Inseparable and indomitable on the basketball court since elementary school, Ian Mileikis and Lew Jensen of Edward Little are still together in pursuit of the top honor in high school hoops.
Mileikis and Jensen were named semifinalists Wednesday for Mr. Maine Basketball, the award presented each year to the top senior player in the state.
EL was scheduled to play Lewiston in the Class A East semifinals Wednesday night at Augusta Civic Center.
The two Red Eddies have been varsity contributors since freshman year, never failing to reach the regional semis. Jensen, a 6-foot-5 forward, is a three-year starter. Mileikis, a 6-foot guard, overcame a broken leg and torn ankle ligaments that took away most of his junior season.
Maria Valente of Gray-New Gloucester is one of 10 semifinalists for Miss Maine Basketball. Valente scored the 1,000th points of her career earlier this month and has led the Patriots to the Class B West semifinals in Portland.
Three boys and three girls will be named finalists after the conclusion of the regional tournament. Winners are to be announced Friday, March 13 in Bangor.
Nick Mayo of Messalonskee, who will play next year at Division I Eastern Kentucky, highlights the remaining boys’ candidates. The others: Ben Malloy of Bonny Eagle, Kyle Johnson of Calais, Liam Stokes of Cony, Jack Simonds of Falmouth, Kyle Bouchard of Houlton, Eric Hoogterp of Old Town and Justin Martin of Winslow.
Two sets of teammates, Mary Butler and Cordelia Stewart of Bangor and Victoria Lux and Katie McCrum of Thornton, are in the running for Miss Basketball along with Ashley Storey of Greely, Madison McVicar of Calais, Hannah Graham of Presque Isle, Mackenzie Worster of Washburn and Ashley Briggs of Scarborough.
In addition, 17 local players and three area coaches were selected to participate in the McDonald’s Senior All-Star Games. Those will be played March 14 at Husson University.
Joining Mileikis and Jensen as boys’ all-stars are Deonte Ring of Spruce Mountain, Isaiah Harris of Lewiston, Jared Eastman of Buckfield, Kaine Hutchins and Tyler Frost of Dirigo, Johnny Yim of Lisbon, and Taylor Morang and Matt Sekerak of Winthrop.
Named to the girls’ all-star squads were Emily Keene of Spruce Mountain, Anna Winslow of Oxford Hills, Christine Miller of Maranacook, Jessica Conant and Kelsey Hutchins of Dirigo, Seve Deery-DeRaps of Rangeley and Faith Grady of St. Dom’s.
Mike Adams of EL, Todd MacArthur of Winthrop and Heidi Deery of Rangeley will be on the coaching staffs.
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