Snowdogs hoop teams shine at state tourney
GORHAM, Maine — The Aroostook County Snowdogs are back after an incredible weekend.
It all started when they were the guests of honor at the Boston Celtics-affiliated NBA Development Team Maine Red Claws game on Friday night. The Snowdogs participated in a Living Flag ceremony during the national anthem.
“What a powerful moment that was and a memory that will stay with the Snowdogs for a lifetime,” said coach Brian Hamel.
Then on Saturday, the Snowdogs participated in the Special Olympics state basketball tournament at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham.
“I was so proud of how the Snowdogs represented themselves, their families and their community, on and off the basketball court. The icing on the cake was the Snowdogs’ performance on the basketball court.”
In one of the most exciting comebacks of the tournament, the Snowdogs’ Div. 2 White Team overcame an early loss to rally and beat the previously unbeaten Momentum team two times in a row in the medal round to capture the state championship gold medal
“It was one of the most exciting set of games I’ve ever witnessed at the tournament,” Hamel said.
In the Div. 3 tournament, the Snowdogs’ White Team brought home the silver medal after losing in the finals by one point to Eagle Outreach in a closely played and hard fought contest.
In Div. 1, the Snowdogs’ Blue team brought home the bronze medal in a highly-competitive division after losing to the eventual undefeated winner OHI from Bangor.
“My coaching staff, consisting of Carl Michaud, Tara Cote, Gail Hamel, Terry Perley, Hunter Flynn, Sydney Thompson and I, couldn’t have been more proud of the Snowdogs for the tremendous season they had.”
He added that the team is “extremely thankful for the countless generous donors from our great community which allows us to travel to southern Maine for the weekend for this memorable event,” Hamel said. “We live in such a great community.”
