For as long as high school basketball tournaments have been played in Maine, photographers have captured the action and preserved it for history. The BDN has employed talented photographers through the decades, people like Carroll Hall, Jack Loftus, Bob DeLong, Scott Haskell, Tom Hindman, Michele Stapleton, Kevin Bennett, Bridget Brown, Gabor Degre, Ashley Conti and many others. They all were at their best when the tournament rolled around.
Linda Coan O’Kresik and Troy R. Bennett are the keepers of that tradition and their work is, well, you’ve seen it for several years now. The words captivating and artistic come to mind. Joining Linda and Troy shooting this year’s basketball tourney for the BDN are talented freelancers Kimberly HIggins, Joseph Cyr, Josh O’Donnell and Jan Vose.
Old Town’s Emmitt Byther (#35) dives for a loose ball during a Class B north boys quarterfinal game against Hermon Friday at the Cross Insurance Center. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik/ BDN
MDI cheers on their teammates in the final minutes of a Class B girls north quarterfinal game against Maranacook Friday at the Cross Insurance Center. MDI won the game. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik/ BDN
Bangor High School’s Damon Gonsalves (left) grabs the ball on the floor after struggling with Cheverus High School’s Leo McNabb (right) during the AA North quarterfinal boys basketball game in Portland on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Cheverus won the contest 82 to 39. Credit: Troy R. Bennett / BDN
Nokomis Head Coach Josh Grant speaks to his team between the first and second quarter in Saturday night’s quarterfinal game against Camden HIlls. Credit: Josh O’Donnell / BDN
Ethan Collier of Southern Aroostook lines up a 3-point shot during Saturday night’s Class D North quarterfinal at the Cross Insurance Center. SA beat Jonesport-Beals 67-36. Credit: Courtesy of Joseph Cyr
Central Aroostook’s Abigail Haines takes a shot under the defense of Kathahdin’s Ayanna Lester during a Class D North quarterfinal game at the Cross Insurance Arena in Bangor on Feb. 17, 2024. Credit: Kim Higgins / BDN
Camden’s Owen Buck being chased down on a fast break by Hunter Bell of Nokomis in Saturday’s Class A North boys quarterfinal. Credit: Josh O’Donnell / BDN
Camden’s Will Duke fights off Owen Sides and Seth Bowden of Nokomis in the first quarter of Saturday’s Class A North quarterfinal game in Augusta. Credit: Josh O’Donnell / BDN
Bangor’s Delaney Horr rebounds the ball and looks down court during the girls AA North Quarterfinal game vs Windham at Red Barry Gymnasium in Bangor on Feb. 16, 2024. Credit: Kim Higgins / BDN
Windham’s Stella Jarvais reaches around Bangor’s Mimi Quinn for a loose ball during the girls AA North Quarterfinal game at Red Barry Gymnasium in Bangor on Feb. 16, 2024. Credit: Kim Higgins / BDN
Members of the Hodgdon boys basketball team rejoice on the court following the team’s 65-54 victory over Narraguagus Wednesday. With the win, Hodgdon advances to the Class C North quarterfinals. Credit: Courtesy of Joseph Cyr
Veteran Jonesport-Beals coach Skipper Alley speaks to Brevan Kenney during a break in the action Saturday night at the Cross Insurance Center. Southern Aroostook beat Jonesport Beals 67-36 in Class D North quarterfinal action. Credit: Courtesy of Joseph Cyr
Their work is really just starting, but they’ve already snapped some memorable shots we want to share, all in one place. Enjoy. Oh, and there will be plenty more coming in the days ahead.
Wisdom teammates Kelsie Daigle and Lilly Row hug after winning their Class D North quarterfinal game vs Bangor Christian at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on Feb. 17, 2024. Credit: Kim Higgins / BDN
Members of the Hodgdon boys basketball team rejoice on the court following the team’s 65-54 victory over Narraguagus Wednesday. With the win, Hodgdon advances to the Class C North quarterfinals. Credit: Courtesy of Joseph Cyr
Hampden’s Head Coach Nick Winchester at the end of the first quarter of Friday’s Class A North quarterfinal in Augusta. Credit: Josh O’Donnell / BDN
Hampden’s Zach McLaughlin finishes off a fast break near the close of the first half of Saturday night’s quarter final game against Skowhegan. Credit: Josh O’Donnell / BDN
MDI’s Spencer Laurendeau (#10) and Lincoln Gray (#30) celebrate their 60-52 victory over Maranacook in a Class B boys north quarterfinal game Friday at the Cross Insurance Center. Credit: Linda Coan O’Kresik/ BDN
Cony’s Abby Morrill drives to the hoop in the second quarter of Friday’s Class A North quarterfinal. (Josh O’Donnell photo)
