‘Tourney Gold, Eastern Maine’s Road to the State Finals’ available

     A game-by-game history of the Eastern Maine high school girls basketball tourney and state finals, covering the years 1975-89, has been compiled in book form by the Bangor Daily News and is now available for readers.
    “Tourney Gold” gives a detailed history of the first 15 years of the girls basketball tourney and includes the 436 games played in that time period, quarterfinals through state finals for Classes A, B, C, and D, along with almost 200 photos of the games.
    The stories and photos in the book were taken from the BDN archives and originated from a talented group of BDN sportswriters and photographers. The stories were compiled and edited into book form by BDN sports editor Joe McLaughlin while the book photos were compiled by BDN librarian Charlie Campo.
    The book also includes features on past tourney standouts and a brief historical overview of the girls tourney.
    “High school basketball in Maine is a tradition, a shared experience in Maine communities,” BDN Executive Editor Mark Woodward said. “The games, the players, and the tournament atmosphere at the Bangor Auditorium are part of our common history, and the Bangor Daily News is uniquely able to tell the story. This book is the first in what we hope will be a series of quality publications chronicling the history of girls and boys high school basketball in Eastern Maine.”
    The book, which retails for $15.75, is available for purchase at the BDN on 491 Main Street in Bangor. It can also be purchased via phone by calling toll free, 800-432-7964, or 990-8000 for the Greater Bangor area, and asking for the book division. The book may also be ordered online by visiting the BDN Web site: www.bangordailynews.com and then clicking the “BDN Store” tab.
    Those seeking more information may contact McLaughlin at 990-8229 or via e-mail at: jmclaughlin@bangordailynews.net or assistant sports editor Pete Warner at 990-8240 or via e-mail at: pwarner@bangordailynews.net.
    The book was designed and put together by a topnotch group of graphic artists at the BDN that included Becky Bowden, Janine Pineo, Brian Robitaille and Eriz Zelz.
    The genesis for the book occurred several years ago when Woodward asked McLaughlin for ideas about putting together a book on the tourney, boys and girls.
    McLaughlin’s idea was to begin with the girls tourney because unlike the boys tourney that dates back to 1922, the girls tourney did not begin until the 1974-75 season following the earlier passage of Title IX, a federal law prohibiting discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funds. The evolution of the girls game to its current format and away from its six-on-six rules also contributed to the beginning of the girls tourney.
    To present an overall history of the game, it was decided to include every Eastern Maine girls tourney game in the book, along with state championships. Because of the high number of games, it was also decided to publish a book on the first 15 years with hopes for more books to follow on the girls and boys if the first book proves popular with readers.
    By doing a comprehensive history, the BDN hopes that its readers will be able to find their favorite games, teams and players during the first 15 years of the girls tourney (1975-1989).
    Some of the highlights include early standout Cindy Rand of Hampden Academy and her Class A state-title team of 1976; the great Houlton teams of the 1980s which won six EM Class B crowns and three state titles; the early top Cony teams which collected EM Class A crowns in 1987, ‘88, and ‘89 along with state titles in ‘87 and ‘89; the Schenck of East Millinocket clubs which standout Stephanie Carter led to three straight Class C state titles (‘87-89); and one of the most dominant teams ever in girls basketball, the Westbrook Blue Blazes led by star guard Lisa Blais, who directed them to four straight Class A state titles (1978-81).