As I read the articles about the Bangor Auditorium, I can’t help but think back to my high school tournament memories as a player for Gerry Kane at Bucksport High School. Our teams qualified all four years from 80 to 83 with the Golden Bucks beating a strong Hampden Academy team in the Eastern Maine final by a score of 56-54 in 1983.

As we traveled up Route 15 towards Bangor, all the telephone poles had signs with the players, coaches, and cheerleaders names on them! I also remember when we got into Brewer, you could look across the Penobscot and see the MECCA and everyone would start hollering! To this day, I still smell the popcorn cooking, standing in line to get your ribbon, and walking into the auditorium as a team and have the whole town cheer for you. On the night of the Eastern Maine final in February of 1983, I remember walking into the “aud” from the locker after dropping off our duffle bags and looking up to see the third section full! As I kid, I attended countless games at the Bangor Auditorium and knew that only the “special” games filled the third section. I will never ever forget the feeling of climbing the ladder, taking the net off the rim, and waving it in front of all the Golden Buck fans. As they say, “all good things come to an end”, but my memories of the Bangor Auditorium will last a lifetime!!

Jay Moore

Bucksport HS

Class of 1983