AUGUSTA — Local names dot the list of this year’s Mr. and Miss Maine Basketball semifinalists.

The top 10 candidates for the honor given to the state’s top senior player were revealed by the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches on Wednesday at the Augusta Civic Center, shortly before the start of the Class A North girls semifinals. The rosters for the McDonald’s Senior All-Star teams and selections for Coaches of the Year were also announced.

On the girls side, Mt. Blue’s Lexi Mittelstadt and Messalonskee’s Gabrielle Wener were included in a field also made up of Oxford Hills’ Julia Colby, Stearns’ Katie Alley, South Portland’s Maggie Whitmore, Gray-New Gloucester’s Jordan Grant, Greely’s Brooke Obar, Freeport’s Caroline Smith, Oxford Hills’ Cecelia Dieterich and Penobscot Valley’s Lexi Ireland.

Mittelstadt, a point guard who will play at the University of Maine, said she was surprised she made the cut, especially after the Cougars missed the Class A North playoffs.

“It’s pretty awesome. It’s been a goal of mine for a while, I’ve always wanted that for my senior year,” she said. “I wasn’t sure how that would all play out. … I was skeptical about it, but I’m really excited and thankful.”

Wener, who is headed for a career at Division I Monmouth University, was also happy to hear her name called.

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“I’m truly fortunate to be in a category with such great people,” she said. “Coming into the season I had more team goals than personal goals, I didn’t really start thinking about any of this until this past week, but finding out is pretty great.”

On the boys side, Cony’s Simon McCormick made the list, as did Bonny Eagle’s Zach Maturo, Caribou’s Parker Deprey, Ellsworth’s Jackson Curtis, Bangor’s Henry Westrich, Greely’s Logan Bagshaw, Hampden Academy’s Bryce Lausier, Hermon’s Isaac Varney, North Yarmouth Academy’s Te’Andre King and Sanford’s Leyton Bickford.

McDonald’s All-Star spots went to Wener, Mittelstadt, Gardiner’s Jaycie Stevens, Waterville’s Sadie Garling and Winslow’s Silver Clukey for the girls AA/A/B North team, Oak Hill’s Desirae Dumais for the girls AA/A/B South team, and Madison’s Katie Worthen and Lauria LeBlanc, Monmouth’s Audrey Fletcher, Winthrop’s Aaliyah WilsonFalcone, Kena Souza and Jillian Schmelzer and Rangeley’s Lauren Eastlack for the girls C/D South team.

On the boys side, McCormick, Messalonskee’s Tucker Charles and Maine Central Institute’s Owen Williams were named to the boys AA/A/B North team, while Winthrop’s Ryan Baird, Cam Hachey, Jevin Smith, Hall-Dale’s Josh Nadeau and Patrick Rush, Monmouth’s Gabe Martin, Mt. Abram’s Nate Luce and Forest Hills’ Hunter Cuddy got spots on the C/D South team.

Coach of the Year recognition went to Gardiner’s Mike Gray for A North girls, Waterville’s Rob Rodrigue for B North girls, Winthrop’s Joe Burnham for C South girls, Monmouth’s Wade Morrill for C South boys and Temple’s Scott Corey for D South boys.


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