagles will play their playoff quarterfinal game Tuesday, February 20, at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Opposing teams for all playoff games are still to be determined as the final regular season games for all teams wind up this week.
Eagle senior Max Mattson blocks a shot. By Anne Berleant