Mike Adams played basketball for veteran Mt. Blue coach Jim Bessey.
AUBURN – Mike Adams knows it will feel a bit strange to look across the Edward Little gym sidelines tonight and see his former coach and mentor trying to outsmart him.
But Adams, a star at Mt. Blue who won a Mr. Basketball award in 1990 playing for Jim Bessey, is happy the first official KVAC meeting between the two schools will be played on the southern end of Route 4.
“I’m glad we play them at home first before we play them at Mt. Blue,” said Adams, who was an assistant for Bessey for two years, including their last Eastern Maine title in 1997. “I figured that would be a little awkward for me.”
Bessey, in his 28th year at Mt. Blue, has coached against several of his former players, but that doesn’t make it any easier facing Adams.
“I think actually it may be harder for the coach than it is for the former player,” Bessey said. “I’m obviously very proud Mike is coaching and want him to do well, but obviously it’s a competitive situation and you have other players that you’re coaching now that you want to do well.”
The Cougars are off to a strong 6-1 start and coming off two dominating defensive performances, according to Bessey, against Skowhegan and Medomak. The Red Eddies (2-4) have had impressive back-to-back wins of their own against Gardiner and Leavitt.
Tigers, Hamilton reunite
Another reunion of sorts will play out at the new Winthrop High School gymnasium Saturday night when the Jay Tigers invade to face their former coach, now leading the Ramblers, Steve Hamilton.
Hamilton coached the Tigers for two years, posting a 31-12 record and leading them to their first Class C state title in 18 years in 2002. An ongoing contractual dispute between teachers and the school district forced Hamilton to give up his Jay job and move south down Route 133 to coach the Tigers’ MVC rivals.
Jay and Winthrop were ranked sixth and seventh in the most recent Heal Points standings.
Mustangs end streak
Monmouth picked up its first win since Jan. 23, 2002, with its 59-51 victory over Carrabec Wednesday. The Mustangs had lost 30 straight before getting off the schnide against the Cobras, who was Monmouth’s last victim before the skein began.
Ironically, the leading scorers in the Mustangs’ last victory, Mark Wade for Monmouth and Josh Turner for Carrabec, topped the point sheet Wednesday night.
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