BANGOR, Maine — Two years ago they were upstart finalists, and last year as favorites they reached the brink of a crown only to see a late lead disappear in the title game. A dominant defense finally enabled the Houlton boys basketball team to break through Saturday night as the …

BANGOR, Maine — Garvey Melmed’s primary role Saturday was one of defender, guarding Caribou star Dayne Savage as the focus of Old Town’s box-and-one set. But when the Coyotes needed a late offensive spark, the senior guard scored their final eight points of regulation and overtime — including two game-winning …

AUGUSTA, Maine — Zach Gilpin may not have been completely satisfied with his offensive accuracy during the first two rounds of the Eastern Maine basketball tournament. So the 6-foot-5-inch senior forward made up for lost shots at the Augusta Civic Center on Friday night in leading Hampden Academy to their …

AUGUSTA, Maine — The postseason run of the Oxford Hills girls basketball team began with a four-overtime regional quarterfinal survival of Skowhegan. It continued Friday night in much more dominant fashion as the South Paris-based Vikings rolled to a 54-34 victory over top-ranked Edward Little of Auburn to capture their …

AUGUSTA, Maine — It’s back to the Eastern Maine finals for the defending state champions. Zach Gilpin scored 21 points and younger brother Nick Gilpin added 16 as the top-ranked Hampden Academy Broncos topped No. 5 Edward Little of Auburn 67-49 in their regional basketball semifinal at the Augusta Civic …

AUGUSTA, Maine — The No. 1 seed has been in a precarious position during the earliest stages of this year’s Eastern Maine boys basketball tournament, with Class B Oceanside of Rockland-Thomaston and Class D Washburn both dropping their first postseason contests. The reigning Class A state champion and two-time defending …

AUGUSTA, Maine — Andrew Fleming has a lot going for him as a sophomore basketball player at Oxford Hills High School in South Paris. The 6-foot-4-inch forward has a soft left-handed shot, the quickness to get past defenders and the determination to pursue rebounds. He’s also got some serious presence …

BANGOR, Maine — After defeating Ellsworth by 40 and 31 points during two regular-season meetings this winter, the Mount Desert Island girls basketball team fully expected a stiffer challenge from its Hancock County rival when they met in an Eastern Maine Class B quarterfinal Friday night. The challenge was indeed …

BANGOR, Maine — Until this week, the Old Town boys basketball team had not won a postseason game since 2001, when the school’s nickname was the Indians and it was a member in good standing of Eastern Maine Class A. But the Coyotes have ended that 13-year drought in impressive …

BANGOR, Maine — Beginning late Friday afternoon — weather permitting — hundreds of Maine high school basketball players and thousands of fans will begin making their annual mid-winter pilgrimage to the Queen City. It’s tourney time. But instead of flocking to the Bangor Auditorium, the character-filled edifice that yielded more …

Amid all of the streaks being compiled by the Hampden Academy boys basketball team — 40 straight victories overall, 39 straight at home and 46 consecutive regular-season wins — one less prolific run may have even greater significance. Coach Russ Bartlett’s club has won its last seven games at the …