BANGOR — There were tears to be sure. Happens in nearly every losing locker room after a state championship game.

If there were any from Jamie Plummer, they were well concealed. The Richmond senior wore a smile on her face as she hoisted the Class D runner-up plaque after her team’s loss to Washburn on Saturday. And she displayed the same smile as she emerged from the locker room.

For the past four years, she has been the face of Richmond girls basketball.

“She’s a class act,” Richmond coach Molly Bishop said. “As a basketball player, as a kid, as a role model.”

Plummer’s teammates, six of whom are seniors, filled in around her and fed off her passion for the game. Saturday, she encouraged them to enjoy the journey as well as the outcome.

“I can remember being here as a sophomore and playing and just hearing the energy and the noise from the crowd,” Plummer said. “It was the same thing today. It really hit home knowing that’s the last Class D girls state championship ever played here.”

True, the Bangor Auditorium will be torn down this year after hosting games since 1955 in what came to be known as The Mecca. The historical significance wasn’t lost on Plummer and she wanted to make sure her teammates recognized that, too.

“She told them, ‘We just need to take in this experience,’ ” Bishop said. “There’s some really good things going on the floor, with our fans, in the community. She was really pushing that.”

Not that Plummer didn’t want to win. She scored 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and she and her teammates staged two comebacks during the game. But in the end, the best team won and Plummer was the first to say so.

“Coming in here we knew they hadn’t caught any competition all year,” she said. “So I’m pretty proud. There’s nothing to be discouraged about. We’ve put a mark on our town. We have so much to be proud about.”

This was the third straight year Plummer’s Bobcats have appeared in the state championship game and the third straight time they’ve lost to Washburn. The Beavers were a little quicker, although Saturday was Richmond’s best showing of the past three. Last fall, they beat many of the same group of Washburn players for the Class D state soccer championship. It was the second in a row for Richmond and in that one Plummer was on the sidelines as team manager.

The seniors have traded off excelling at various sports over the past four years. There’s still softball left and all seven play.

“The group of girls we had playing on the court today is the best group anyone could ever have,” Plummer said. “I don’t think I’ll ever have another team like this.”

Gary Hawkins — 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com