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LEWISTON, MAINE - March 19, 2026. Patrons sit at the bar under many televisions playing the first games of the of the 2026 men's NCAA basketball tournament on Thursday at Gridiron Restaurant and Sports Pub in Lewiston. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)
Learning the ins and outs of March Madness in Lewiston
The first round of the NCAA basketball tournament was experienced by sports fans and nonenthusiasts alike at Gridiron Restaurant and Sports Pub.
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Ray Legere, 74, of Scarborough, looks toward a screen featuring tournament favorite Duke in its first round matchup against Siena during the men’s NCAA basketball tournament Thursday at Gridiron Restaurant and Sports Pub in Lewiston. Despite being the No. 1-seeded team in the East region and Siena ranked No. 16, the game came down to the final moments, catching Legere’s attention despite an earlier admission that he was “not much of a sports fan.” He added that it took 74 years to understand basketball enough, and longtime friend Paul Rainey helped explain some of the game. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)Paul Rainey, left, of Lewiston, chats with friend Ray Legere during the first round of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament Thursday at Gridiron Restaurant and Sports Pub in Lewiston. Rainey’s hat, from the Indianapolis Final Four in 2010, was a gift from Legere. They were watching East region No. 1 seed Duke take on No. 16 Siena. The underdog was winning much of the game, but Rainey had faith Duke would prevail. “They’ll pull through, they always do,” he said during the last quarter. Duke eventually won 71-65. The men’s tournament continues Thursday with the Sweet Sixteen, while the next round in the women’s tournament starts Friday. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)Bartender Lauren Brown moves quickly to add ingredients to a Grey Goose cosmo Thursday during the first round of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament at Gridiron Restaurant and Sports Pub in Lewiston. The only sports that were playing on the bar’s many screens were college basketball at the time. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)Patrons sit at the bar under many televisions playing the first games of the of the 2026 men’s NCAA basketball tournament Thursday at Gridiron Restaurant and Sports Pub in Lewiston. (Libby Kamrowski Kenny/Staff Photographer)
Libby Kamrowski Kenny is a staff photographer at the Sun Journal who came aboard in June 2025. She’s been in journalism longer than that though, as her prematurely graying hair can attest, starting as...
More by Libby Kamrowski Kenny
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