Some of the best senior basketball players from across Maine were in Bangor this weekend, and they proved why the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches chose them to participate in the annual McDonald’s Senior All-Star Weekend.
The festivities kicked off with a banquet Friday night, where Caribou’s Madelynn Deprey and Noble of North Berwick’s Jamier Rose were crowned Miss Maine Basketball and Mr. Maine Basketball — awards that go to the state’s top senior girls and boys players.
Both Deprey and Rose wasted little time in proving why they won those awards, each bringing home a team MVP recognition in all-star games on Saturday. Deprey was MVP for the North team in the girls Class AA/A/B game to start the day with a 16-point performance that helped lead the North to victory. Rose secured his top player recognition while leading the South team to an overtime win in the boys AA/A/B game.
Rose called it a great feeling, and relished the opportunity to showcase his skills “for people all over the state” in Bangor on Saturday.
“I think I proved myself,” Rose said about his MVP performance on Saturday. “A lot of people up north, they don’t really get to see me play much because we’re in Noble, we’re way south.”
The Noble senior guard made several key buckets down the stretch to force overtime, and started the extra time with a 3-pointer to put the South up for good on Saturday. The night before, he became the first player ever to win a Mr. Maine Basketball award and Fitzpatrick Award, which goes to the state’s top football player, according to the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches.
Rose was happy to be able to bring the Mr. Maine Basketball award back for both his team and his community.
“Nobody’s ever done it before at my school since basketball started, so it was nice to be the one to do it.”
For anyone in the Husson University gym on Saturday who hadn’t yet seen Rose play, he left little doubt about his abilities. And several top players from the North gave Bangor-area fans another example of the greatness they’ve shown during this year’s regional tournament and throughout their high school careers.
Deprey wasn’t the only North player who continued to impress. During the North B regional tournament, Orono senior Will Francis was a force on both ends of the court. Francis showed more of the same on Saturday.
“It feels great to be a part of this game,” Francis said afterward. “A lot of people before us have played in this game. It’s a really special thing that you get to participate in, and we’re very lucky to be a part of it.”
Old Town senior forward Emmitt Byther continued his dominance in the paint as well, throwing down an impressive dunk in the second half and converting a high-flying alley-oop around the basket shortly after. His four-straight points toward the end of regulation looked to be powering the AA/A/B North team to a win, until Rose took over for the South.
Fresh off a Class B boys state title, Caribou star forward Tristan Robbins said it was an honor to participate in Saturday’s game. He noted that Vikings teammate Kaymen Sargent was also an all-star.
“It’s really just a pleasure playing here,” Robbins said.
Deprey’s Caribou girls team also won its Class B championship game, the first-ever statewide sweep for Caribou basketball. Her MVP performance on Saturday was far from the only impressive showing in the AA/A/B girls game.
“Everybody played really well today, I wish they could have 12 MVP awards to give to everybody on the team,” Deprey said after that first all-star game.
Miss Maine Basketball finalists Lexi Morin of Brunswick and Ella Pelletier of Oxford Hills had standout performances as well. Morin had a game-high 18 points, and Pelletier provided one of the plays of the day with an emphatic block that wowed the crowd.
“Let’s see if the boys play this much defense,” quipped the stadium announcer.
Saturday’s festivities also included girls and boys Class C/D all-star games, free-throw competitions, 3-point competitions and a dunk contest.
Megyn Mertens from Wells won the girls free-throw competition, and Kristian Schumann of Medomak in Waldoboro won for the boys. In the 3-point shooting, the top honors went to Mia Fitzpatrick of Temple Academy in Waterville and Wyatt Benoit of Thornton Academy in Saco. Theo Pow of Kennebunk won the slam dunk contest.
