FARMINGTON — The Mt. Blue High School boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball players were commended by the athletic administrator of Hampden Academy as a “class act.”

RSU 9 Superintendent Tom Ward read a letter from Athletic Administrator Michael Bisson regarding the two teams under the good news section of the RSU 9 board agenda on Feb. 11.

“I would like to take the opportunity to tell you what a class act your girls’ and boys’ varsity basketball teams are,” Bisson wrote to Mt. Blue Athletic Director Todd Demmons on Feb. 5

The Mt. Blue teams were at Hampden on Feb. 4 when senior night was held for both the boys’ and girls’ Hampden teams.

“Your teams stood and applauded our senior athletes as they presented roses to their parents,” Bisson wrote. “I know that these presentations to our two basketball teams and cheerleaders take time and alter the pre-game preparation and your teams did not seem to be bothered by that at all,” he wrote.

In addition to this disruption, he wrote, when Hampden player Zach Gilpin was attempting to score his 1,000-point your boys’ team showed nothing but class.

“We presented Zach with the game ball and again your team stood and applauded,” Bisson wrote.

He also wrote that he could not be “more impressed” with a visiting coaching staff and players than he was that night.

He closed his letter by asking Demmons to share his thanks with the staff and players.

“Well done by the Mt. Blue Cougars,” Bisson said.

In another good news matter, Ward also commended RSU 9 music instrumental teacher and conductor Karen Beacham, who had the opportunity to play with the Boston Symphony in January. She was cited in a review as one of the performers who were asked by conductor Bernard Haitink to take a bow for her performance of the frantic E-flat clarinet part in the final dance in Daphne et Chloe.

dperry@sunjournal.com